Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-09-10
Sergeant Mason.

4 sergeant in the U. s. army, while guarding Chas J. Guiteau, prisoner confined ID jail in Washington, D. C., and charged with having shot and killed James A. Garfield, President of United States, deliberately fired at Guiteau with the intent to kill him For this offence he was regularly tried by a competent court, found guilty and sentenced to state prison for years. Sine hlz conviction numerous petitions requesting executive clemency ln hls behalf have been extensively circulated and signed. A large number Of news papers have also advocated his pardon while many otrers, some influential, have anImadverted ln caustlc terms on the injustice of the finding of the court, its harsh sentence, and on the manner and proceedings of the tr1aL Among the latter class of journals the Chicago Tribune, ID a recent issue, after h. dulging most Odious and Outrages com- parlsons between the cases of Gultead, Major Reno, Captain Howgste and Mason concludes an article on the sub iect in the following language: "Stil Sergeant Mason must lsngulsh m prison. His superior officers have been getting drunk in public, and attempting to commit rape, lying, stealing, and using political influence An example must be made of somebody. Who can be so good asubject as tn poor common soldier who committed the unpardon- able crime of missing the meanest as- sassin of the age? Discipline must Oe maintained
 It occurs to me that those who have signed petitions for Msson's pardon have been so unduly influenced by the Odious character of the man whom he attempted to asssssinate, and the love for our late President, as to have over looked the crime he attempted to com init. The law throws the mantle of in- nocence over every accused person until competent evidence lifts IL and reveals the criminal. The law protects the most attrocious and condemned criminal until such time as 1t shall set for his execution. It prescribes the time, place and manner Uf his execution and the officer who shall rxecute the con- demned. At the time Mason attempted 10 sssassinate Guitesu the latter had not been tried for the offense of which he was accused. He was confined in strong and safe prison from which bis escape was nearly impossible. Mason was one of the representatives of the law stationed at the prison with gun in hand to guard the prisoner. He was placed there not only to prevent the es- cape of the prisoner, but ID case the prison was attacked by a mob with the view to take forciole possession of the prisoner and execute him without the forms of law, to di" in his defense if necessary. That was his duty. Did he perform It? No.
 Animated by the same ignoble mo- tive which inspired the despicsble Gui- teau, a traitor to his trust and every generous impulse of soldier, recreaLt to duty, honor and manhood, oblivious to law and humanity, ID the twilight, ny stealth the dastard sought the life of an unarmed and confined prisoner. This IS the man in whose defence the Chicago Tribune ventilates 6 p ivate grie., or petty spite for some real or fRncied wrong suffered by it's editor or his friends at the hands of some one in the service. A journalist properly esti- mating his duties and responsibilities to the public, and having a sincere desire to correct abuses in the army, wlll neither falsify facts nor use Ian guage calculated to torment discord and in the army. When maudlin sympathy for vile criminals shall be stigma on fair name, and ed-handed assssslns are taught that the gibbet is their portion, public opin- ion will have progressed in the proper direction. Very Respectfully,
 J. 4. BRowDRR.