New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-18
THE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.

VENEZUELA AND OIHERS-StC ChElAhi Di'1'-''
Upon REPUBLICAN DIssENsIoNs.
The case of the Government against the as
sassin Guiteau was formally presented TO the
Jury Yesterday by DistrictAttorney Corhhlil,
who spoke in direct and fOrcible way, ana
made little or no attempt at oratorlcal chec!'
He attributed the assassination OF Iresl-
dent Garfield to Guiteau's feeling or resent :
ment at not receiving Office and to his onehueu
self-importance at being treated without speciai
consideration. Guiteau's declarations that lie
removed the President to save the kepupllcah
marty and the Republic were pronounced the
result of deliberately planned scheme OF de-
fence, which seized upon Republican dlsSen-
sions as a prcteXt. Testimony was given by
Secretary Blaine, the Venezuelan Minister and
others Guiteau at times behaved outrage
ouslv, defying and insulting the Court, and
insulting witnesses and his counsel.
THE TRIAL BEGUN IN EARNEST
THE GOVERNMENTS CASE FORMALLY PRESENTED
IxADIRECT wAY-No ATTEMPT AT ORAToMcL
EFFECT on THE PART OF THE DI5TmCT-ATToR-
NEY-THE SECRETARY OF STATE AS WITNESS
TIE AssAsSIN's wRETCHED BEHAVIOR HE
PEEPARFs ANOTHER MANIFESTO, AND MR.. SEQ
VILE SUCCEEDS IN SURPRISING IT.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TGInUNE.l
WASHINGTON. Nov 1.-THE trial of Guiteau has
begun in earnest The formal presentation by the
mouth of the District-Attorney of the Governments S
case against the assassin the narration of the trag
edy OF the I'd of of July in all It's details by the near
witnesses of the event. including the highest official
associate and closest personal friend Of the late
President, the hopeless and thanklesS though con-
scentious efforts of the pTsouer'srelaive and coun-
sci TO extort from the witnesses admission unon
which might be hung a doubt of the prisoners re-
spOnsibity for his acts, and the prisoners
brutal conduct toward those who, il spite
of themselves, are his sole defenders
and his prepOsterous assumption that the people Of
the United States had any sentiment of sympathy
with him, were the noteworthy features of the day
The familiar story of the assassination had new
ana terrible interest coming it did from the lips
of those who were the Mortified behoders Of and TO
some extent the actors ill., the and told in the
presence of the cowaIdly assassin himself 1t was
play in real life such fortunately rarely falls TO
the lot of Americans to witness. The Distinct
Attorneys speech to the jury direct and concise.
Ii dealt with the facts III the tragedy and embodied
few theories. Ii was delivered with the solemn earn
estneSs and force which beed the gravity OF the oc
casion and without q 'ticuaiOn oratOucal effort.
The revengcu motives of the prisoner and the
long preparations for the deliberately conceived
crime were all set forth. The facts needed no
adornment or elaboration to make them convinc-
ing.
The direct examination Of witnesses by the Dis
trict-Attorny was brief The crOss-eXamlnatian
conducted by Mr. Scovile. more extended and
was conducted with an earnestness of manner which
won sympathy for the counsel from the entire
audience The witnesses were sef-posscssed, and
while they disagreed in two or three immaterial
points, the facts Of the assassination as they are
known to the world, were abundantly proven by
each one.
Guiteau's conduct was ont ageous. There were
no Inconsistencies as might he expected from an
insane person. but his whole department was con-
sistent with the supposition that he thought him
self an important parsonage, and that his offended
sclf-love was the inspiring motive for his act. The
same unreaSoning and uncomfortable temper was
manifested to-day. He has conceived the most il
repressible dislike for Mr.. Robinson of his
counsel and openly insults him in Court.
He percmptOrilv demands Robinson's retire
mcnt, and said in court to-day that two or three
"blunderbuss lawyers" of the kind would ruin the
case. He was summarily rod by Judge Cox that he
would be sent out of court in irons and the trial be
continued without him if he did not keep quiet but
he retorted that he did not care for that. Toward
MIR Scoylle he is scarcely less violent his prOvoca-
ton being that Mr. ScOyile does not submit at al
times to Guteaus dictation in his methods of con-
ducting the defence. Dnring the first twenty min
utes of the Distric-Attorney's speech to-day Gui-
teau read the newspapers and was apparently
unconcerned i'll the proceedings then he
leaned back. and, resting his head
upon his hands, closed his eyes as if
about to go to sleep. He revived, however, shortly
afterwarl and devoted good portion of his time
thereafter t. the preparation of another manifesto
of some kind for publication. He frequently made
suggestions TO hls counsel, and often in con-
sultation with his brother. He never looked at OF
spoke TO Robinson. IhiS gentleman seems to be
crushed. 1t is difficult to how he can be of any
service to his client while the latter persists in his
present course. Guitcau's exhibitions Of spleen con-
tinued at intervals during the day and excited uni
versal disgust.
The crowd was dcnser than on any pre-
yiOus day, and its average respectablty and
intelligence manfestly improved. Many
hundreds were unable to obtain admission and
even the space behind the Judges desk was en-
croached upon by spectators. Many came TO hear
Mr. Corkhills speech many more to hear Secretary
BlaiEe's testimony. All were qmet throughout the
proceedings, excepting i0r moment after Mr. Cork
hill concluded when some ill-imod applause came
from the distant corners. Secretary Hunt and
Judge Wylie occupied seats beside judge Cox
Secretary Blaine, who entered the ccurt-rOOm
shortly after the proceedings were opened. ac
companied Nv Walker Blaine and Emmons Blaine
and Chief Clerk Brown OF the state Department
Secretary Blaine the first and most n-
portant witness. lie was listened TO with
breathless attention by the large audience
and told the familiar story direct and quiet man
ner and with completeness of detail which left lit
tie for the crosse XanIncr to do. The Venezuelan
Minister gave his testimony with strong Spanish
accent. BY virtue of his Office ne was exempt from
subpoena but waived his right IN this regard.
Mrs. Sarah B. v hite. the matrOn i'll the ladies'
waiting-room in the Baltimore and Potomac Depot
was one of the witnesses Of the shooting. and held