Evening star., 1942-07-19

The old Washington Jail on Nineteenth
occupants the octet of German spies, Is
one of the most famous penal institu-
tions in the country, because Of the many
notorious prisoners who have been in
carcerated there, and where some have
even paid the supreme penalty for their
misdeeds. Notably among these was
Charles J. Guiteau, who shot President
James A. Garfield 81 years ago the
second of this month, and who was
hanged for his crime on Friday, June 30.
1882 after having been tried by jury in
the courthouse at the head of John
Marshall place and Indiana avenue.
But Guiteau's stay at the District Jail
was quite an uneasy one. and though
he was guarded by detachment of
Battery B, I'd United States Army, yet
It happened to be one of its own mem
bers, Sergt John A. Mason, who tried to
kill the assassin.
Mason's attempt on the prisoners life
was made on September II, 1881 eight
days before the President died Guiteau,
1t seems. had the habit of peering out
of one of the upper Jail windows on the
Ninteenth street side of the building,
between B and c streets. But for once
he was not there when the sergant tried
to pick him off.
The result was that Sergt. Mason was
arrested, tried by general court martial,
convicted, sentenced to serve eight years
In the penitentiary and was soon on his
way.
Mason had a good record as soldier
In the Union Army and was married and
had a child BY the masses he was
looked upon as hero and subscriptions
for his wife and daughter-"Betty and
the baby"-netted large sum OF money
which was increased by the sale OF bullets
sold as facsimiles of the one fired by
the ndlScfeeL sergeant.
George H. Bethard did not get as far
as did Sergt. Mason in his desire TO
Wreak vengeance on the unbalanced
assassin, for when he tried to borrow a
pistol, during the trial, from detective
In the courtroom whom he did not know
at the time, he was Immediately put
under arrest
But real wild west show was staged
m Saturday, November 10, 1881, when
William Jones made his spectacular al
tempt, that gained him the title, BILL
Jones the Avenger."
The Bill Jones Incident
Sixtv-one years is long time to re-
member the details of an lncloent OF
this nature, even if 1t does relate 10
such a notably tragic affair, ana SO, 10
refresh his mind, the writer looked up
The Star of November 81, and there ne
found the Bill" Jones story, which COW
ers the case very well, and is as follows:
"A horseman followed the van from
the neighborhood OF the courtnouse'
where the trial took place. AS the
vehicle was emerging from the Capitol
grounds into East Capitol street and
was numbering over the street railroad
tracks at that point, the horseman rode
up to the side of the vehicle and fired a
pistol. The ball passed through the SIDE
of the box, ripped a piece OF Guiteaus
oo hind his
The horseman Immediately put spurs to
his horse and galloped along First street.
THE van horses we're whipped up in
p,irsuit. and chased the fugitive as lar
as First and H streets NV, but without
avail.
"Of6cer Edelin,, who was seated with
the driver on the van, fired at the neelng
horse:nan. and thought that he hit him,
as the man threw up his right arm.
Across Boundary street the pursuit
was taken up by the county officers, who
emptied their pistols after him, but
could not catch him, as he was too
fleetly mounted. He disappeared from
view before the Maryland line was
reached.
Later, intelligence was received by
the police that led them to believe that
William Jones, a young farmer living
near Queens Station, was the man. The
country was secured, and Jones was
found at the home of Mr.. Lord on the
Bladensburg road.
Jones was brought into the second
precinct station. Officer Edelin,, who
visited him there last night, declared
positively that Jones was not the man.
Perry Carson, the guardsman OF the van,
however, was as positive in declaring
that it was the man.
Jones was visited by his lawyer,
Mr.. R. K Elliott, yesterday. and by his
advice refused to talk about the shoot
ing. He declined to admit anything,
and said the Government would have to
prove the charge against him. Jones is
noted as a crack pistol shot, and told
friend If he had undertaken the Job
he would have done it better"
Jones" The Star goes on to say, lis a
native of Prince Georges County. Md,
of English descent, and is about "a years
of age. He has two brothers zone engaged
on the farm and one in the employ
ment of telegraph company and one
or two sisters He is a farmer by oc-
cupation, and has been all his life Some
four years ago he married Miss Catherine
M. Bates. She is the sister Of Fred
and William Bates of this city, and owns
the Pomona estate, the old Bates family