New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-22
PRIVATE DALZELL FREES HIS MIND.

CNDIGSAToN AT MAsONS SENTENCE THROUGHOUT
THE WESTERN RESERVE.
To tho EDITOR Of The Tribune.
SIR: Sergeant Mason was brought up IN
Brookfeld Township, this (Nobe) County. and resided
within miles OF this town till the broke out
BE worked on farm and was good boy. This Is the
testimony of all the farmers hereabout, who remember
him as " a smart maunery boy" and who all speak OF
him in the kindest terms. he but eighteen years
old when he GAINESVILLE and enlisted In General
Leggetts old regiment, the 18th Ohio, which was re-
cruited largely from hereabou Ihave met several OF
the 18th men recently, and their uniform test-
mony is that Mason brave soldier during the war
for the Union. The interest In his is perhaps
stronger here than anywhere else. 1t is singular but 1t
fact that among all the boys who up with Mason
and many OF whom served three years in the army with
him. many OF them In the same mess, he has not single
enemy In the whole number He was an amiabe and
excellent young surely, or there could be found
home here IN his Old home, where all his early assOc
ltes and nearly all his army comrades live to speak an
mkind word OF him.
1t may be added, right here two companies OF Gar
heds old 42d Ohio raised and several survivors of
that regiment reside here yet Their veneraton OF Gar
Geld 10 well known For many years past General
Garfield had been in the habit of personally attending
the great National soldiers reunions for which this
place ia famous and at all those gatherings the sur
vors OF the 42d had the post OF honor In PROFESSIONS In
Samp and in the esteem Of Garfield Every Of them
was personally acquainted with Garfield. Their
Tor and nexprcssiDy great So when
the 42d and 18th here learned that Sergeant Mason
had fired at Guteau they cheered IT, and the only
regret they expressed that Mason missed the muir
derer No good anywhere could have any other
feeling unless he has been preludlced and poisoned
sganst the volunteer soldiers at West Point the hotbed
uf all American and military aristocracy. The
Indignation OF all these old friends OF Sergeant Mason at
the brutal sentence OF the martial is bonndless
Boston COrbett had the only ovation OF his life here In
1874 twenty thousand volunteer soldiers shook his hand
at the National Reunion. few West Pointers present
epurned him with contempt He had violated military
discipline 40 by killing LlncOlns murderer Ihat was
unpardOndble And so now our men here have no words
to express their admiration of MasOns spirit and no
words convey idea Of their adherence of the
cruel and unusuai judgment of condemnation. The
whole American people with Mason, and this pig
argument for the abolition OF West Point.
Why, Mason should have the thanks OF Congress and
every State Legislature, and the immediate pardon of
the President large petition asking his pardon has
proposal Of The Chicago Tribune raise fund for the
Support Masons family meets with universal applause
II should be pushed We, his old neighbOrs will do all
we can time that the people of this whole CONT
fields old friends Is feeling that viii not be triiled with
without manesting itself in thunder tones IL demands
the pardon of Mason and the death OF Guiteau II VIII
have both Unjust Ii adInires " Bill Jones'. and only
blanes him and Mason because they did not kill the
sassn. The man who to-day would kill Guteau would
be the most popular man on this continent The people
nonsense Nonsense Is nonsense even when backed by
legal presidents military power II is nonsense stl
Hancock will learn the terrible feeling OF Indignation his
conduct brutal and heartess has awakened ever he
runs for President again This act lays him the shelf
beyond a doubt. PKIVATE DALZKLL.
caidlcell, ohio. March 16. 1882.