Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-12-08

which was written Paris cunsnlship. BE
knew me at once. left him reading the
speech, and that's the only interview / ever had
with President Garfield. I wish to state
fee had nothing whatever to do with my re
moving the president That was an act Of ia
spiration and done as a political necessity"
After relating his efforts to get an Office, and
coming down to the assassination, he said:
Wednesday evening after Conkling's resigna.:
ton the thought came to him that if Garfield
was out Of the way all would go well He tried
to shake it off, but it grew and in fortnightls
time it had become fixed resolve He prayed
and prayed, and asked God II Garfield were
thus to be removed to get rid Of him In some
the nation from ruin. II knew the Lord EN-
ployed me because he always employs the best
material I felt the Lord wanted me to do it to
advertise my book" .R- -.
He briefly recited his arrest and incarceration
with as little feeling as one would exhibit in
relating the commonest incidents of every day
life. When | was finally lodged in Jail, said
Guiteau, Il felt happy, ! said:' "Thank
God 1t is all over with" a.l@a r1W.
In the cfoss-eSamination by Judge Porter for
the prosecution Guiteau said IN substance, two
or three times: want it distinctly understood
that did not do that OF my own personal voli-
ton, but on the inspiration of the Deity. I
never would have shot the president ON my
act and the Deity would take care of it The
Deity furnished the money with whioh bought
the pistol I was the agent and the Deity in
spired me to remove the presi-
dent and had resort to my
own means to accomplish the Deity's will.
I say that the removal Of the president was an
act Of necessity from the situation and the good
OF the American people. That is the idea I
want you to entertain, and not settle down on
the cold blooded idea Of murder, because I
never had the first conception Of murder in the
matter.
Court adjourned without concluding CROSS
examination.
THURSDAY, DEG 1.
The cross-examination to-day was begun se
soon as the prisoner was seated In the box. 1t
WAS marked by persistent but rather wander
ing inquiry on one side; and by wild invective,
petulant defamation and impudent replies up
on the other. Judge Porter attempted to lead
the prisoner from his theory Of inspiration,
but while the latter was often furried and on
the wrong track, he kept in sight of his chosen
character of agent Of the Deity" and the
prosecution made few points against him
The prisoner was impudent and hurled denun-
Citations at the leading council for the prose-
rhohotonouB and shortlived, butt was at the
same time disgusting and out Of place. The
| prisoner caused much amusement several
times BY closely initiating Judge Porter's man
ner and voice Tho distinguished prsetfoner
has sort of crushed tragedian tone and man
ner, which is supposed to make q strong i'm
| preston upon the witness, and he used this
upon Guiteau without stint Several times
| when the prisoner became excited he leaned
| out of the box and pointed his finger solenlnly
at Judge Porter and gave an impudent reply in
the ghost- Of Hamlet's father sort Of voice used
by Porter.
! When asked if he believed in the ten COM
mandments-to which he responded in the af-
! frmatiye-and if he believed that command
| ment s'Thou shalt not kill" he became ex-
ceedingly violent and refused to discuss that
matter at all There was no murder In his
| jury to determine whether OF not his act in
removing the president was inspired by Deity
| or not 1t was all nonsense to split hairs any
| longer over that word. 1t may be distinctly
understood thai the removal Of the president
was an act of Deity The witness proved de-
| the testimony Of Gen. Logan, Col. Reed and
several other Witnesses he positively refused
to answer several Of the questions. His inva-
riable response being, Il decline to discuss
| that with you"
Guiteau became very: indignant at Judge
Porter's use of the word murder" and shouted
! fiercely:
| You seem to delight in the use Of the words
"kill' and murder" There is no use of
whining that way. The mere outward fact of
how / removed the president has nothing what
| ever to do with this case.
| Guiteau's ehrewdpess i'll detecting and an
ticipating any point *hich might be made
against him was a marked feature OF the IN
| vsstigation. ........-.-.
Guiteau saidhe had no special purpose in
using some fattering words to Blaine.
Isimply made the suggestion to him that il he
should feel bound, in case he WAS candidate
at the national convention, to assisthim. That's
the way they do in politics, judge. under
stand that is the way politicians get on. You
tickle me- 1 tickle you. ..
Theprisoner being asked how many times he
had spoken with Mr. Conkling ON the street.
| answered:
Imet him once on the etreet He was ex-
ceedingly cordial, and he bowed and said, Chow
do you do, Mr. Guiteau?" was on good rela-
tions with all those men during March and
April .-.. .-..g...
Mr.. Porter (slowly and with great delberation)
The Prisoner (interrupting) g)-Oh! don't look
80 fierce at me. don't care snap Of my fin
ger for you
Porter-But you will answer my question?
The Prisoner-Put your questions in quiet,
simple sort of way and will. s.e.
Porter-Did Senator Conkling ever promise
to support your application for the Paris con
selship?
The Prsener-My expectation about the Par
is consulship was that could get it through
my personal influence with the president,
Blaine and Logan, and that, when my nomina-
ton went to the senate, Senator Conkhng and
that sort of men wonld see it through.
Porter-Was your motive for demanding
Blaine's resignation because he had said to you
on the Saturday preceding not to speak again
on the consulship?
nothing to do with the Paris consulate. 1want to
ram that into you and put it down deep.
ILaughter.1 I am talking now about national
politics, and not about miserable Office, and
If you would try to got your brains to take that
in it would be better. I am not disappointed
office-seeker.
The examination went on after the above
| style for some time; at last the Prisoner COM
planned of being tatigued, saying that he was
not used to speaking five hours at time, and
the court adjourned.
FRIDAY, DEC. T.
| Judge Porter continued his croes-examina-
ton, which at times proved irritating to the
prisoner, and which he resented at times sav-
agely and again insolently, and with an mpu-
dent mimicry of the lnterrogator.
Q-"When you wrote the presidents nomin
alton was an act OF Coz, his removal an act O
minds" A-(Apparently gratifed) )-.'That Il
the way express myself; Sharp, pointed sen
tences. If you want to see q specimen Of tina
kind Of style, look through my book. taxi
my choice before this court and jury on TIN
fact that the Deity inspired the act am no
. fool The Deity never employeda foel to d,
his work. He put it into my brain and hear
and left me to work it out in my own way"
Q-"And did your"
A-"Under sanction Of the Deity. The pres
sure on me commenced about six weeks befor,
the actual shooting. was the predestined maj
from the foundation of the world to do this act
and Ihad to do it
Q-"And your destiny was to kill Garfield?'
Alt was my destiny to obey the Divin'
will, and let him take care Of it Iput up m.
life and have not been hung or shot yet"
Q-"And you did not expect to bef"
Al had no expectation except 10 do th,
Divine will and let him take care Of me. an
satisfied with the Deiy's conduct in this cas-
up to the present momentn
Porter went in to cress examine the prisone
with the object Of showing that the pretende,
inspiration in regard to the theocratic daily, th
book called "Truth," to the lecture on the ''Sec
ond Coming Of Christ" and soforth, wer
merely borrowed from ideas OF Noyee', an,
that portions Of the book and lecture were pla
giarisms from the book calle