The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-01
uniqe In tho history Of murder trials. The
record Of those DAYS makes o book Of 1000

uniqe In the history Of murder trials. The
record Of those days makes book Of 200
pages. ~ E-lils'l,alz 81 ts't
On the 18th Of January he was convicted
"asindicted," aitera lcli6crtion by the jury
OF less than half M hour He was sen.
enccd to be hanged on June 80, 1882.
Since lie was sentenced n nnmber OF ei.
forts have been made TO obtain 4 respite
Tor him. Ills counsel employed every
measure known 10 the law, but ut each
point failed: His brother and sister have
made personal appeals to the President bnt
he has refused TO interfere with tho carry.
ing out Of the sentence. 80
MAsoS's ASSAULT on THE ASSASSIN.
During the incarceration two attempts
were made upon his life. One was that Of
Sergeant Mason, one Of tho guard OF regl-
lar army soldiers who have been on duty
since the Cd Of July. Mason, becoming
tired OF such duty, decided to end it by
killing the prisoner. lie took the, oppor-
tunity afforded by the changing OF the
guard in the evening 10 lircat Guiteai, who
usually watched tho arrival OF the new
guard from bis cell window, marked G in
the cut above. Mason stood at the corner
Of the main entranceof the Jail. a dotted
line shows the course OF his bullet. His shot
was good one, ii Guiteau had been there
US usual. The bullet passed through the
glass OF the outside window, crossed the
corridor and into the cell window, striking
the side wall and glancins to the end wall.
The assassin was lying on his bed Mt the
time, and was saved for more fitting fate.
Mason was tried by court martial for his
breach OF discipline and attempted homi-
ciec: lie was sentenced 10 eight years in
the Albany pcnitcntiary, where he still
remains, The other attempt to get rid OF
Guiteau was that oil Il farmer residing near
the city, who fired through the side OF the
"Blnck Maria" which was conveying the
assassin from the court 10 the jail. Here,
100, there WIS Il narrow, escape. The man
was arrested and is now under bail 10
answer The charge. Both will probably DO
rardoned by the President utter the
execution OF the assassin. 81
DESCRIPTION OF TIE CUT.
u. Guiteau's first cell, in which he was
when Mason fired ut him.
:. Wheie Mason stood when he fired.
The dotted lines indicate the course OF the
ball. ~. 1.st,, -: =!
.. Guiteau's present cell.
!. Rotnnda, sixty by seyenty-fve feet. 4
!. Gallows on which he was hung.
Dotted lines indicate Guiteau's route
from his cell to the gallows.
The gallows is permanent, three muir.
dcrers having been executed on it since its
erection. 1t is painted green and is
situated in the north end OF east corridor
This jail is mn admirable building in its
way-indeed, it might serve as model for
all institutions OF the kind. It does not
look like large building as you approach
it, but it is partly due to the admirable
proportions Of the building. f:In form it is
Greek cross. There is great rotunda in
the centre; the short arms in front and rear
OF this face east and west, tile front wing
containing the offices Of the jill and its up.
per stories the quarters for The female pri-
soners. The rear wing is devoted 10 The
cooking and other domestic needs OF the
Jail. The main wings IRE the north and
south wings, each one OF which contains
cells for 200 prisoners.
q wISDOwED LIKE 4 CHURCH.
The exterior walls Of the Jill are win.
dowcd like church, and have light iron
gratings outside the glass. They do not
look especially strong. Inside :of these
walls and wholly separated from is the
structure in which the cells arc located.
The cell doors all open from the long cor
ridors in the centre, and each cell has n
window looking ont upon the great cor
ridors and through the barred windows to
the open fields which surround the iail.
Thus every prisoner has an outside view
from his cell window, and the sun shines
during some hours Of the day into a good,
many'of them. - - =,
The floor OF the scailold is twelve feet
high, measuring from the floor OF the
Jail, and there are fourteen stems in Tho
stairway leading TO it. Over the centre of
inc scaitold is single wooden bar through
which the rope is let down 10 slip over the
head. The trap door, four feet
square, Is in the centre Of the platform, and
Will lall when two bolts on the ,northerly
side Of it are pulled out by means OF n rone
which runs from underneath tho platform
INTO the nearest cell window, in which the
eSecntloner will stand behind curtain. in
order thut his identity NAV be undiscov.
cred. The signal for the drop is given nv
the warden to the man behind the curtain.