The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-28
A FREE MASON.
Sergeant Mason, Late OF the Y. s.
Army,
Net Free from the Albany, N. ".
HcMitentIary---fe Talks
Freely to a Press
Fiend.

ALBANY, N. L, NOV. - --oeiSb. maooA
was released from the penitentiary and left
for New York at once, hoping to reach Viz
gina in time to enjoy hiS Thanksgiving din
ner with Betty and the baby. The
mail brought the pardon from
Washington. When the news was con-
veyel TO Mason he could scarcely credit it.
After his release he spoke freely to the cor
respondent, to whom he said; 81 shall have
no hesitation in talking TO you gentlemen OF
the press, now that | am at liberty, and will
talk freely, too, Tor it is to the press after all
that / am in a great measure indebted
for rat pardon. l have had friend IN the
press from the beginning. 1t is now
twenty months and ten days since | was
brought here and during that time when |
thought of the long sentence over my head l
would often begin to lose hope. What had
done! | had been sent to guard from mob
an assassin who had murdered our president.
What would any man have.done who felt as
| did under the circumstances! Why,
believe he would have done just as / did,
and simply because | fired at and scared
the wretch | must be sent here to toll
away eight years Of my life. X had been
tried by jury would have been acquitted.
But | could not get that; l must be tried by
court martial. Now if l had killed Guiteau
that would have been murder. That would
have rendered me amenable to the civil law,
and would have had a trial by jury, and
believe / would have been acquitted Iwould
not have had even to put in twenty months
and ten days in this place working and toiiine
as have worked and toilei"
fbfa of
"No: but do regret having had to put il
all his time here unjustly as | think. How
would you like it if you were to be confined
for 50 long trimming shoes in the 1'op al
day and Spending your nights in a C, u no
large enough 20 stretch Yourself, and no ont
to converse with''
"How have you been treated here?
"Oh, excellent | havea'E a word of com
plant as to the treatment I have e&per need
nut am glad it is over and l am fire one
more 10 come ana go as / like. If was
| single man | would like to stay around her
lo~ days end see Aibany, aud al 80 the new
capitol, but there's Betty ;.IlI the baby; the.
have uaooab.e lily heard III this and will b
expecting me and mast go to them as fas
as The cars wih take NE. Look at me.
| Ga making this exclamation Mason stoo,
erect like a grena her. IN person he is iiv
| feet tea inches tall, and carries himself in
manner acquired through Ghe discipline of tn
| regular ai-rly. Althougasl'are of flesh he az
pears strong and sinewey, his features ar
pleasing. hiseyes brown in color. Continuing
| he said earnestly, 'There's not blemish upo
me, although look thin. Well that boy is jus
| like me. He Is strong and healthy and withou
blemish. My COOL condition and promo
| ton in the army was dus to the fact that
never drank whisky like other soldiers an
| rather kept myself above those who did. ="
"Will this end your service in the armyF'
| ''Oh, yes; no more army for me. ca
make more money pulling stamps down IL
Virginia, where Betty and the baby are"
How long were you in the arny!"
Il enlisted with Capt. McGilVray at Fred
eIicksburg in 1866 and served until cam
TO this place. also served in the war, figh
ing for the union against fUnr uncles an
TWENTY-FIVE cousins who were ON the otht
side"
Sergt. Mason detailed at considerable lengt
his army experiences, and, finally branchin
Off, said: II am Democrat in politics, an
always have been, but there are some Repul
licans whom would vote for If Grant an
Lincoln are nominated for president and viz
president l should vote Tor them, for l az
mire both men. | would also vote for Blair
if he is nominated, for he was a devote
friend of Garfield"
a "a tr,iacre hapi,,ar a,--'----i "a CONVEX a
sergeant TO the depot, the reporter hoping I'll
prisoner would arrive in time to enje
Thanksgiving with Betty ami the baby
took his leave.
| WASHINGTON CITY, Nov 2S-The pardo
of Sergt. Mason merely reeites the fact of ii
trial and sentence. 1t states that the pres
dent for good and sufficient reasons grants
full and unconditional release.