New-York tribune., 1881-12-02
GUIrEAU AN EXTRAORDINARY WITNESS.

| WASHINGTON, Dec. l.-Ihe crOss-eNalnlha'Ion VI
| Guiteau, which ran through both sessions oi the
court to-day and was not ended then, left good
many of the spectators in doubt whether after all,
Charles j. Guiteau is not better lawyer than John
| f. Porter The veteran cross examiner probably
never before had a witness quite as quick and
supple An old citizen of Washington VINO listened
| to the testimony said: Well, he's as shrewd In
business as George Riggs himself" In fact, the
effect of his testimony to-day which showed con-
! clusyely that he knew the whole art Of borrowing
money OF pressing applications for oilice-that ls'
by personal solcitation-and living without paying
his board bills seemed TO strengthen the belief OF
many pcrsons present in his practical ability, In
! spite of some apparent mental unsoundness.
The scene was a remarkable one. 1t hardly
deserves TO be called a cfoss-exaninaton. Porter
was practically on the stand nearly as olten as
Guiteau and Guiteau's finger was shaking at Porter
about as often as Portcrs at him. The assassin was
more than ever master of ceremonies lie Scolded
judge Porter. abused him, mocked him, stopped
| him. refused to answer his questions whenever he
felt so disposed called upon the sten 1graphcr TO
read his notes at intervals and after four hours OF
tins extraordinary exhibition, himself adjourned the
court.
The spectators have learned decency from the
newspapers, and their laughter now is hardly more
than loud rustc through the crowd. Even that
could be rcpressed with firm Judge upon the pench'
and some sense of personal dignity among the spec
tators But the surroundings of the occasion are
NOT favorable to solemnity THIS is q trial and a
scene where, if republican simplicity did not un-
fortunately usually mean n loose mformality, many
people would expect to see Somehingo OF the dignity
usually supposed to invest a State trial. But here
! there /, little enough of it. The ccur-room is a
dingy little room, only fifty by seventy feet packed
with miscellaneous mass of people, among whom
it is ditiicnlt tn distinguish lawyers, re-
portcrs or jurymen from the spectators.
The room looks much like dismal coun-
| try school room and the hats and coats OF
jurymen and others hanging on pegs along the wall
hclp the likeness. The Judges desk stands at one
end between the doors, through one or when enter
the iury experts, distinguished guests, etc. and
through the other the main body of the spectators
Lower than the Judges desk and in front of 1T is
shorter desk occupied by the clerk and number OF
reporters The space in front Of this and extending
| to the part usually reserved for spectators Is
crammcd with reporters.
Between the reporters and the public Is table a'
which sit Mr.. ScovIIle, John W. Guteau, Mrs. SEQ
vile, with some relatives, and Guiteau himself
when not on the stand. At the right end OF the
Judges desk is a small das, upon which stands
what il called the witness box, which is simply two
sides of q box at right angles to each other Right
in front of Guiteau he sits there, and so near MN
that he could lean over and touch some of them
with his hand sit the jury of experts quiet, grave
and watchful. Back of them, against the wall,
| are the jury, and at the foot OF the
two jurics the counsel for the prosecution, of whom
Judge Porter is today the most prominent figure.
| There are no dividing lines The reporters crowd
the counsel and the experts the experts crowd the
iury and the spectators crowd everybody. III there
- boundary anywhere il consists of the two dep
| MY marshals posted at each end OF the jury, one
white and the other black, the latter being son OF
Frederick Douglass, jT. Their crimson badges make
| a touch of color among the men. Great decorum Is
| hardly to be expected IN crowd OF morbid Sght-
| seers under these circumstances While waiting LOT
| the trial to begin the pcpe chat and laugh Win
each other; while the trial is In progress they
watch for the good points as they would at play
and laugh softly, and during the noon recess the
women open their luncheon baskets and have a
pleasant little picnic with their friends IN the very
shadow of the great murder trial
There is such an air of cheerfulness and such an
| absence of solemnity in the court-rO IN that 1t
seems to be altogether appropriate when the crer
| round iOyial-looliug man, saunters up TO the
| Judge's desk with his right hand in his trousers
pocket and holding his penlnte in his left taps on
the Judges desk to bring order. proceeding
] with "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" A moment after
Guiteau appears through the doors surrounded
by policemen, skps or rather sneaks into the
| box and as he sits down, holds up his hands 10
allow deputy TO unlock his handouts Then. after
he has made Characteristic appeal to the people OF
| the country for money to aid in his defence. the
cross-examination begins. The drift and bearing
of Judge Porters questions can be best seen IN the
| 5etoied reports II was noticeable that as a rule
| tbo assassin was calm and collected, except when
Iudge Porter sought TO attack his theory OF divine
inspiration Then he would grow excited, pound
the ton of the witness box with his open hand ana
sometimes shake his finger at Judge Porter with
savage earnestness, while his ewes glared, and the
CLEAN of anger lighted up his whole face
Early in the examination Judge Porter pressed
him so hard with questions upon this point that be
took new Tone
ITS too sacred a matter" he said, glaring sui
| Ierlv at the top of the witness-box, to be made
light Of don't want to discuss that matter with
you." This remark he repeated many times during
the day. He soon grew hot and angry under the
steady gaze of Judge Porters eye, and the mercleSs
pointing of his finger.
| ..pm not afraid of you Judge Porter" he shouted
! pve seen Won do all that up in New-lork." And
he shook his finger back at the lawyer, mock'ng
! him while he gave sueer OF intense malice III
rive YOU as good as you send every time"
At this. of course the spectators snickered. JUS
tico Cox looked up in a reproachful way, tapped on
tbe desk without making any noise, and uttered
some words of remonstrance which were entirely in
audbe. The bailiils around the room all cried Isl
lencer in discreet tones, and the examination went
on. something like this scene being repeated when
ever Guiteau amused the crowd. The assassin's
freorent declarations that he had no malice against
any body in the world were hardly borne out py
the bitterness he showed toward Judge Porter hln-
ha
60 |S5 him esneoiaIlv amusing when
be answered question by leaning forward, saying
"Ya-as, was. ya-as" with a snar at Judge
portor az IL he would like To bite him, ii he c0ulQ