Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-11-23

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Washington Letter. -
,WAsHIraroN. d. C.. Nov. 1s. ,s1


WASHINGTON. D. c.. Nov. 10. 81.
l have this hour returned from the
Guiteau trial, and will give you my i'm
pressions while they are fresh. The court
room was so densely crowded that could
not at first see the prisoner; but, pressing
within the bar, secured a seat from which
had an excellent view.
As took my seat heard sharp, dis
tinct voice say: :" | want the court to know
that do not come here on my hands and
knees as criminal, but as a representa-
tive of Deity!" Looking in the direction
of the voice saw pale, thin, excited,
gesliculating man; it was Guiteau.
Soon the door of the witness room was
opened, and all eyes were fixed on the
we'll known form and features of James G
Blaine. He was conductedto seat within
the bar. Colonel Corkhill now arose to
open the case for the prosecution. If the
reader has seen verbatim report | pre-
sumo he has felt regret and shame that
the United States, in so important case
a case in which the words of counsel will
be read in every civilized tongue-should
have been so incompetently and weakly
represented. The address was verbose,
rambling. irrelevant hsrangue about the
late war, the assassination of Lincoln, our
form of government, and it abounded in
sophomorical flights and hackneyed pluti.
udes-all calculated to confuse the iurv
as to their duty, and mystiiy them as to
he criminality OF the criminal. Consider.
ing the cause and the occasion, 80 much
verbal lneptitude has seldom been crowd
ed into so brief time. When the counsel
AT down thought sigh of relief came
from n Disguised court and bar. I have
no personal i'll feeling towards Colonel
Corkhill; but, if something is not done to
rebuff the intrusion of such low grade
medlocrity into responsible position in
his country. the public legal service will
be in d,nger of hamilton. Owing to his
social standing and connections here, the
city press speaks ittteringly of his failure,
but the press outside of Washington is free
from social embarrassment, and can dare
. serve God ind man by telling the truth
[ can now see why the government would
not iatrust the star route cases to him; but
| cannot understand how sane govern
ment ever intrusted him with anything.
Mr.. Blaine was now called to the wit
ness stand. The clerk WAS proceeding to
administer the oath with the Bible, but
Mr.. Blaine whispered his preference for
he other way, and was sworn with his
right hand elevated and without kissing
the book. A chair was offered him, but
he preferred to testify standing. He
detailed the incidents of the morning, the
hour. and the moments preceding and
following the assassination. But little
was added to the tragic history with which
the public is familiar; but it was exceed
ingly interesting to hear the story from
Inc distinguished witness.
After Mr.. Blaine concluded his testmo-
ny direct, Mr.. Scovile, the brother in law
of Gulteau, arose to cross-examine him
With arms folded across his chest, and
with perfect pose and composure, but not
without Difference to the witness, he ques-
toned Mr.. Blaine with great skill and
direcIness. His object was to elicit from
- distinguished authority history of the
cause and eff ct of the bitter dissensions
within the republican party at the time of
the assassination, and to impress the jury
with the idea that those dissensions were
calculated TO throw unsound and loosely
pivoled minds off their balance, thus
shifting the odium of Guiteau's offense to
his supposed Interior cause.
Mr.. Blaine answered the questions rela-
tive to politics within his party with
apparent reluctance, and with much adroit-
ness and wit. When the cross examina.
lion was over, Mr. Blaine, bowling to the
JH''Ro' anu ohahihR laiuS Will Tile clerk
who had administered the oath, left the
room.
believe that Guiteau is insane, but not
to the degree of responsibility for MUIR
der, and my opinion has not been formed
from what have seen, more than from
his assertion that he was lawyer, II
politician and a theologian. The vanity
of those three professions is too much for
even strong mind.