Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-12-08
THE GUITEAU TRIAL.
The Prisoner on the Stand.

was uelecLeQ. paie ana Llred Wnen ne re-
sumed the witness box. Before the cross
examination was resumed be said he de-
sired to make personal statement, and
addressed himself to the audience, say
ing: 1.-TWO weeks ago sent out an ap-
peal for money. l did it on my own ac-
count, and the day after Scoville public
ly announced it was without his author
ity. 1 again invite my friends to send
me money in the interest of the cause of
justice and for my defense. They can
send five or ten or fifteen dollars, or a
thousand if they wish. If they don't
want to be known they can send without
name to ScOville."
Judge Porter conducted the cross ex-
animation. Guiteau said he was always
a man of peace and physical coward.
Judge POrter-And very cool and de-
termined sometimesP
Guiteau-When the Deity is back of
me. He is always right, and if he in
spires man the act is right" Guiteau
said further that if Mason and Jones,
who shot at him, could prove that they
were inspired by the Deity they would
be justified.
Porter asked whether Mason and
Jones should be punished any way, W heth-
er he escaped or not.
Guiteau refused to answer, and when
pressed he finally became obstinate, and
shouted to Judge Porter, IL know you
well, and know bigger men than you
are. I've seen you shake your finger at
witnesses in New York, bnt you can't
scare me-" And shortly after when ask
ed if he believed in the Ten Command
ments, to which he responded in the af-
commandment "Thou shalt not kill'
ought to read in his case "Tbou shalt
kill" he became exceedingly viQisnt and
refused to discuss that matter at all.
There was no murder in his case and no
killing. 1t was simply for the jury to
determine whether ornot his act in reno.
wing the President Was inspired by the
Deity or not. 1t was all nonsense to
to split hairs any longer over that word.
1t must be distinctly understood that
the removal of the President was an act
of the Deity.
A long series of questions tending to
show that previous witnesses had testi-
fed that Guiteau was not always peace
able were answered by 81 don't remem-
ber."
Judge Porter asked in an emphatic
voice if Guiteau remembered saying at
the depot that he shot the President,
"You and not the Deity ?"
Guiteau answered that counsel need
not shake his finger at him. He would
not scare. When he spoke of himself
ne associated himself with the Deity.
Guiteau was carefully questioned re-
garding notes he had written to see if
he would contradict his brother and sis
ter, but evaded all contradictions by
saying he did not remember or must
have been mistaken.
Porter passed to his boarding house
experience, and Guiteau appealed to the
Court if he must answer. Judge Cox
replied that he must, and Guiteau told
of several instances where he could not
pay his board bills, and it was because
he had no money. When he came to
Washington last March he had 81; he
borrowed $15 from Mr.. Maynard, and
several days later bought a pistol to ex-
ecute the divine will in removing Gar
field. He took the prettiest pistol be-
cause it would look best in the library
OF the state department..
Shortly afterward Gniteau became
very indignant at Judge Porter's use of
the word murder" and shoutly fiercely:
You seem to delight in the use of the
words kill and murder. There's no use
of your whining in that way. The mere
outward fact how removed the Presi-
dent has nothing whatever to do with
this case"
Guiteau's shrewdness in detecting and
anticipating any point which might be
made against him, was marked feature
of the investigation.
Judge Porter pressed him very close
ly to fix the day when he received his
to remove the President, ,and
Guiteau finally shrieked OUT, ITO re-
move all this loose talk l want you to.
know that / would have removed the
President at any time between the mid
die of June and the I'd of July if l had
found an opportunity. [ would have
done it for the good of the American
people"
Guiteau was permitted to indulge his
passion for talking upon the pending
political situation at the time of the
shooting until speaking of the Presi-
dents ingratitude to Grant and Conk-
ling he was led by Judge Porter to ad-
NIT that 'ingratitude is the basest Of
crimes
Judge Porter-Stop there. What
would you have thought of your act in
killing the President had he given you
the Paris Consulship, instead of having
refused it? Guitead had previously said
that Garfield was his Ghe prisoner's)
warm personal and political friend that
no personal motives whatever were in
volved in his act, and fearing evidently
some trap was being set set for him he
hesitated a moment and then with great
emphasis said, II want to just fasten
you solid right here. 1 would not have
taken the Paris Consulship after the 1st
of June il had been appointed to it. l
had at that time resolved to remove the
President for the good of the American
people.
Recess.
After recess, Guiteau resumed the
stand, looking very haggard and worn.
The cross examination, however. was
continued as before recess. GuiteaH said
he had no special purpose in using some
fiattering words to Blaine. 81 simply
made the suggestion to him in case he
assisted me in getting the Paris Consul
ship, should feel bound in case he was
a candidate at the National Convention
to assist him. That is the way they do
in politics. The Judge understands that
is the way politicians get on; You tickle
me, tickle you
Question-Did you write President
Garfield letter marked private in
which you said, 81 intend to express my
sympathy for you on account of the
pressure that has been on you since you
came to the city?"
Answer-Yes, wrote that letter. My
idea was just this, to express my per-
sonal regard for Gen. Garfield on account
of the pressure on him for Office, and
that is what meant by saying codsid-
cred him my personal friend. 1 sympa-
thize with any President who has this
auarm0us hordp of nffion saaknrS at lie