Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-08
TRIAL or 0vI1EAU.
Outline Of the Prosecution and
Defence.
Guiteau Addresses the Count
Says HGMsde Arthur
President -
wAsHrxGrox, Dec I.


Among those occupying seats we're Ten.
Sherman. several senator's and members OF
| Congress. The direct evidence both for the
prosecution and defence having closed the
most critical and interesting period OF the
trial i. about TO be entered upon. he deienhe
| in resting their case rely upon the plea OF
| INSANITY in support of which they have set up
.ucb motive as would lead a sane man to
commi; the crime charged. and from TINS
argue the presumption of insanity. EVl-
dence has been offered to prove hereditary
| taint of insanity, career OF erratic eeceh-
tricifies consistent with this idea OF INSANITY
and finally an overpower impulse or IN
spirafion'' as claimed by the prisoner which
impeled him to do the act AMI when ne
could not resist
The prosecution in their opening set forth
the motive as disappointment at not recelv-
ing the Office he sought and offered evidence
TO show that the shot was fired by the prls-
oner. and that the President died from the
effects of the shot. Today they commence
in rebuttal to demolish this theory OF insan-
ity as set up by the defence. In dong TINS
thew will! retraverse the ground gone over by
the defence and from the stand point of the
prosecution will thoroughly ventilate the past
life of Guiteau as that of vicious vagabond :;
these habits beginning with his early life In
FreepOrt and concluding with vast amount
of expert testimony obtainable in the country.
As soor as the court had been formally
opened, Guiteau addressed the court IN
rather imperions tones as follows: May It
please YOUR honor. the American people do
not desire that this case shall be tried again,
and do not desire il. | say with the utmost
respect to the court and jury, and my coun-
sci Mr.. Scoville, that am not satisfied with
the political! situation as developed here in
this case that is. the gist of this alleged Of
fence The President of the United States
would never have been shot if it had not been
for the political situation which existed last
Nav and June, and | say have the right, as
a matter of law, appearing as my counsel, to
ask your honor that General Grant. Senators
Conkling and Plat and President Arthur, and
those kind of men, who were SO down
upon Garfield that they would not speak to
him on the street and would not go to the
White House, shall be put on the witness
stand. Isl a
| have Alright to show my personal relation
to those gentlemen; that was cordially re-
ceived by them, and that | was well dressed
and well fed ut the 9TH Avenue Hotel. |
want to show my personal relations to those
men, don't want to except to your honor
ruling, but shall be Obliged to do so, aud
nave no uUuUt thS COuit III Ddit VIII give uis7
new trial.
Judge Cox-Your exception has been
noted
Scoville then called up the subject Of Pres
ident Arthur's testimony and said he had
not yet received any response to his interro-
CATION that the Presidents evidence was alb
solutelv essential to the defence
Guiteau interrupted him excitedly with. 81
don't think it all necessary FOR Gen. Arthur
to be here" To Scoville. II don't care
what you want I'm doing this myself. 1
ask as personal faver that he shaBs be
dragged into court think good deli of
Gen Arthur. He is President of the United
States. don't think he should be bothered
with this NATTER striking his desk violent
ly: she is President of the United States. i
made him so and think should have some
thing to say in this natter ftf
1t was arranged between the counsel that
the Presidents answers should be put in as
evidence at any stage of the trial and SEQ
Vile called Gen. w. T. Sherman.
The witness simply recited the orders he
had issued for the disposition of trOops at
the time of the assassination.
Gen. Sherman testified: First thou ght
the shooting was part of a conspiracy, and
for that reason he ordered out the troops at
it was the act of one man.
Guiteau. as the General stepped down,
thanked HIM for calling out the troops and
protecting him.
Edwin T. Barton. 4 lawyer, knew the pris-
oner's father intimately and wrote his will
| never had the least reason to suppose him
at all insane.
On cross-examnation witness said he had
never seen any indications Of insanity in the
family, or in the prisoner.
Several witnesses. including Luther Quit
eau's family physician, testified that he never
saw any indications of insanity in any men,
Der of the family whom he knew. The fam
lily physician, Mr.. Buckley, was asked if he
ever heard l.. w. Guiteau assert that he
could heal diseases by prayer.
Guiteau (Excitedly) He only talked that
in his family, he didn't run around the streets
to preach it like an idoit and jackass. He
had too much sense for that.
A ripple of amusement ran through the
court and Guteau smiled with an air OF
satisfaction, but apparently failed to realize
hoS completely his criticism. fitted his own
case.
Witness had never heard Of any such claim
on the part of l.. w. Guiteau. He was asked
if he knew DIR. North.
This was the most positive witness intro
duced by the defence, and by his showing the
entire Guiteau family were more or less
insane.
The witness replied that he knew him in
Freeport.
Guiteau-The fact of the matter is nv
father used money, which should have sent
me to college. in supporting that DIR. North
and his family on my fathers farm At Free
port. VISA
Col Corkhill-Thats just my opinion Of
Dr. North.
Pending the cross-examination, John w.
Guiteau brother of the prisoner) arose and
protested against the manner in which the
name of his half-sister, Flors. w. Guiteau,
had been mentioned in the defence as having
been sent to ST. Louis for treefnent in antici-
patien Of becoming insane. Ne desired that
the witness should state exactly the -inAfmity
under vhieh she suffered.
Witness stated that the young lady in ques.
ton suffered from IN affection. Of Or her
eyes and wss sent to ST. Louis for tre6e[Daf
of the eyes. TS~
Guitesu, turning zasgrily to his broshsr,
whispered. What do you want to make sach
fuss about that for? Then aloud, I'm sor-
~ my balf-sister's name had to be dragged
in here. She is a very nice person 90 far az
I know, and | send her greeting.
Mrs. Scoville, sitting on the other side of
J. W. Guitean, vas greatly excited and an