The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-10-27
sOovn.LE,s APPEAL.


Mr.. Scoville, Guiteau's counsel, has
addressed a card 10 the public in which
he implores persons whom he believes
TO be in possession of evidence which
would establish the insanity of the as
sassin to furnish such testimony in the
interest of patriotism, justice, humanity
and mercy. AS the scurvy wretch in
whose behalf this strange appeal is made
has insulted patriotism, Knocked justice,
outraged humanity and forfeited mercy
by the deep damnation of his ho-rid
crime, it is a traYesty upon them all 10
seek to evoke compassion for the red
handed murderer in their name The
loathsome felon who covers to-
day within the prison walls which
interpose between him and q
righteously incensed populace infamed
with a fierce desire TO rid the earth OF
such monster, is protected from the
awful retribution which his crime mer-
its, not in view of any claim which he
has upon the leniency of the people, but
simply as concession to the forms OF
law, a faithful observance Of which is
due the dignity Of the government and
the honor of the American Republic
among the nations OF the earth. The
force of public sentiment that has held
in allegiance the deadly wrath which
Guiteau has wantonly called down upon
his head viii likewise operate in accord
ing to one even as utterly unfriended as
the murderer of James A. Garfield that
opportunity for his defense which the
right of trial by jury vouchsafes to
every citizen OF this Republic. But the
temper of the American people will
brook no decentralization in his case.
Guiteau by his own free admission, by
the Wanting blasphemy with which he
has justified his helish deed, stands con-
fessed as willfnl murderer, and no le-
gal technicalitIes or cunning profession
al devices must defraud the gallows Of
the just claim which it has upon the as
sassin OF our dead president.
When a man with the elaboration and
rational regard for the consequences Of
his act which Guiteau displayed in plan
ing the murder which struck down the
head of the nation, sets himself apart
from his kind by committing a deed
which proclaims him the foe of human.
ity and an ayowed enemy to the
peace of society, he withdraws himself
from the pale of human sympathy and
his removal by due process of the law
provided for such cases, is demanded in
the interest of security to life and com,
mon safety.
Mr. ScOville, 10 attempting to evoke
sympathy for his client by his adroit APP
peal To the public, must not be disap-
pointed if he fails to strike chord in
the popular heart. All the skill which
he has manifested in working up the
case for his guilty relative will not avail
in reversing the verdict which the
American people have already passed
upon the criminal whose coherent
methods in carrying out his satanic
designs upon the life of the
late President stamp the plea
of insanity in his case as travesty
upon justice, and all evidence looking
to the establishment of such defense
has already been prejudged as refuge
OF lies. Guiteau stands out before the
civilized world as the worst type of an
element that is perpetual menace 10
the interests of sound government and TO
those blessings which communism in
all its hateful forms seeks TO subvert,
and his blood alone can atone in some
poor measure for his dastardly crime.
Justice in his case must have free course
and be glorifed. There is no oppoFtun-.
ity in this instance for display of SYM
pathy or mawkish sentimentality. Let
Guiteau be tried, convicted, and sentenc-
cd, and then hanged in decency and
good order.