The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-04-09
SERGEANT MASON AND EDITOR
WEDTLL

Tke last contribution 10 the volume of vul-
garly-expressed sympathy for the non-com-
missioned officer, who, in a cowardly manner
betrayed his trust and disgraced the uniform
he Wore, arrived last week from not un-
known Western editor named Medill In
note carrying assistance to the wife and child
whose peace and happiness the would-b
murderer risked when he attempted to shoot
down the prisoner he was detailed to protect.
this Western editor assails, in the coarsest
way, the members of the court-martial who
We're assigned to the duty which they per
formed. The crank is abroai-in the pulpit
on the bench, at the clinic, and on the tripod
hence sympathy for Mason and censure of the
court-martial come from all quarters. These
gentlemen had the law for their government
and indisputable proofs for their guide. They
obeyed one, and followed the other.
Guiteau was both the prisoner and prop
erty ofthe United States TOmake assurance
doubly sure, because the existence of one
Guiteau implied the existence of many modi-
fled Guiteaus, the Army was enlisted in
Mason was at the Jail for this purpose. If
he had seen another in the act of attempting
the crime he failed to accomplish the
90 brave" sergeant would have probably
shot the wOuld-be assassin and enjoyed
legitimately that notoriety for which he is
evidently an anxious candidate. Having
attempted the life of the prisoner, having
done the very thing which he was employed
by his country to prevent, and done it too
under the circumstances which did not in
volye immediate d anger to himself-a much
more cowardly ast than Guiteau's, for he
ran risk OF being killed or torn to pieces on
the spot, Mason admitted it and boasted of it.
The place was a United States jail, and he was
performing duty as United States soldier
when he committed the crime. He there
fore was properly tried by court-martial,
properly convicted, and properly sentenced.
The extent of the law was given him, be-
cause the crime was OF a character which j.
calculated to shake the confidence of the
people i'll the means appointed by the Con-
stituton for the enforcement OF laws, the
administration of justice. If unarmel pris-
oners can be shot down by armed conserya-
tors OF the law, the prison doors should be
opened TO let the confirmed and incipient
criminals mingle together Mason at large,
with his musket, should have no advantage
over his brother assassin, Guteau, in prison,
unarned, unsuspecting, aud in fact confding
in the " brave sergeant's ability ani will
ingness to protect him from the ayenger
JONES'
The extent Of the law was given Mason
because there We're no eXtenuatiug but
many aggrayating circumstance in his ease.
He trod under foot civil aud military law
He supplemented Guiteau's blow at cyil so.
ciety, at republican government, by
kindred deed of violence, In the garb of a
soldier he acted the role of q cOwardly as
sassin. If the majesty OF law aud govern
ment Is to yield to the morbid appetite Of
Mason for notoriety, or to the wild and angry
rawlings OF his sympathizers, then are We on
the road to ruin, lur republics have but
one hope. It yenerltion for law and vindi-
cation of law.