Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-15
Great Excitement on His First
Appearance in Court.
HE PLEADS NOT GUILTY.
He Wants to Make Few Remarks,
But is Told to Sit Down.


Cr;-a.r was going 10 take place. Most OF
the spectators remained, and very intense
feeling of interest was manifested. Ihere
was no unusual display of police force III OF
.bon, the court room. although there was a
large number of detectives present mol IL"
uniform.
For over half an hour business was sus-
nanded. awaiting the introduction OF the
prisoner. At a quarter past III, Mr.. oco'iie'
| counsel for the defense, entered, anu ,ooN
| seat at the LAWYERS table, and Immediately
afterward Marshal Henry and Two DePuy
Narshals. having between them and hustiing
along a cowed and cringing figure. man for
| whom they made way 10 the se"'
him beside his counsel.
Then one of the guards unlocked the hand
,ps. giving the prisoner the use Of his hands,
| which he continued, however. to hold crossed
"a If that was their usual position. Gulteau
looks broken in health and uncared for IN
nerson. His hair is closely cropped: HIS
cheek and chin whiskers are worn thick, OUT
not long. His dark clothes were shabby and
rnsty. and his whole person presented mis-
erably neglected appearance.
| After the excitement attending his aften-
dance had subsidized, District Attorney CORK
hill rose and addressing the Judge, SAID
| 1.-The Grand Jury of the District of Columbia
L =. d.
| Of James A. Garfield. The prisoner is in
court and ask that he be arraigned, and re-
ouested to plead to the indictment" The
prisoner was ordered to stand up, and in
languid manner he obeyed.
Clerk.-''Is your name Charles Guiteau"
The prisoner assented by nod.
The clerk proceeded to read the indict-
ment, the prisoner standing up, with his
head most of the time inclined to the right
shoulder, his eyes half closed, or wholly so,
his hands crossed over his stomach as if they
still wore handouts, and his general air that
of sickly Indifference.
The reading occupied nearly half an hour
and during all that time, Guiteau hardly
once changing his attitude or bearing, and
rarely opened his eyes. He did not mani
fest the slightest symptom of interest in the
scene; but for an occasional slight move
ment, might be supposed to be asleep in q
standing attitude.
dictment, the clerk addressing the prisoner,
guilty or not guilty."
The prisoner in the place of response,
fumbled in his waistcoat pocket and drew
out scrap of paper. The District Attor-
ney imperatively said:
Enter you plea of guilty or not guilty.
Prsoner.-'I enter plea of not guilty.
| If YOU honor pleases, desire to make a
| statement"
Court-'At some other time. 1t would
| not be appropriate just now. Some time. y
The prisoner thereupon took his seat.
| District Attornev.--''In this case l ask
that the trial be set for next Monday fore
noon, peremptorily. The government j:
ready for trial now.
Mr.. Scoville.--''I appear here for the de-
PENDANT his request l have some affidavits
to present the court, the first being that Of
the defendant himself. The affiant further
says that it is important and necessary for
| the defence to have the testimony of experts
on the subject of insanity in addition to tn.
witnesses of the facts. that he expects to
prove that the defendant was insane at thu
time of the shooting by the testimony o
| competent witnesses. The affiant also ex
poets to prove it by the following competen
medical experts: VIM. A. Hammond New
York; J. Marian Sims, New York. Moses
Gum, and Edward Andrews of Chicago
That the wound was not necessarily fatal
and was not of itself the cause of the dealt
of James A. Garfield, but that death ensuet
as the result of malpractice of the principa
physician in charge of the wounded man
The affant has reason to believe and doe
believe that there are material witnesses fo
the defence (whose names and residences
are at present unknown) on the question o
INSANITY; that thus far the afiant has no
been able to obtain information from the de
PENDANT himself or otherwise with any par
ticularity as to where he has been or as t,
the prisoner for some years past, to as t
know whom to call as witnesses, but tn
affiant believes that upon further inquiry an,
within the forty days, he can ascertain tn
names and residences of many such witnesse
whose testimony would be very material
The affaut believes as many will be necessar,
on the part of the defence, as appear on tn
list of witnesses for the prosecution, to wit
forty-four, and the court is respectfully aske
to make an order allowing any number o
witnesses not exceeding forty-four, to be sub
pGnaed on the part of the defendant, as hi
counsel may from time to time deem neces
sary The affant, from the defendant, ha
no means of payment of any expenses, an
the affiant himself. has received nothing an
expects to receive nothing for his expenses
disbursements, etc.
1t NAV be readily perceived that it is O
the utmost Importance, not only to the pris
oner himself, but to the public at large, tina
the prisoner should be we'll represented i
the defence. 1t seems to be utterly impossi
BILE that the trial should take place mex
week. If General Butler should decline t.
appear in the case. it would be proper 70
the prisoner himself to indicate his choice @
counsel.
ScovIle then proceeded to discuss tn
l-question of procuring the attendance of wit
nesses abroad and having the expenses there
of paid by the government. He claimed un
der the statues that the question was entirel
under the discretion of the court He sal
as yet, | am alone in this matter; / have NJ
one to help; not even a clerk to prepare an
copy papers. This work of getting up evi
dence, looking up witnesses and subpenin,
them, all devolves on me. All l ask is tina
such action may be taken by the court a
will enable me to get witnesses for the de
tense in court. There are certain indictment
in the docket which are ahead of this case
| believe the Star Route cases are ahead o
it. This defendant can lie in Jail for few
weeks longer without harm to himself or 4
the government. At the same time, wan
the court to understand that there is no dis
position so far as am concerned to postpon
the trial.
District Attorney.-My own judgement i
that the trial ought 10 take place as soon a
possible The government is ready and tn
trial should not be unGuly postponed Tn
gentleman representing the prisoner occupie
the double capacity of counsel, and of a rel
alive. He is thus enabled to know definitely
mucb any man can Yns.;hlr