Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-02
LITTER FROM WASHING TON.
THE GUITEAU TRIAL-THE SCENE AND THE
ACTORS IMPRESSIONS OF AN EYEWITNESS.


WASHINGTON, d. G., Nov %, 1881.
Ed. PhgniT. An occasional attendance
upon the Guiteau trial may not qualify one
to pass Judgment on the actors, but it cannot
fail to leave some impressions which may
proye of Interest to the readers of your paper. |
The court room is a dingy apartment sug- |
oestiye of the unkempt rabble of police trial.
1t is about the size of the court room at Fay
etteville, including the galleries. Front OF
the bench where the judge sits alone, except
as a visitor is invited to chair by his side
runs the clerks desk, fanked by the witness
box. Below the clerks desk and parallel
with it stands long table for the reporters
and artists. About ten feet from this, and
parallel with it, is another long table, at the
middle of which, on the outer side, directly
opposite and facing the judge, sits the pris-
oner At the prisoners right sits his brother
and sister, accompanied usually, by friends
On his left is Mr.. Scoville and an assistant
touching elbows with the counsel for the
nrosecution, Mr.. Davidge, Col, Corkhill and
Jpdoe Porter, who fill out the table to the
end Short tables are placed at the ends,
about which, and in the space enclosed, si'
LAWYERS, artists and experts. The jury are
hack AGAINST the wall on the judges right
Directly behind the prisoner are eight or tel
rows of chairs, filling in the bar completely
and occupied by visitors, the majority
whom are usually ladies. Back OF the OAR
and commencing on level with It's ran, rise
temporary platform in steps, covered wiz
chairs There are three entrances 10 IN
room door at the right of the Judge, opeI
inc on a narrow way between the witnet
hoy and Jury, admits the officers OF the cour
tho witnesses and few favored visitors
door on the left opens from the marsnai
room into walk behind the seats for )ur!
man mt EMPLOYED. This door is opened mr.
in the morning and by it the ladies and tho
who have cards of introduction 10 sonAe
the officers, enter and occupy the most ava
ohlo seats At ten o'clock the main door
,,os;ta the Judge and under the present Tel
norarv platform, is thrown back, and
crowd rush in for standing room in the REL
policemep have always been prominent
since the attack upon Guiteau the ioroe
largely increased, and they stand IN grou
about the passage ways and in the re
co,,o rouoh customers find their way In
tba main entrance but they are closely "au
ed and on the slightest movement OF ulS'u
snce they are unceremoniousiy removed.
cr;er calls the court with professional ara
and Immediately the prisoner Is OrouBn'
hy the witness door One officer proceeds
clear the way. and two follow, edging all
through the crowd with the prisoner oe'"
them a miserable, bringing object, tWltcn
norvouslv in every muscle and jerking II
la N side in his rapid walk, as thoug
aTord no mark for a pistol shot SIM
into his seat, he holds up his hanas 10 'n'
8cer. who deliberately pulls key from
nocket and unlocks his handcunS' IN
mon ,,e opens a bundle of papers, and
mances writing, or looking over the NOR
or or an illustrated weekly, never g
inc mn except to jerk out the remarA
iudoe, counsel or witness which nave oe'
freely reported
NV first impressions of the Judge were
,,,,tovorable to his judicial qualification
the matter of frmness, dignity, and
also say of ability. He appeared hAo
oyer-intelligent spectator OF the scehe'
inc his mouth only to engage IN person
,Arcations with the prisoner, that wouiu
been disgraceful in fish market oh ,
no of this to residents here, was told
Jnape Cox was regarded as one OF tn'
,,or on the bench, and the law studel
--ho,, he Lectures were loud in their p
of his excellence. Since then the ne
mars have used language which even n
nressions would not warrant, III 'hei'
Examination of his course, while the law STU
declare that they never before inns
T,doe Cox would threaten and fail to ex
In his rulings upon the laws OF evla
have since seen indications OF aoilll
clear.cut decision. Undoubtedly ne
difficult position and his thorough Ano'
If precedent may make him sio"
vbere another would be rash in inno'
The clergy are called conservative Ou
CLERGYMAN would show such reVeren
hoary precedent as to suffer the anu
bear garden on an occasion OF greatest
',,., because the records of the past
no remedy
The Jury have far more intelligei
than was led to expect from resdihs
count of their selection. The negro
vs~v catering representative OF bill
when Guiteau undertook to apologize
inadyertent slurs upon the coiored pc