Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-24
TRIAL OF SERGEANT MASON.
The Proceedings To-day.
AN OHIO WITNESS WANTED FOR DEFENCE.

the rearing or the record the in tge aav0o IL 4
called attention to the fact that Mr.. Bigelow in
form ID him thlt he wanted u summons a witness
for the defence from Ohio, ana he Cthe iuigP ad-
vocate> submitted To the court whether the Wit
ness should be summoned
COL Miner stated that the court would require
KNOWLEDGE aS TO what the defence proposed 10
prove by this witness.
MAsoN's WOUND AND ITS EFFECT
Mr.. BgelOw stated that the witness referred to
was l. {. Robinson, late major Il the 18th y0lun-
teerS. He expected TO show 10y him that the ac-
cused, while in his command. had received a Sc
we're wound in the shoulder by an accidental dis
charge of his gun; that he WAS br we man and
good soldier. and that he served under Major Rob-
lnSon as Charles II. Mason.
The president having inquired II Mr. Bigelow
proposed TO show that thiS had had an effect upon
the accused. Mr.. Bigelow said he proposed TO show
that this had had its effect upon MaSOn'S nervous
system and his disposition He did not wish 10
state that his defence was insanity. but he wished
TO show that there were mitigating circumstances.
which If they had no other effect, would commend
the accused to mercy in case OF his conviction by
! this court. The consideration OF the question was
reserved until after the reading OF the record had
been completed.
When the record had been read, Mr. Bigelow
made formal motion for a subpoena for Major
Robinson OF Charlottesville. Ohio. In addition to
what he had already stated Mr.. Bigcow said that
he expected to Introduce medical testimony show
Ing that by this wound the ceryical nerves were
shattered, and a marked change in the temper
ment and disposition OF Mason had been caused.
The judge advocate said ne would not summon
the witness without an order from the court. and
referred TO the fact that the accused had several
times been examined by medical officers when re-
enliSting, and had been pronounced able-botied
Mr.. Bgelow said that he would show that Mason
ought never TO have been re-enliSted. After a
brief consultation, Col Miner announced that the
court thought the witness should be summoned
and directed that the necessary order for sum-
moning the witness be issued.
TESTIMONY OF JAIL OFFICER.
James Woodward. an officer OF the JAIL was then
sworn as witness for the prosecution. Mr..
Woodward was asked by the judge advocate il he
made it his duty to watch the prisoners with a
view OF learning thaar characters.
Mr.. Bgelow objected TO the question as irrele-
want.
The judge advocate satd he proposed to show
that this witness did watch the habits OF the pris-
oner; that at the time OF the shooting he probably
knew the character of Guteau better than any
man living: that he visited Guiteau'S cell after
the Shot was fired at him; that the assassin was
so frightened that he had the lying part OF his
ture all knocked out OF him, &c; all OF which went
to show. he thought that his fright could only be
produced by the ball passing very near his head.
Col. Miner remarked that that would be very
The judge advocate argued that this witness
held the position in some degree OF an expert.
The court room being cleared, Mr.. Bigelow,s
Objection considered and sustained. The
opening proceedings were resumed. The witness
said he had not studied Guiteau'S habits when he
Was first placed in Jail. He recounted the story
September 1lth; he fmme liately visited Guiteau's
cell, he said. Guiteau, who seemed much agftated,
said: 81 have been shot at" The ball had struck
his coat hanging on the wall and shattered some
papers In his pocket, then struck the wall and
IL.
The witness was questioned at some length as
to distances, locations, etc.
Upon cross-examination by Mr.. Bigelow, the
witness said that during the fall OF the year there
were good many guns OF bird hunters discharged
In the vicinity OF the JAIL but these reports had
not, SO far as the witness knew, frightened the as
SaSSin.
When Mr.. Woodward left the stand the Judge
advocate called Major Throckmorton.
AAEMBER OF THE COURT AS WITNESS.
Major Throckmorton asked that before he went
on the stand the court should be cleared. His re-
quest was granted, and the. prisoner and specta-
tors were compelled again to adjourn to the ante
room. When the court reasSembled the Judge ad-
vocate did not call Ma jOr Throckmorton as a wit
ness, andas there were no other witnesses present.
recess was taken.
TESTIMONY OF CAPT. GRAVES.
Upon reconvening, CdptMP Graves, 2d artillery.
was sworn as a witness He was at the jail. he
said, on the evening OF September 11th with his
bittery, which was relieved by Capt McGivray's
battery. He was on the steps OF the Jail when the
Mason approached Witness who asked, SWhy did
you fire your piece?" Mason replied, 81 hope
have blown him in two" Then Mason said to
Lieut. Richmond, 81 deliver myself up. fired the
shot, and hope have killed the assassin"
After Capt. Graves had been examined by the
judge advocate and Mr.. Bigelow, Major Throck-
morton made
by asking whether the new guard under command
OF Capt. McGilvray had been mounted at the time
this shot was fired The witness did not know
whether the new guard had been mounted or not
He (the WltneSS) had not turned over the property
under his care to Capt McGilvray at the time the
shot was nred.
WHAT MASON SAID DIRECTLY AFTER THE SHOOTING
Lieut. E. T. c. Richmond, of battery b, 2u artil
lery, was next examined as a witness. Lieut..
Richmond's testimony was similar to that OF CaptS
McGilvary and Graves. Mason, when he came
towards witness after the shot was fired said:
~ hope have Killed him: / do not know whether
tenant surrender to you. l am the man that
fired the shot am not going to come out here
to guard Cd ID assassin" He then, with
many words, called for the next ranking nom
commissioned officer, and stated that he wished
to turn over to him the papers containing the
names OF the different reliefs The sentinels of
Capt Graves battery outside the iaii had not been
relieved at the time the shot was fired.
Mr. Bigelow announced that he would call Lieut.
Richmond, who had made accurate measurements
at the Jail, as a witness for the defence.
SERGEANT HUDSON TESTIFIES
Harry Hudson. commissary sergeant 2i artil
lery, was the next witness called. He had heard
Sergeant Mason say. in the commissary that he
was horrified, and his company was horri1ed at
to do away with him. Witness paid no particular
attention to it, as the remark was universal at that
AS TO THREATENING LANGUAGE TOWARDS GUITEAu.
The Judge advocate having asked the witness
one or two leading questions as to whether he had
ever heard Mason use any threatening language
towards Guiteau, to which the defence objected,
the Judge advocate said he had been obliged to ask
leading questions, as the witness an unwilling
one.
After some discussion the witness asked to make
statement, but was refused. The question being
admitted, the witness said he had never heard the
prisoner express any intention OF harming Gufteau
When the examination was finished Sergeant
Hudson was permitted to make his statement,
which was to the effect that he had never stated
to Lieut. Brown that he had heard Mason use
threatening language.
At O'Clock another short recess was taken to
get witnesses
MASONS WIFE.
During the session OF the court to-day Masons
wife sat in the room adjoining the library, where
the court sat When Mason went out, about noon.
during secret session of the court, he had very
affecting interview with his wife over a letter
which she had received, the eyes OF both being
suffused with tearS.
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