River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-12-01
Guiteau's Trial.
SEVENTH nay

w AsHTNGT0N. Nov. l9.-JOl. A. ..
Rockwell, the next witness. began to
detail the scene at the depot, when SEQ
vile interposed, acknowledging the
killing. Guiteau then quickly said:
mo, your honor, we acknowledge the
shooting, but not the killing" Col.
Rockwell briefly stated the facts within
his knowledge and without cross-exam-
nation, and was followed by
GEN. SWAIN.
The witness was at Elberon when the
shooting occurred.
DIR. D. W. BLISS
was then called.
Witness gave a narrative covering
from the time he was called to the
presidents side-ffteen or twenty min
utes after he was shot-till his death.
The immediate cause CT death was
hemorrhage. Witness then explained
infinitely the character of the wound,
using the upper portion of wired
skeleton for the purpose OF illustration,
and detailed at length the progress and
symptoms of the case.
Pending the arrival of the fractured
vertebre, which the district attorney
announced he had sent for, the witness
was subjected to a lengthy cross-exam-
nation, the supposed object being to
| lay foundation for the theory of mall
practice, which Guiteau insists must be
| the foundation stone of his defense.
Quite the sensation of the triul was pro-
duced when the district attorney sud-
| denly drew from box upon upon his
| table a section of human backbone,
and inquired: "Do you recognize this,
| Dr." Silence hung breathless on his
answer, as the witness, in measured
tones replied: ~ do; it is a portion of
the vertebre of the late president" The
vertebr@ was then handed to the jury,
and the character and extent of the In
jury explained to them.
DIR. Bliss was followed with the clos
est attention by the entire audience.
Guiteau, who devoted himself to his
papers, occasionally glanced up with
/ the air of man being bored with re-
cital in which he could not have a pos
sible interest. After the vertebra had
been returned to the district attorney
| Scoyille reached over and requested
the opportunity of examining it. II
was handed him, and Guiteau, who
sits Immediately on his right, examined
| it closely as Scoville turned it over and
from side to side. He made no move
| to touch it, however, and gave not the
slightest indication of any feeling Other
than casual curiosity.
The examination of the witness was
still progressing when the hour of re
cess arrived.
After the recess, a long and tediou;
cross-examination of DIR. Bliss tool
place. On its conclusion, the distric
attorney inquired of the defense if they
proposed to proceed in the same course
with the rest of the medical witnesses
and upon Robinson replying about tht
same, announced to the court that tn,
prosecution had expected to close to
dav. but under the circumstances they
did not deem it advisable to INTRODUCES
another witness. Guiteau here at
tempted to say something, when th,
district attorney, bowling with mocl
gravity, continued: eff Mr.. Guitea,
will permit me, your honor, | will NOV
an adjournment"
Guiteau appeared to relish the pleas
antry, and, nodding, replied: sob, Ger
tainly, you shall have your choice"
| Adjourned.
! WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-There was ;
larger crowd than ever on Monday
when the trial of Guiteau was re
sumed, and strong manifestations OIL
feeling against the prisoner were APP
parent. A quarrel about counsel oc
CURED, Scoville desiring the retiring
of Robinson, and Guiteau insisting up
on his retention. The prisoner was
noisy as usual and interrupted the pro
ceedings frequently.
Scoville made a brief statement, de
ploring disagreement; after which
Judge Cox relieved Robinson from
further connection with the defense.
Scoville began to address the cour
with: "We do not expect to be com
PEELED to conduct the case entirel.
without assistance" Here Guiteal
exclaimed. ~ understand Jude Ma
gruder was anxious to assist in thi
trial; also Mr.. Townsend. / should lik
to haye them appear here, as well a
SWEET and Trude, of Chicago. " Scovill
added, after short pause: zone wore
more on the question of malpractice
NY idea is simply this: That by tn
physicians own statement on the 25tl
of July, the president was not fatal.
shot. We don't desire to press the sub
ject, but desire to have it go on record
so that the court, in the bond, may tax
notice of it.
THE ASsASsIN's SPEECH.
Guiteau' retaining his seat, began;
Your honor, / was not aware | wa
expected to speak this morning. Sec
vile here leaned over and whispere,
to him, when Guiteau retorted sharpl
and with impatience: | won't stan,
up. Pm not afraid to, however.
have only moment to speak, and Wi
keep my seat. | don't care to sa
more than was published last Monda
in my address to the public. | pre-
sumo the jury all saw it. have n
speech to make, and apper as my owl
counsel, and my idea is to make col
rections as we go along, just as W
have the past three or four days.
do not mean any discourtesy to any
one. | only want to get at the facts
If anyone says | owe them 5000. and
don't, / will deny it on the spot. M
idea is to take things when they ar
hot-not to let them get cold, an
suffer from misrepresentation. Z
course | shall go on the stand at
, proper time to be examined and cross
examined. My idea, however, is t
meet misstatement when it is no
instead of waiting to let the latter &c
sighted and misunderstood. | thin
the true way is to interject my state
ments as the case proceeds. | hav
no set speech to make, but am muc
obliged to your honor and to M
counsel for the courtesy of this in
: vitation.
Guiteau's manner seems to have III
dergone marked change since tn
early days of the trial, and during tn
delivery of his short speech this wa
particularly noticeable. At the cor
clusion, he settled back in his chat
with an air of exhaustion and reste
his head upon his hand, YEARLY, Will
care-worn expression appeared upo
his face.
EIGHTH DAY.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-The only fes
: ture of the proceedings of the court tC
day was Scoville's speech. He attemp
ed to prove insanity for Guiteau, II
; related an incident in Guiteau's lif'
which his friends thought indicated il
sanity. Guiteau with much warmt
said: 1sI've heard that story before, an