Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-24

How IL Seemed 20 Sergeant ma
son 90 be Set NJ Liberly--His
Poison Experiences aad His
Plans for the Future.


AI9N AOA ~ = a~aA~s
Albany Evening Journal.
A reporter for this journal recently
visited Sergeant Mason at the Albany
penitentiary, Just after be had been
notified that thePresident had granted
him an unconditional pardon. He
was found in one OF the private rooms
Of tho Superintendent partaking Of q
hearty dinner, consisting Of bread and
butter, meat aud potatoes, apple pie |
and glass Of milk. He was attired
10 spick and span new suit Of clothes
and a soft hat, the gift Of the Superin
tendent and his deputy. His shoes
we're nicely BACKED and his face was
clean shaved, except where be had
blocked out moustaobe on the upper
lip. In person he is FIVE feet ten |
inches tall, erect and manly, aud car.
ries himself in a manner acquired
through the discipline OF the
regular army. Although spare
of flesh he appears strong
and sinewy. His features are pleas /
ing, his eyes brown, and his abundant
hair dark brown in color. While be
ate he talked. After the reporter bad
congratulated him on mis- release and
received a hearty THANK you"
Mason reverted 10 his release.
III tell you what, said he, / shall
have no hesitation in talking to you
gentlemen of the press now that ] am
at my liberty, and will talk freely,
too, for it is to the press, after all that
am in a great measure indebted for
my pardon. | have had friend in
the press from the beginning. 1t is
now twenty months aud ten days since
| | was brought here, and during that
time when | thought Of the long sens
tence over my head, would often
begin to lose hope that my release
would come before the expiration OF
the term. And | used to think Of its
injustice. What had donell had been
sent to guard from a mob an assassin
who had murdered curl President. What
would any man have done under these
circumstances? Why. | believe be
would have done just as did. And
simply because | fred at and scared
the wretch, must be sent here and
toll away eight years Of my lite. If |
had been tried by Jury | would have
been acquitted. But l could not
get that; [ must be tried by court
martial. Now, if had killed Gui-
teau, that would have been murder.
That would have rendered me amena.
BILE to the civil law, and | would have
had trial by jury. aud | believe |
would have been acquitted. | would
not have had to put in twenty months
and ten days in this place. working
and toiling as | have worked and
tSiled.
do you regret firing that shot at
Guiteau2"
No. But do regret having had
TO put in all this time here unjustly,
as / think. How would you like it il
you we're to be confined foE so long,
trimming shoes in the shop all day
and spending your nights in cell not
large enough to stretch yourself 10,
and with no one to converse WITH Ny
cell adjoined that of Tom Ballard and
during ell the time | have been here
| have not spoken a dozen words to
| him. | think he is crank.
How have you been treated herer
"0h, excellent. | haven't q word
Of complaint as TO the treatment
have experienced since ! have beer
here. But | am glad it is over and
a am free once more TO come and 20 as
: like. II | we're a single man ! woulC
& like to stay around here q few day
and see Albany and also the ney
i capitol. But there's Betty and th
: baby; they have undoubtedly heard 0
this and will be expecting me. and
, must 20 to them as fast as the car
q will take me. Look at me"
On making this explanation Ma
son stood erect like a grenadier. Thel
continuing, be said earnestly:
There's not blemish upon me, al
1 though | look thin. Well, that bo
. is Just like me, he is strong and health
, anu WlbuUut u DioLuAbn. uy bVOu Son
q dition and my promotion in the arm
: was due to the fact that | never dram
. whisky, like other soldiers, and
!. rather kept myself above those VIII
I did"
? "Will this end your service in th
+ army?"
NJ "Oh, yes; no more Amy for me.
4 can make more money pulling stump
# down 10 Virginia, where Betty and til
= baby are"
4 Then you intend starting for HON
. immediately"
= Yes; | will go from here to Me-
= York on the AS train; thence I
q Philadelphia, from there to Bsltimort
!. then to Washington and thence {
; Fredericksburg, where a narrow gaug
q road up in the mountains will take m
to either Mine Run, Golden Ale q
: Parker's store, from either OF whic
/ places can get a ride out to Bett
!. and the baby's place. which is for
4 miles from Golden Ale. seven mill
!. from Parker's and six from. mine Rul