Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-21
THE GREAT MURDER TRIAL
GOVERNMENT TESTIMONY IN CHIEF CLOSED
GUITEAU IN HIS OWN DEFENCE.
MIR. sCOvILLE's OPENING ADDRESS.

MIR. SCOVILLE'S OPENING ADDRESS.
MR.. ROBINSON WITHDRAWS FROM THE CASE
II the interest in the Guiteau trial had waned al
all at the close of the first week. it more than
revived by the attack on the jail van by the mys-
teriOuS horSeman Saturday afternoon. This morn.
ing the crowd about the City Hall arrived earlier
and was much larger than on any day OF last
week. Extraordinary precautions were taken by
the marshals Office to keep order and prevent the
crowding of the passageways The rules were
more strictly enforced than ever, and one or two
hidden passageways, discovered by sharp people
were closed. The doors OF the courtroom were
not opened until nearly 10 O'Clock.
THE PRISONERS GUARD REINFORCED.
The prisoner was brought from the Jail about 9
O'Clock. In addition to the usual guards, the van
was attended by six mounted police, and Major
Williams and Mr. Tall, OF the marshars Office, fol-
lowed In buggy. There was large crowd about
the City Hall when the van arrived, but there was
no demonstration. The prisoner was taken to the
guard room and there breakfasted on beefsteak.
He talked freely with his guards about the as
"If you had been with me, this thing would not
nave happened. / want you to stick by me. -
After the van arrived in front Of the jail it halted
pictorial papers who wanted to sketch it.
SCENES IN THE COURT ROOM THIS MORNING.
The first three rows of chairs inside OF the bar
were reserved this morning exclusively for men,
berS OF the bar. Mr.. Scoville, with his inevitable
memorandum book, Mrs. Scoville, Mr.. John w.
Guiteau and Miss Rice, the young lady who always
attends Mrs. Scoville, arrived early. The first
crowd of spectators were admitted to the court
room few minutes before ten. Guiteau wore this
morning the coat torn by the bullet OF the myster
lOuS hOrSeman. He said he wanted the court to
see It, One OF the officers told him that his aSSa1l-
ant was In Jail, and that when he ret rned he
could fight it out. Guitelu pointed to Officer
Edelin, and said: 0Il let Edeln do the fighting for
me-" Mr.: Robinson did not arrive In court until 10
O'Clock Then he took a seat with his brother, and
talked, apparently, very earnestly. The attorneys
1or the prosecution arrived together at 10 O'Clock.
The Proceedings To-day.
Judge Cox, having struggled through the crowd
and reached his seat the court was called to order
at 1O:07 O'Clock. Mr. Robinson Immediately rose,
with newspaper in his hand, to address the court
but at the suggestion of Mr.. Corkhin refrained
from speaking until after the prisoner should come
In. The jury roll was then called occupying two
or three minutes The jurymen not in the panel
engaged on the trial were excused until next Mon
day morning. Guiteau was brought in few min
uteS later, and, as usual his appearance created
sensation In the court. When his handouts were
removed he arranged some papers on his desk be-
1ore him, and prepared for a long day.
Mr. Robinson Asked to be DISCHARGED
from the Case.
HE STATES HIS REASONS FOR THE REQUEsT-HIs
INHARMON1OUs RELATIONS WITH MR.. sCovILLE.
Mr.. Robinson, rising, said that an article in a
Sunday paper made it necessary for him to make a
brief statement. On the 22d of October the court,
at the request OF Mr. ScOville assigned him to the
defence OF the prisoner He felt the responsibility,
and the first thing he advised was a delay of two
weeks, which met the approval OF Mr.. scoville
The court granted one week. few
days afterwards he renewed the application; it
was the frst day OF the star route hearing. Mr..
Seovie near heard @ what n he said and he presumed con
wards when he [Mr. Robinson) urged the court
to decide the question, he was informed
the motion be not granted, and it was denied
1t seemed to him that when he had put aside his
own engagements to undertake this eleemosynary
work, his wishes in reference to time, were enti-
tied to consideration. He was led to the opinion
that he ought to have associate counsel beside Mr.
scoville. When he made application for additional
time again in court, he was opposed by MIR. SEQ
Vile. Speaking Of the scene in court on the first
day, he said If he had followed his impulse, he
relieve him He was satisfied, however, that
1t would not do to desert defendant under a ban
which no other man rested under He thought.
also, that the eXcOmmunicatiOn so freely de-
nOunced against him by the prisoner at the bar
was not matter Tor him to notice; If he pre-
pared to defend him (Guiteau) on the ground OF
his rresponsibility he must, on the same grounds.
give no heed to the insults. He then read from
the sunday Post an interview with Mr.. Scoville,
not to go on with the case with Mr.. Robinson as
his associate.
thing was said about the question Of jurisdiction,
and Mr.. ScOvie volunteered to say that this court
had jurisdiction. 1t seemed to him (Mr. Robinson)
that was undesirable to waive any defence which
the prisoner might have. Afterwards he learned
in the papers that Mr.. Scoville had stated that he
had abandoned the plea of malpractice. His (Mr
RObnSon'S position from the beginning had
been to make any defence justified by the
facts and the law. Mr.; scoyiile told him
that IL he (ItObinsOn) wished to raise
the defence Of malpractice he should notify, the
government: He therefore, on the occasion OF his
second motion, given such notice. Mr. Robin
OF the proceedings, on November Sd, where he had
stated that he would not be committed by what
Mr. Sec, seoyiIle said Since that day Mr. seoye
Of the jurors, when one OF them expressed
tice. Mr.: scoviile then said that perhaps they
could get the jury to acquit the prisoner on
that that ground; Referring to the examination OF Dr.
Bliss, he said that he desired to get the truth He
was not accustomed to learning from an associate
counsel his objection to his proceeding for the
day He accused MI scove In stnsng terms of
lack OF professional etiquette cit Is unnecessary
to say," he added, that he could have no fur
ther association with such counsel; that he
could have no further connection with the case
NO Od1um attached to the prisoner sacrifice re-
to abandon the case he only left it because he had
no other honorable course. But inasmuch as
can no longer continue In the honorable discharge
of the duty committed to me, ask the court to
give me an honorable discharge from 1t"
GUTTEAU COMPLIMENTS MR.. ROBINSON,
Mr.. ScOville, who was standing by his wife,
started to speak. Guiteau Interrupted him, and
said, re5crrng to Mr.. Robinson's speech: "An able
speech. Iwould agree with it entirely If he had
made it Monday"
Mr.. Scoville started to speak, but was again in
terrupted by the prisoner who said: 81 sympathize
with Mr. Robinson, and not with you In this mat
ter OF malpractice. He has got the true idea Of it
Remarks OF Mr. ScOville.
Mr.. Scoville said he honored Mr.. Robinson for
his seif-sacrf1ce and devotion to the case He hap
pened in court on the morning OF the
second application for extension Of time, whent
Mr. Robinson had made the application withou
consulting him (Mr. Scoville.) He Qdr Scoytlle)
had meanwhile summoned witnesses to appear
here at the date fixed by the court; he had also
been consulting with Mr.. Trude, OF Chicago. After
the motion was made he had gone to the court
privately and told him how he was situated. After.
wards Mr.. Robinson came in court, without a word
spoken to him (Mr Scovtle), made application for
additional counsel and submitted an affidavit with
out letting him see it. He did not think that was
professional.
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