The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-15

which denyIas matter of fact, still the cir
cumstances attending the shooting invalidate
the presumption of malice either in law or in
fact Heretofore political grievances have
been adjusted by war or the ballot. Had Jeff
erson Davis and a dozen or two co-traitors been
shot dead in January. 1861, no doubt our late
rebellion never would have been.
lam PATRIOT OF TO-DAY.
1 suffer in bonds as patriot. Washington was
q patriot. Grant was patriot. Washington
led the aImies of the Revolution through eight
wears of bloody war to victory and glory Grant
led the armies of the Union to victory and go-
ry. and to-day the nation is happy and prosper
oI1s They raised the old war cry: 'sRallv round
the flag, boys; rally round the flag" and thou
sands of the choicest sons OF the republic went
forth to battle, to victory or death. Washing
ton and Grant, by their valor and success in war
Won the admiration of mankind. To-day suf-
fer in the bonds of a patriot because had the
inspiration and the nerve to unite great poll
tical party, to the end that the nation might be
saved another devasting war. do not pretend
war was immediate, but do say emphatcally
that the bitterness in the Republican party
last spring was deepened and deepened hour
by hour. and that within two or three years, or
less, the nation would have been in the flame
of civil war. In the presence OF death all hearts
were hushed; contention ceased. For weeks
and weeks the heart and brain of the
nation centred on the sick man at the
White House. At last he went the way of
all flesh, and the nation was house of mourn
ing.
fed py nearly the.entire American press nay
more. by nearly the entire American people, is
a true statement; but Providence and time
right all things and to-day, by the gradual
change of public opinion, l am justified in
passing with laudable contempt the continual
venom of certain newspapers. Let the news
papers change from "Guiteau the assassin"
to
GUITEAU THE PATRIOT"
I appeal to the stalwart and liberal press of the
nation for Justice / appeal to the Republican
party, especially the stalwarts, OF whom am
proudsto be one, for Justice l appeal to the
President of the United States for Justice. l
am the man that made him President: without
my inspiration he was a political cipher, without
power or importance. [ was constantly with
him in New York last fall during the canvass,
and he and the rest of our men knew that we
had all that we could do to elect our ticket.
Had Gen. Hancock kept his mouth closed on
the tariff, or had the Morey letter been delayed
one week, Hancock would certainly been elect
ed. Then no man can tell what might have
happened to the republic. am more than
glad that Gen Arthur is proving himself a
wise mar in his new position, and expect he
will give the nation the finest administration
it has ever had 1 appeal to this honorable
court for justice. am glad Your Honor Is q
gentleman of broad views, Christian senti-
ment and clear head / count myself fortu-
nate indeed that my case is to be tried before
SO able and careful jurist. appeal to the Dis
trtct Attorney and his learned associates for
justice; / beg they go slow in prosecuting this
case, that they do no injustice to the
DEITY, WHOSE SERVANT WAS,
when / sought TO remove the late President.
At the last great day they and all men will
stand in the presence of the Deity, crying for
mercy aud justice. As they are here so will
be their final abode hereafter. Life is an enig-
ma. This is a strange world. Often men are
governed by passion and not by reason The
mob crucified the Saviour of mankind, and
Paul, his great apostle, went to an ignominious
death. This happened many centuries ago.
For eighteen centuries no man has exerted
such a tremendous influence on civilization as
the despised Galileean and his great apostle.
They did their work and left the result with
the Almighty Father This speech was writ
ten in cramped position in my cell.
SECRETARY BLAINE THE FIRST WITNESS.
The most interesting part of the trial is that
Secretary Blaine will be the first witness.
When it becomes known here that Mr.. Blaine
will be the first man to tell the story OF the
tragedy, the large court room will not be suffic-
lent to hold the twentieth part of those who
will be anxious to hear the Premier tell the
story of the great crime.
Before the trial is over it is likely That the
q
dozen letters written by Guiteau to Gen. Gar
field before the shooting, when the assassin
was an applicant for consulship. They are
saidlto be very interesting, and 1t is also said
they will be very important. Their existence
has only lately been disclosed.
HOW THE COURT OPENED.
A few minutes before 10 O'Clock the lawyers
in the case came into the room, the grand jury
took their seats, and all awaited the opening of
the Court The public began to stream in
when the doors were opened, and in two min
utes the spaces furnished we're densAly packed.
Reporters, whose seats were adjacent to Gui-
teau's, scanned the imposing swarm somewhat
anxiously for pistol-bearing ''cranks." Mrs.
Scoville and John w. Gulteau came in at five
minutes past 10 and took seats by the side of
Mr.. Scovile.
THE PRISONER BROUGHT IN.
Judge Cox entered Immediately afterward,
and the court was called to order. The grand
jury were polled, and all found to be present.
Guiteau was then brought in. He was pale
and anxious, but looked much better than on
his former appearance He sat next his sister,
Mr.. Robinson the counsel assigned by the
court, being on the other side The groups Of
counsel, the prisoner and his kin, the court re-
porters and correspondents, and the mass of
people outside the railing, were all objects
of interested mutual regard. Judge Cox is a
man of grave and digni6ed presence, remind
ing one in the contour of his face and fashion
and beard of the late Emperor, Napoleon
Thrd5
The lawyers for the government sat on the
left of the court, and with them were officers
representing the War department. and the At
torney General. The principal centre of in
terest for all eyes, however, was the group
Immediately below and in front of the report
ers' desks. Here in row facing the Judge,
were seated in the order named, Scovile, Rob-
inson, Guiteau, Mrs. Scoville and John w.
Guiteau. The only immediate friends of the
late President present were Judge Advocate
Swain and Colonel Rockwell. Marshal Hem
ry was of course also present.
THE PRISONERS APPEARANCE.
Guiteau has improved in looks very much
since he was arraigned in court some weeks
ago. The deadly pallor in his face has given
place to more life-like color. His beard has
grown longer, as also his hair, thus doing
awoy with its brstle like appearance. His cell
contains nothing except his bed and a bottle
of medicine, which is given him to quiet him,
and assist him in getting sleep. His cell has
rather untidy appearance, and his clothes look
as If they were thrown on him. The collar of
his gray flannel shirt he wears open, AS
general thing he wears his hat while in his cell
He is still suspicious of every one about him,
and he refuses to talk to visitors, even If they
were allowed to talk to him. military guard
the jail, the guard of the outside of the jail
having been dispensed with.
THE QUESTION OF COUNSEL.
At the conclusion of arguments in the
Guiteau case to-day on application for further
postponement of the trial the Court said:
"There is this much to be said about this ap-
plication. The tiue first fixed for the trial
was week sooner than the time asked by
Scoville and when Robinson was assigned to
the case he was not granted by week the ex-
tension of the time he asked, so that the pre-
sent application is not for any longer time
than was originally asked for by Robinson. /
feel very mncb embarrassed by the question.
1t is important that this trial proceed without
delay and 1 intend it shall proceed without
unnecessary delay. 1 intend also that this
prisoner shall have fair trial and that re-
proof shall not rest upon the Court that the
prisoner be sent to the gallows without a fair
trial in order to appease public indignation,
My inclination is to allow weeks time to
Robinson which is the time originally asked
Dy him. shall assign counsel of whom he
has spoken to assist him, leaving that counsel
to make his arrangements to come into the
case lit he cannot do so sooner) in two weeks
time. 1 do not think / should give more in
diligence than this, and find embarrassment
in giving that much"
Guiteau Escaping control of the deputy
marshals aud getting to his feet,) 81 do not
want Robinson to act rs my counsel"
Scovlle rises and attempts to speak, Guiteau
persists in addressing the Court and goes on:
81 want to say emphatioally that Robinson