Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-24
MASON'S TRIAL.
organization of the COurt-OpenIRg
asOn MakesnO PIE a
The Trial Expected 20 Last
About a Week.
Rnahinnton lStnr rs,eadnu

The court martial ordered by Gen. Hat
cock for the trial of Sergeant John A. Ma
son, Battery B, Second Artillery, who shot
through Guiteau's cell window at the Jail
on the llth of September last, assembled at
the Washington Barracks to-day, according
to the order constituting the court. The
body is composed of Lieut.. Col Henry r.
Miner, Tenth Infantry; Major L. L Lang
don, Second Artillery; Capt. R. Fl. Hall,
Tenth Infantry; Capt. q. B. Throckmorton,
Fourth Artillery; Capt. j. B. Rawles, Fifth
Artillery; Capt. J. N. Craig, Tenth Infantry;
Capt. g. V. Weir, Fifth Artillery; Capt.
John w. Roder, Fourth Artillery; First
Lieut.. II. j. Reilly, Fifth Artillery; second
Lieut.. h. A. Sprlngett, Fourth Artillery;
Second Lieut.. Williston Fish, Fourth Arti!3
lery; Second Lieut.. E. T. Brown, Fifth Ar
tillery, Judge Advocate.
Several of the officers composing the
cour5 assembled in the court martial room
in the old barracks building at II O'Clock,
but the proceedings were delayed, owing to
the fact that some of the members of the
court had by mistake gone to the Marine
Barracks. A long table amply supplied
with writing materials, was provided in the
court room for the accommodation of the
officers. Mr.. j. G. BigelOw, Mason's coun-
sci, arrived on the ground early.
Lieut. Brown, talking to the Star reporter
before the court opened, said he expected
the trial would require about week, and
that the court would probably assemble at
II and sit till 8 o'clock every day.
1t was noon when the members OF the
court, arrayed in all the splendor of full
dress uniform, sat down to the long table.
Every officer wore an appropriate badge of
mourning for the late President, the six
months during which they were required to
show respect to the memory of the deceased
not having expired. Colonel Mitzner, In
virtue OF his office as President of the court,
sat at the head Of the table, while Lieuten-
ant Brown, Judge Advocate, sat at the op-
posite end. When the roll was called. and
all the members being found present, Ser
geant Mason was brought in from the guard
house and stood by the Judge Advocate
while that officer read the various orders
under which the court assembled When
the ceremony was concluded the Judge Ad-
vocate said "Have you any objection, Ser.
geant, to be tried by any member of the
court ?''
''No, sir; I have not" responded the
prisoner.
The members of the court then rose, and,
raising their right hands, were sworn in due
form by the Judge Advocate The Judge
Advocate was in turn sworn by Colonel
Miner, upon which the court was declared
duly organized.
The prisoner, upon inquiry, said that be
man, who was In the Adjutant's office, was
sent for and soon appeared. There was
some discussion as to procuring a steno-
grapher, but no decision was reached. Mr..
Bigelow was then introduced to the court.
and suggested that a competent person be
employed to make plat of the front of the
jail, to show, as he claims, that 1t was utter
ly impossible for the prisoner to have COM
mltted the crime charged against him. He
fhnHnhf no of
give an intelligent consideration of the case
without such draft.
Lieutenant Brown said he had visited the
the Jail, and made a rough draft of the
premises, which, he thought, would show
everything. He thought it would be neces-
sary for the officers of the court to VISIT the
jaiLanyway. He suggested that string
should be passed from Guiteau's cell cut
through the windows of the jail, In order to
show the exact position where the man who
fired the shot stood.
Colonel Miner said he thought It would
be necessary to visit the JAIL
Mr.. Bigelow said that he thought thev
should have the plan as part of the record
Mr.. Bigelow said he thought the court
could finish its work in three DAYS with
steEogray her, whereas it would take week
without one.
Col. Miner having explained that no
{ e.U0HVsloPn0l Coulu oo ODJalneQ mere Tor
the amount allowed by the government ($lO
per day., it was decided to telegraph 10 a
Buffalo stenographer for a stenographer
who wanted the task.
After some discussion, the court was
cleared, and the prisoner, his counsel. and
the reporters adjourned to an adjoining |
ROOM.
The court remained Ia secret session for |
about 20 minutes. When the room was
thrown open again the prisoner was brSuoht
in and the Judge Advocate read toe chsroes
and specifications to him. alleging vinIstion
OF the 63d article of war while on gnard |
uuty at the jail, by wilfully and feIoniouslv |
WIN q, intent 70 Kill, discharging his musket |
at Onas. y. GulteaH, prisoner there con
nned; Waen asked what he had to saw In |
me charge, Mason said; 81 make no plea
Enter a plea OF not guilty." said the |
After further discussion, In which r. was
10 the jail until the ease was further a. a.
Veloped, the court adjourned few mfnutes |
before one O'Clock until twelve O'Clock to-
morrow. W
Mason is looking very well, though he
complains considerably of his Confinement
L wouldn't care" he said to a iStQr re.
porter, "It 1t wasn't for shooting at such a
Id unchristian dog as that. When was
1rst confined didn't have a friend come to
zee me except this gentleman here (point-
ng to MIR. Bigelowl. don't know any of
he officers of the court" continued Mason,
\ am willing to trust to them"
Some one having joked him about the
pictures that have been published of him.
Mason said; II haven't had any picture
AIKEN OF me. think ought to be allowed
% have my photograph taken and be allow
d to sell them just as Guiteau does.
There" ne said to Star reporter, openiHg
IN envelope and taking out small scran Of
PAPER, sis a specimen of my handwrttfno
rmy." 'N '"'
Inc scrap OF paper contained simply the
"JOhn A, Mason. Sergeent RAJ
cry B, I'd Artillery.n A' A"'
Mason, while talking to the renort.ra
eemed much disgusted with his quarta.s m
be guardhouse. He said rats ISd free
ccess to his cell. Last night, one visited
Inn while be vas In bed. sSa ne killed 1t
y sQuee sing 1t with HE nand.