Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-11-26
THE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.
Incidents of the Case and Testimony
Given.

Given.
On the opening of the case on the
fourth day Guiteau, who had been wran.
Cling with Mr.. Scoville on that very point
ever since he came into court, rose, and
pounding on the table, said excitedly
''I don't want Robinson" He an
nounced that he was conducting his own
defense. Well," said Judge Cox,
thereafter you must confne yourself
to consultation with your counsel. "
Guiteau protested vigorously against
what he termed the arbitrary conduct
of the court. He told Judge Cox that
he had no right to muzzle him. He had
right to be heard in his own defense.
He was his own counsel. He did not ac-
cept any such aid as that of Robinson.
In opening the case for the prosecution
District Attorney Corkhill's statement
was to the effect that the assassination
was the reveDgeful act of a disappointed
office seeker. He detailed the history
of the case, contrasting it with the
assassination of President Lincoln. In
support of the government theory
he read letters to Mr.. Evarts,
dated November II, 1880, and to
MIR. Blaine, dated March IL, 1881.
Secretary Blaine was then called to the
stand by the counsel for the govern
ment, and testified that he had known
James A. Garfield from 1868 to the
time of his death. He said on reaching
the depot on the morning of the assas-
sination the President turned to say
Good-by," but he insisted upon ac-
companying him to the car. He heard
pistol shot, followed almost immedi-
ately by another, and, thinking there
was some trouble, touched the Presi-
dent for the purpose of hurrying him
onward. AT this moment the President
threw up his arms, exclaiming: "My
God, what is this" The Secretary con-
tinuing, detailed the circumstances of
the removal Of the President to the
White House and other matters per-
tanning to the shooting, all of which
have been published heretofore.
In response to Colonel Corkhill the
Secretary testified that Guiteau visited
the Department many times seeking the
appointment of the Consul Generalship
at Paris. He informed Guiteau that
there was no prospects of his receiving
the appointment, and requested him to
discontinue his visits; did not see the
assassin when he fired the pistol shot;
saw the body of President Garfield after
his death in the Francklyn Cottage, at
Elberon, N. j., did not see the body
after it was brought to Washington. A
number of letters from the files of the
State Department were then identified
by Secretary Blaine as having been re-
ceived from the prisoner, after which
they were read by the District Attorney.
After Mr.. Blaine had testified to the
shooting of the President he was cross
examined by Mr.. Scoville. During the
examination the following was disclosed.
Q. When did that contest terminate
at Albany? A. think the termination
of it was in the election of the second
Senater-Lapham. My recollection
would be that it was about the Doth or
21st Of July. It may have been later.
/ did not charge my mind with it. The
reason did not was that I was very
deeply absorbed and engrossed in the
condition of the President. I can say
to counsel that after the President was
shot the political canvass gave me as
little concern, and elected from me as
little observation as any individual in
the country. took no part whatever
in the contest in the New York Senate
O. never understood that you did.
I did not question you with that idea.
I wish to know If those factions in the
Republican party were classified under
certain heads, and, if so, what were they
denominated A. believe that they
were commonly designated Stalwarts
and Half Breeds.
Q. Did not this term Stalwart date
back to the political campaign last year,
including Grant, Logan, and Conkling
Were they not designated Stalwarts,
and was not that term used in 1880 ?
A. Yes the term is older than that.
Q. Did it not become prominent
before the people in connection with the
Chicago Convention? A. 1t was used
there.
Q. As applicable to the delegates that
stood by Grant, was it not? There
were 206, think. A. Oh, yes.
Q. 1 believe Guiteau refers to the
term Stalwart in some of his letters 3?
A. I believe ne does.
Q. What would any one understand
properly from the use of that word =?
A. Well, If counsel is wishing chap
ter in political history to form part of the
testimony, it ought to be correct one.
The term Stalwart originated before
that. I invented the term myself.
Laughter.
O. Then you Hrc just the man we want
to explain il. When Guiteau, in his
letters or speeches in the latter part of
1880 and first of 1881, refers to himself
as Stalwart, what did he mean? A.
suppose he meant to class himself with
the personal supporters of Gen. Grant.
Q, Did not those supporters, after
Garfield was nominated, become his
supporters {? A. Naturally.
Q. Was 1t not fact =? A. Of course.
They were Republicans, and all Repub-
licans supported Garfield.
@. The Stalwarts worked for the
election of Garfield ? A. Very heartily
and very cordially.
Q. Yes, sir. 1 was one of them.
What was understood by the Half Breeds
in New York? A. They included all
the Republicans in New York that were
not included among the Stalwarts.
Laughter.
Q. Then there were only two divisions
there? A. Yes.
Q. To what branch did the person
appointed as Collector belong? A. He
was classed in the nomenclature OF New
York with the Half Breeds.
Q. To what branch did Senator Conk-