The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-23
r-,a, of Sergeant MASON.

Trial Of Sergeant Mason.
I'VE SOLDIER WHO TRIED TO MIL THE AsSAs-
s,s GrITElu BEFORE C0URT-NARTlAI. IN
WASHINGTON.
The couri-marlial ordered 10 try Ser
,,,ln, Mason. Of the second artillery, for
Shooting while on guard duty at Guiteau,
ia, assassin. In September last, met az the
washington arsenal on Monday. Lieu
,ar,ut Edward T. Brown is Judge Advo-
,-,ic az The court, and General Bgclow
MA. e,rantcd permission 10 appear as coun-
81 10. the accused.
pnring the time the court was cleared Tor
..on.utation Mason stood IN the adjoining
,,5m. and was an object, OF course, OF
oreai interest 10 the Knot Of journalists
Who we're there. lie said he did not ut all
like MS quarter, al the guard-house, as me
rif, were altogether too friendly. The
ni.hf before he was walked by feeling some
thing moving in his bunk, and. clutching
nj 10. caught and killed. by squeezing. huge
rt. lie said that hardly a night had
ra,>cd since his arrest, September llth last
ihai De hld not Killed one or more rats IN
bis cell.
TIKI RATS
eNontilating-holca and jump down inside.
Where, the inside Of the door being smooth,
lbcy were fairly imprisoned. Mason re-
tered good-humoredly 20 the alleged por-
tr,if os him which was published last tall
Foo thc Graphic, and remarked; " Bui, after
aH ! cot of better than your chief. Mr..
Barton. did in The Post read his letter
b.. Mr. Ilutchin.. and thought he had better
4 81. I a L. ~ "a
shown The following paragraph from the
T,l.,lo 7tegrqm OF last Thursday: " Mon
ls, ncyt is sci for the trial Of Sergeant Ma
..r ,hc man who was guilty OF conduct
.,-.i,.dirial 10 good order and military dis
iini,rc and conduct unbccoming an Amcri-
Jam r.srk,man in missing Garneld's muir
d.-.-". hu' De- didn't seem 10 SEQ any
Ilu. funny about 10.
rHE COURTROOM
.... ...ar.d n, shout Z. VI. for q consult
f,.-0g of Che members, and on rcOpening
abb, door, the charge, and specifications
,,,r. lead % Mason. but lc stood mute;
ruI. being mterrOlatcd by Judgc-Adyocate
brown. explained that be declined 70 make
answer ot guilty on not guilty as charged.
Tl.o.pou. iy direction Of Colonel Miner.
o.. president 81 the court. formal plea q
"&oT GUILTY AS CHARGED"
r.. ,.fercd. 90, /, provided by the laws. In
n informal discussion I'm open court il was
creed ih~t Lieutenant Brown should pro-
..r. from the Supervising Architect of the
Treasury @ tracing 81 the front elevation of
DID. f.it. and of the plan OF the first floor,
where Gui,cau'~ cell was located when
sergeant Mason il alleged TO have fred al
f., assassin.
SECOND DAYS TRIAL.
The court-mlrta met at noon TUESDAY.
~rimc on % drv-goods box underline guard
of sentry. Mason talked yolubIy for report
.,.. ON some points be- seems 10 be Is
much OF crank 20, the wretch he tried TO
LN. " You got In @ little too much about
ilc rats" hc said. 81 am not death on
-t.. 7 am death on GWtc3u. ! have
more respect for an orderly rat than
iar CUitcau. An officer came over TO my
ccU last night and said rats couldn't climb
uu an iron door. lie was wlited when J
slid they could. They have stopped me
Giving out autographs and photographs.
too. That's the way they DO il in the
army. There j. sentry there To stop il.
Mason went on with his complaint at some
length. saving that he would rather spend
onr hundred and sixty months in jail than
one hundred and sixty days in hi cell.
70. TO add 10 my troubles" hc said. they
a.. Going 10 whitewash my cell. They
hlic cot an my things upside down. some
llh-drunk soldier will 20 there and Spattcr
Uhtcwash over cYcrything.' Mason said
fui lac didn't shoot because he didn't like
military rules, but he "hatcd Guiteau's
id mug
The Judge Advocate having sent an or
derry 60 summon General Ayre>, command
800. of the post. ~ witness. Mason step
Urd down from his box and said 10 Mr.
Gieo'oW. his counsel, handing him list Of
questions written on paper; "Gultcau
nld everything to say in his trial. want
.omeihng to say here. want YOU to ask
him these questions. and don't let any
officer I'm shoulder straps browbcat Won.
While Mr.. BjgcloW was cndcayOring TO
persuade Mason TINT hc would only iniure
ni, own ease by such q course. the Judge
advocate appeared at the door and an
bounced that the court was opened.
General Ayrcs testified that Mason bat
f..y was sent To- the Jail on September nth
n>t 90 do guard duty. The main point
brought out 10y Mr.. Bigclow's examination
uI General Ayrys wa, that Mason had been
n close confinement since th1t date. Du-
riu- The examination the prisoner (Ma>on)
several times Wept.
lLr Judge Advocate, referring to Gui-
tlla- "thc prisoner Guitau,' the prc,i-
dnt Colonel Miner. directed that the
tnu "thc assassin Guitcau" be Sub>ti-
mcd. The court adjourned 10 Thursday