The National tribune., 1881-12-03


in, saying:
al object; he is not an expert"
The court few minutes after three o'clock
adjourned till Friday.
Mr.. Scoville on opening the proceedings on
Friday, said that the prisoner wanted to make a
brief statement.
Guiteau-"I will only occupy the attention of
the Court about three minutes"
The Court" Proceed, sir"
Guiteau, then, unfolding roll of manuscript,
read the following statement.
/ propose to have all the facts bearing Oh this
case 60 to the court and jury to this end. have
been forced to interrupt my counsel and witness
seS, who were mistaken as to the supposed facts.
L meant no discOurtesy to them or any one ANY
fact in my career bearing on the question: " Who
fired that shot ?-the Deity or me?" is OF vital I'M
portance in this case. l propose to have 1t 60 to
the jury to assist them in answering the ques-
ton. Hence my personal, religious, theological,
and political record must be developed L am
glad that your Honor and the opposing counsel
are disposed to give wide hearing to this his
torical review of my life and l ask the press and
public to do likewise.
All want is absolute justice, and | shall not
allow any misstatementS or crooked work in the
case.
1 have no idea that jury, counsel, or witnesses
want crooked work. l simply say that they are
often mistaken in their supposed facts, and l
shall have to correct them as the case proceeds.
Last spring certain Washington and New York
newspapers whom don't care just now to men
ton by name were bitterly denouncing the Pres
ident for wrecking the Republican party by the
unwise use of patronage. l would like these
newspapers to reprint those editorials now and
see how they look and sound. In attempting to
remove the President only did what these news
papers said ought to be done Since July they
how Hpi fyin tha md
me for doing the very thing they said that ought
to be done l want these newspapers and the
doctors who actually killed the President to share
with me the odium of his death. l certainly
never should have shot him on my own account,
notwithstanding these newspapers, had not been
specially commissioned as | believed, by the
Deity to do the act; but this fact does not relieve
those newspapers from their share of the supposed
disgrace of his removal. Had he been properly
treated he would have been alive to-day 1t has
been widely published that / have great fear of
death. This, like many other newspaper state
ments, is false. | have always been religious
man and an active worker for God, and have
no doubt as to my destiny.
Some people think | am murderer but am
sure the Lord does not. He inspired the act just
as he did in the case of Abraham and scores of
other cases mentioned in the Bible. The assault
made on me last Saturday by a crank has been
condemned by the entire American public. The
case, and it behooves the Court and the Metro
politan police to see that 1 am protected at all
hazards, and presume they feel the Importance
of my protection.
/ hereby warn all cranks, of high or low de-
gree, to keep away from me, under penalty Of in
slant death. That crank would have been shot
dead Saturday, had it not been for the rearing of
the horses at the moment my guard fired at him.
The horses shook the van so that he lost his aim
on the man. and after following him six or seven
blocks, he finally escaped l waste no argument
on cranks. All they see in this case is po-
iceman's revolver. Again l say, if they value
their lives keep away from me, or they will be
shot dead. desire the Court and jury to dispose
of this case the facts and law and then let all
parties abide the verdict.
After a brief discussion regarding some papers
in the case the examination of witnesses was be-
gun.
John D. Smith, of Freeport, Ills, testified that
he knew Guiteau's mother and father: the for
mer died insane, and the latter was of an excit-
able nature.
Charles H. Reed, of Chicago, was formerly
United States District Attorney in that city;
knew Guiteau; did not remember examining the
prisoner for admission to the bar; first recolected
the prisoner as defending criminal case in court
The witness said the prisoners address to the
jury was wandering and full of theology and
other matters entirely foreign to the case; witness
observed him more closely after that; observed
that he had some education, but many peculiari-
ties; one day Guiteau told witness that he was
going to throw over the law and buy out the
Chicago Inter Ocean,; said he had number of
influential and wealthy friends; Guiteau fire.
quently cOnversed with the witness concerning
religion; one day Guiteau wanted him to read
his pamphlet on the second coming of Christ and
wanted witness to approve it, so that he could
sell 1T; Gulteau said that the pamphlets would
do all readers good, he was inspired by the
Lord 10 write 1t; Guiteau appeared to be entirely
sincere about that, as he did in all things: saw
Gulteau at the Riggs House, this city, the
Tuesday before the sho0ting Guiteau said to
him, ! owe you SO, want to borrow SIS more
and when L get the Paris consulship 7 will nav
you; witness said to him, Have YOU not given
up that idea yet? | have often told YOU that Won
can't get 1t; Guiteau said the President and
Mr.. Blaine owed it to him for his services in the
campaign and that Blaine was on his side.
Gulteau approached him again about the SIS:
witness would not let him have it; then Gsiteau
left him, saying, You think | won't get that
place; just watch the newspapers and YOU will
see my name mentioned in a few DAYS as consul
to Paris; witness never saw Guiteau again until
after the shooting, at time when he was in Jail
on the occasion OF the meeting at the Riggs
House Guiteau looked haggard and as though in
very needy circumstances: the witness then
related that Guiteau had frequently spoken to
him about his application as consul to Paris.
prior to the Riggs House meeting; witness
repeatedly endeavCred to persuade him to give
up the idea and finally said to him, if he would
apply for a clerkship TO which no responsibility
was attached, witness would try to get it for him;