The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-12-03
TRIAL OF GUITEAu.

The trial of Guiteau commenced on the
14th ult., ana from the small progress made
with it up to the date of departure of the
mail steamer, was likely to last three or
four weeks. COrkhiIl Porter of New York,
and Davidge of Washington, were the pros
ecuting counsel, and Scoville, the prisoners
brother-in-law, with Robinson, (whO had
been assigned by the Court to assist HIM
appeared for Guiteau. When the case was
called on Robinson asked time to prepare
defence and to obtain assistance of another
lawyer. No sooner had Robinson taken
his seat than the prisoner arose and in an
excited manner addressed the Court and
stated that he wanted to be heard. In vain
Scoville endeavored to make him resume
his seat and remain quiet. He informed
the Court that he desired to be heard in his
own behalf and declared that he did not
want any further time, and conducted him
self in an excited and disorderly manner,
eXclaiming, when Robinson rose to address
the Court, al do not want to hear any
more speeches of Robinson. want him to
get out of the case.n Again when the Court
expressed its intention of granting the ad-
journment of a week, he jumped up and
said q do not want Robinson to act as my
counsel" He had prepared a long written
statement as a plea in defense, which is
published in full in all the leading Ameri-
can papers.
Only five jurors could be obtained on the
first day, three more were secured on the
second day and, though the panel was COM
pleted on the following day, the real bust
ness of the trial was not commenced until
Thursday the 18th ult. The scenes in Court
--.--1 - IL o,,sIo,A -
convey to the minds of he jury an impress
sion thai he is not in his right mind were
such as were probably never seen in a GRIM
iAal Court before, and have been comment
ed upon in unmeasured terms by the Amer
lean and even by the European press.
Having got rid of Robinson, Guiteau made
Scoville the victim of his hectoring. One
out of many Genes may be taken as a sam
pie. On the morning of 18th, Scoville, re-
quested the Court to take some measures to
prevent the prisoner from giving to the
public his unauthorized communications,
and to prevent the annoying interruptions
of the prisoner in the Courtroom. This
made the prisoner very violent. After a
long alteration with Scoville he ex-
claimed loudly and wildly to Scoville while
struggling with the Deputy Marshal, 'FyOu are
no criminal lawyer, and l have no confidence in
your capacity. L propose to get two or three of
the best first class lawyers in America to man
age my case, and I want to say a word upon
law" he cried addressing the Court. 'If you
expel me from the Court room, the Court in
bank will reverse you, if the Court puts me out. 3"
you COMPOUNDED fools you, he cried, turning
and struggling with the Marshals, who were
pressing him into q seat, from which he had
half risen. 1.-THE Court will understand that
he will be reversedin bank" mind your bust
ness; amt YOU got no sense, " he said again, turn
ing upon the Deputies, with whom he continued
to argue violently for several moments. he was
then informed that although the course was one
the Court was anxious not to resort to, that he
would certainly be removed and the trial CON
tinued in his absence if his conduct rendered it
necessary.
On the Saturday Q9th), an unsuccessful at
tempt was made to shoot Guiteau, while he was
in the van on his way back to prison. The
van had been followed by a man on horseback,
who fired at him and just grazed his left arm.
Guiteau - screamed in terrified tones, " that he
was shot and fell on the floor of the van. The
horseman had cooked his pistol again for a
second skot when seeing a policeman about to
seize him, he decamped at full speed avoiding