Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-01
Rslatss His Experiences a Reig-
ious Tramp.
And What He Did In the Political
Campaign OF 1880.
Inspired by tho Supreme Being to Kill
Garfield.

scarcely any dima00ssOn ID tne crown 49,
thronged the court house. Guiteans ORA.
| matte recital yesterday Of his varied and
thrilling adventures - . religious tramp and
dead beat have whetted the interest in his
story, ~ it nears the great eliminating trag-
edy. Long before 10 O'Clock, the doors Of
the court we're barred against the admission
of apv save those Immediately interested in
the trial. while within the hum Of female
voices vas also dstinguishable. Several
new faces appeared this forenoon in the seats
reserved for the experts, aQong them I'r.
Nichols Of Bioomingdale Insane Asylum,
DR.. Grey Of the Utica Asylum, and many
others.
At 10. 10 O'Clock the court vas formally
opened and Guiteau was taken directly to the
witness box.
Witness was asked by Scoville to identify
some papers The 6rst shown him was q
h.ndbill announcing lecture at Evanston,
III, ayes" said Guiteau, turning it around
to the jury, and with an air Of satisfaction,
THAT vas the announcement of one Of my
lectures. Shall read it,"
Scoville-"No; will put these papers in
evidence. but don't care to read them now
Guiteau was then questioned As to the re-
ligious tenetseof the Oneida community.
He had the same belief as was entertained
at the community; they believed that Noyes
was inspired of God and that the community
was kingdom of God.
He believed in inspiration from God; be-
lieved God could inspire him to do certain
acts, and that he must obey the inspiration.
At the Oneida Community he read mostly
church histories and works on theology and
the Bible; he dug them all out Guiteau
was aked about the dog story and said: ''Oh,
yes, remember that puppy story. l took
it up IN my arms and it slipped through and
fell down and broke one of its legs. re-
member they made great fuss about it, but
that is not germane to this trial. Iwant to
determine where we left off yesterday and
give my experiences for the past four years /;
how I tramped around trying to lecture and
sell my book"
Witness continued to say 1868 instead Of
1878, and his attention being called to it. he
explained: II don't feel very well today.
My brain don't work just right, probably
owing to the rain Guiteau then resumed
the narrative ofhis experience from February,
1878. when he spent some time in Boston.
He tried to lecture against Bob IngersOll.
who was to deliver lecture against hell.
while he proposed to deliver q lecture on the
existence of hell. He found, however, peo-
pie were very ready to pay fifty cents to hear
that there was no hell, but wouldn't pay a
Ccut W ucdI buCIc WaS y uCA. EVI WV
months he was running around the country
trying TO deliver his lecture. In April, 1873,
he went to Philadelphia and got his lecture
printed again, and then travelled west selling
his lecture, and when he could not sell it,
talking to the people and setting them think
ing about the salvation of their souls; he
spent three months this way and got thor
oughly disguised with the business.
In August he settled down to his law bus
mess again, in Milwaukee, but kept thinking
about theology, and in September started out
again lecturing, but az usual, didn't draw.
and he came back in November and started
again at the law, but again became restless
and started out again he felt that he must
preach the gospel as he understood it, but
could not get any one to listen and had a
pretty hard time.
The witness was asked to identify the book
which was handed him and said, 'Oh, yes
that is my revised work, called TRUTH a
companion book to the Bible, and haven't
seen it since it vas taken from me when
was arrested" The witness then desired to
read q passage, and read page or two, de-
scriptive of the trials of the apostle Paul in
endeavoring to introduce Christianity. "That
was just my case" said Guiteau, striking his
fist upon the desk. II strove to enlighten
the world just as Paul did. had no money
and no friends, and had about as rough a
| time as Paul had
The witness then passed to his experiences
in New York during the presidential cam.
paign. He went to New York from Boston
on steamer Stonington when she struck the
Narragansett. He thought his time had come
then, but it had not. He wrote his speech,
Garfield against Hancock" in the public
library at Boston. 1t was originally intend
Ia Co. bo l..
nominated at Chicago, but after Garfield was
nominated it had to be all worked over Wit
ness made two attempts to speak. once al
Saratoga, N. Y; was well advertised.
| But as usual no one came to hear him
He returned to New York and called on Gen
eral Arthur to offer his services; also called
at the republican headquarters; saw all tn,
big men: they were all glad to see him.
He only had one assignment to speak. thai
was at a meeting of colored people. He didn'
speak more than FIVE minutes, as he ddn'
like the crowd. He consulted with Governor
Jewell, Gen. Arthur and others. They wer'
very friendly, but told him thev must hav,
men of big reputation like Grant and Conk
ling to do the speaking.
Witness added, was on free and equa
terms with Arthur, jewell and the rest o
them. They always treated me delightfully."-
my zeal for the cause.
Witness made his first application for of
fee soon after Garields election He wrot
to General Garfield At Mentor, intimatins tina
he would probably marry a wealthy lady
shortly, and thought he could represent tn,
Government at Vienna gracefully snd worth
ily.
Witness called on Garfield at the Whit
House, met Morton, shook hands with hin
and inquired about his health and how h,
was getting along.
Zen. Garfield was at leisure, said Guiteau
shook hands with him and handed him m,
speech on which was written Paris consul
chip. He knew me 1t once. I left hin
reading the speech, and that's the only in
terview ever had with Garfield.
Iwant to state that my getting an o6lce o,
not gettiuE an ONCE had nothing whafeve
to do with my removing the President. Tha
was an act Of inspiration and was done a.
political necessity.
Witness then related his experiences at tn,
State Department, and his Interviews viii
Secretary Blaine, describing, ~ he terme,
it. the ~odss operaadi Of getting 1t the Sec
Rotary Of State,
Witness described his last interview viii
Blaine who rather hurt his feelings BY hi
abrupt manner, which was so in contras
with his previous cordiality.