The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-12-01
TRIAL OF THE ASSASSIN,
Review Of the Tes,imony-The CuIprit
Sh"t n bat Missea, Ususal-Sc0vilIe,s
Address-The Defense II Insanisy-The
CSuse-Room Lttsle BETTER than Low
COGeAy, or n Circus.

Sn"e ~ haf MAssrd. Ususal-Sc0vilIe's
Address-The Defense II Insanisy-The
Csast-Room Litsle Better than Low
COneAy, or n Circus.
Upon the seventh day of the trial it was
found that the crowd at the courthouse WAS
three times greater than on any p evious day,
and it was with difficulty that those entitled to
admission could force their way through the
corridors to the Criminal Courtroom. Guiteau
arrived in the van at 9 o'clock, having an es-
cort of three mounted policemen in addi-
ton to the two officers on the van.
On the way he laid stretched out on the
seat SO as to be below the line of fire.
His movements in getting into and leaving the
van indicated the most abject fear, the crowd
hooting and jeering as usual On the opening
OF court, Robinson, of the defense, rose and
addressed the Court in behalf of himself. He
stated that his treatment had been such that
t-he eeonaA not, with self-respet. remain as coun-
Hereupon, Mr.. Scoville stated that he did
not expect to be without assistance
IN the case, and was expecting aid
from gentlemen in Chicago. Guiteau
whom he has previously named, to be present
| in short time to aid the defense. And then,
after pause, the prisoner said "On the
| question of malpractice we do not propose to
insist on that here, but desire the record to
show that appear here in my own capacity as
counsel. The idea of malpractice is this. that
| according to the physicians statements, the
| President was net fatally shot on the 25th of
| July. At that time they made an official ex-
animation, and said he would recover. If he
was not fatally shot on the 25th of July, we
| say his death was caused by malpractice. We
| do not desire to press that, but desire it to
60 on the record for the court in banc, if neces-
sary." After q pause: "My defense here is
that it is the Deity's act and not mine, and
expect He can take care of it. he has taken
| care of it very well so far" TLaughter1
After the examination Of Drs. Woodward and
Lamb, who testified to the character of the
| wound, that it was q mortal one, and identified
the ball, which was exhibited to the jury, as
| the one taken from the body of the President,
| the prosecution rested their case. Guiteau was
now told that he would be heard in opening for
| the defense. Remaining in his seat Guiteau
began: "Your Honor, was not aware was
expected to speak this morning. did not care
| to say more than WAS published last Mon
| day in nay address to the public, and presume
the jury all saw it. I have no set speech to
make The idea is to make corrections as we
| go along, just as I hav, been doing. If false
| stafeneh are made I shall correct them while
| thsy are. nos and not let them get cool and
| sHser from Misrepresentation" After making
| further statements, reiterating the above sub
stance, M. Scoyille addressed the jury at con-
Siderable length.
The eighth day of the trial of Guiteau has
been termed a disgusting low comedy. We're
| any one, unfamiliar with the facts in the case,
| to have dropped into the Criminal Court of the
| District during the day. probably fhe
List thing that would have occurred to
| them would have been that the assassin
| of'our President was on trial for his life.
i Fhe Courtroom was crowded in every nook
and sorner, and the perbdtim report of the
| proceedings shows daughter cloud laugh
ter" "applaVse," ''prolongued applause"
| Mr. ScoviIla a6draQa He celIad
the attention of the jury to the plea set up by
1 the defense, insanity, and discussed at great
| length the growth and changes in public
| opinion upon the subject of insanity and its
| treatment by the courts when set up as
| defense in criminal cases. He claimed the
| plea of insanity having been set up by tho de-
fense. the burden of proof rests with the
prosecution. In detailing the more enlightened
asyums, he said: 'In other words. those in
charge of asylums act with little
more reason than do the inmates This
statement amused >Guiteau greatly, lroad
| smile breaking over his features which
reappeared two or three times as if
his mind required to it, Mr. Scoville then re-
ferred to the newspapers and the general pub
| lie respecting their prejudice against the plea
of insanity. He said the newspapers had
charged that the prisoner was feigning insan-
ity. At this statement Guiteau turned uneasily
in is chair and said with quick. nervous ar
ticnlation, O. never feign; act myself, sane
or insane" Mr.. Scoville then referred to the
arrest of man at the time of the Inauguration
of President Hayes, who was sent to the asylum.
This person, Scoville said, was as determined
to kill Hayes Guiteau to kill Garfield.
president Garfield" said the speaker, " even
said, why did this man do it? He must be
insane Blaine must have believed Guiteau in
sane" Col. Corkhill here arose and said with
emphasis "If You will allow me, Mr. SEQ
vile, the President never said he thought
he was insane. He thought him sane
all the time. Blaine has said under
oath he believes him sane" Mr.. Scoville then
said he had based his information on the news
| papers. The family relations of the prisoner
were then discussed at great length, showing
that the entire family, I generations back,
were insane on religious matters. He treated,
also. Of their relations with the Oneida Com
munity. Guiteau appeared to be satisfied until
Scoyille plainly intimate / that the lack of ca
pacity on Guiteau's part had reduced his law
| practice to the collection of bad debts. Guiteau
WINGED, and broke on: with: "I brought a
| great. many suits, and I generally gave
them all they wanted On the other side. ~
Further along in his speech, speaking of the
prisoner, Mr.. Scoville used the term ''mentally
incompetent" whereupon Guiteau exclaimed:
"Not true, and can't be shown. had brains
enough, but my mind was devoted to theology.
That's why ran behind. There's no money
IN the ~ fhsoGsy fn ssoyie taa reiated
heard that story before and tits absolutely falso
Don't tell any such stuff as that again. "
Scoville then alluded to Guiteau's susceptible
ity to the influence of woman, and said such was
his disposition in that respect that he would talk
to any woman as long as she would listen to
him. "That's not true," shouted Guiteau
put notice in my autobiography that any
lady who wanted to correspond with me, who
would send her address, if she was all right,
would be well received, and to this notice
got q response from a lady worth 300, 900.
That wasn't bad was it?" General laughter. ]
Scoville continued: at is true, as he says,
that this notice brought one response, which
shows there is oGe woman in the United
States that probably has lost her reason, also. v
This remark elected good deal of laughter,
but not from the prisoner, who angrily ex-
claimed: ~ wrot her two letters, and she
wrote two. You (Scoville) suppressed the rest.
prisoner had written three letters, he did not
mail them for him. 81 knew You had lied
abont it," cried the prisoner in a loud tono
"You can't fool me. am going to follow her
[Laughterl knewyou lied about it. That i
not the first lie you have told" The Court told
.eprisoner to be quiet. The District Attorney
.en said it was useless to refer to such mat
ter. because if there were any such letters, they
could never reach the jury. Let this mar
play his part when the time comes," he added
II am not playing part" Guiteau said, ges
ticulatng wildly. ~ knew Scoville was lying.
And SO the dseraceful SCENE went on the res
of the day until the court adjourned.
Scoville, for the defense, concluded his ar
gument on the nineth day, and the examination
Of witnesses for the defense was begun. In
terruptions by the prisoner were frequent al
usual, and continued until the Court statet
that if the prisoner should continue his inter
ruptions it would remove him from the room
I This put q quietus on him. Scoville asket
Colonel Corkhill for papers and chPping
which were found in Guiteaus possession a
the time OF his arrest. Corkhill said he woult
furnish copies OF them, but Scoville demanded
the originals as lie desired to show the state II
which the Republican party was just prior t.
) the shooting as we'll as the state Of thu
prieOper,a mi be oripipnla