Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-21
THE GUTTEAU TRIAL.
DR.. Bliss on the Stand.
Vetebra of President Garfield
Produced.

WARHISGIOS. ~. ~ w.
court room was crowded. quite III expressed
himself we'll satisfied with the progress OF
his case. Mr. Scoville says he fears ne
would make mistake ia taking on addition
al counsel. He has not heard from Mr.. Ma
pruder. and SAYS that he does not expect any
other assistance than that of Mr.. ROBINSON
Geo. C. MAYNARD, electrician, testified to
loaning Guiteau $40 at one time and $40 al
another. Guiteau protested against the line
of evidence; didn't think it anybodys ousi-
ness whether he owed So or some one
owed him. Maynard" he said, lis good
fellow. and owe him S25; that's an there
is in it, District Attorney Corkhill desired
TO prove by the witness that Guiteau ber-
roxed the SIS with which he bought his re-
volver. On cross examination, the witness
thought Guiteau looked seedy and hungry
The prisoner showed much feeling. and ire
oueptly interrupted the witness, asserting
that he lived in drst-class style and wore
$40 suit of clothes. He knew plenty OF
public men and had all the money he want
ed. His mental condition and not physical
was at fault He had a big load on his mind
about that time Witness did not notice any
thing particular about the prisoners manner,
except sort of skulking gait. Joseph n:
Burkart, clerk to Mr. Maynard, also testl1ed
to the loan of the SIS, and thought Guiteaus
walk ana the way He heiu MS A's" A'
peculiar.
John O'Meara testified to selling the pistol
to Guiteau. He could not identify it, as
there were thousands just like 1t. The
charges were then drawn from the revolver
at the suggestion of the counsel, and. much
to the relief of the audience. Pending the
examination of the pistol, Guiteau desired to
announce to the court that he had invited
.Joh. b. Townsend of New York and Leon
ard Turell and A. S. Trude of Chicago, to
assist him. There were plenty OF brains on
the other side, and he desired as much on in
the interest of justice. Another matter,
he continued. II desire to call to the atten-
ton of the court. There are number of
disreputable characters about the court, and
some threats of violence have been made
during the week past. have no fears for
nv personal safety. The chief of police has
kindly furnished me body-guard, and wish
to notify all evil-disposed persons that, if
they attempt to harm me, my body-guard
will shoot them down; that's all there is
about it, Then, nodding to the reporters
tables, he added, Reporters, put that down."
Col A. S. Rockwell, the next witness be-
gan to detail the occurrences at the depot,
when Mr.. Scoville interposed, acknowledge
ing the killing. Guiteau quickly shouted,
mo YOUR honor, we acknowledge the shoot
ing, but not the killing" Col. Rockwell
briefly stated the facts within his knowledge,
and, without cross-examination, was followed
bv Gen. d. G. Swain. Witness was at
Elberton when the shooting occurred.
DR.. ID. w. Bliss was then called and gave
a narrative covering from the time he was
called to the Presidents side (l5 or 20 min
utes after he was shot until his death. The
immediate cause of death was hemorrhage.
Witness then explained infinitely the charac-
ter of the wound, using the upper portion of
a wired skeleton for the purpose of illustra-
ton. and detailed at great length the prog
ress and symptoms of the case.
Pending the arrival of the fractured verte-
bra, which the District Attorney announced
had been sent for, witness was subject to a
lengthy crOss-examination, the supposed OBJ
ject being to lay foundation for the theory
of malpractice, which Guiteau insists must
be made the foundation of his defence. The
sensation of the trial was produced when the
District Attorney suddenly drew from paste
board box upon the table section of a hui
man back bone, and holding it up inquired ::
do you recognize this, doctorT' The au-
dience hing breathless upon the answer, as
the witness. in measured tones, replied: 81
do, it is portion of the vertebra of the late
President James A. Garfield" The vertebra
was then handed to the jury, and the chara-
ter and extent of the injury to them was ex-
planned by the witness. Witness was fol-
lowed by the closest attention on the part of
the entire audience, with the sole exception
of Guiteau, who devoted himself to his papers,
only occasionally glancing up with the air of a
man being bored with recital in which he
could have no possible interest. After the
vertebre had been returned to the District
Attorneys table. Mr.. Scoville reached over
and requested an opportunity of examining
it. 1t was handed to him. and Guiteau, who
sits Immediately on his right, examined it
closely as Mr.. Scovlle turned it over and
from side to side. He made no move to
touch it, however, and gave not the slightest
indication of any feeling other than casual
curiosity. The examination was still pro-
crossing when the hour of recess arrived.
Upon the reassembling of the court, DIR.
Bliss again took the stand. and the cross ex-
animation of the witness was conducted by
Mr.. Scoville. Before the recess the exami-
nation was managed by Mr.. Robinson, who
read his questions from Manuscript notes. The
ingenious and comprehensive scope of his
examination plainly suggested the handi-
work OF some medical expert. At one point
witness used the word ''aneurism.'' Please
explain to the jury what that is, said the
District Attorney. l don't know what it