The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-11-24
GUITEAU'S TRIAL.
The As.assin Stimulating the Role Of An
Iasane Man.

Insane Man.
The trial of Charles J. Guiteau, charged
with the murder of the President began at
Washington on the 14th inst. before Judge
Cox. The Courtroom was densely packed
with spectators, most of whom were men, the
rush being SO great that not more than six
women succeeded in gaining admission. Tho
prisoner was conveyed from the Jail
to Court in the prison van, and on
alighting at the Courthouse he looked
around hurriedly with frightened air, seeming
to fear mob. There was no manifestation of
violence, however, and the prisoner was
marched, handcuffed, between two officers into
the Courtroom. On taking his seat Guiteau
10 ,ked hastily around the room, rubbed his
hands, picked up sheet of paper lying on the
table, threw it down again, and then, turning
to his sister, Mrs. Scoville, shook hands with
her. He nodded his head with q short jerk to
his brother, and then settled back into his
chair, his face assuming q scowl. Those who
watched him closely formed the opinion that
this expression was put on as part of the play.
As soon as court opened Guiteau made an eff
be heard, pounded the table with his fist. The
Court refused to hear him, and he subsidized
with scowl on his face. His counsel, Robin
son, hereupon rose and asked for postpone
ment, upon the plea of not having sufficient
assistance for the defense. Guiteau sprang
to his feet and informed the Court
that Robinson was asking for more
time without authority. In fact, said
Guiteau, Robinson is not wanted in the case
The officers seized him and attempted to make
him sit down, but he shook them off, with the
admonition to attend to their own business.
"I want no more talk out of Mr.. Robinson,'
he cried in q loud voice. "The order for him
to withdraw from this case is peremptory. I
ordered to sit down by the Court,
and obeying, manifested the greatest
displeasure by the expression of his counte-
nance. 1t was finally agreed, at the suggestion
of Mr.. Scoville, Guiteau's brother-in-laN, who
is also an attorney for the defense, to proceed
before this conclusion had been arrived at,
made q number of attempts to address
the Court, saying he desired to precede
the trial by an address for the purpose
of influencing public opinion, Judge Cox
informed him that they were then to try his
case, and not to mould public opinion. OF
seventy-fve who had been summoned, five
jurors were secured, and an order was issued
for the drawing of seventy-fve additional
names from the box.
The second day of the trial of Guiteau was
not dissimilar from the first, with the single
exception that the assassin was not so mani
festly violent. 1t is thought that the express
sions of those who were interrogated as to their
fitness for jurors, had much to do with the
change in his manner. When asked their opinion
as to what disposition should be made of Guiteau,
the answer almost universally was, that he
should be hanged. One man, named Lynch,
said he should be hanged and burned. As he
said it he looked straight into Guiteau's eyes,
and the force of the expression made Guiteau
vince, although he tried to force smile. No
one was accepted to had formed "firm," "de-
cided" or " unalterable" " opinions, and further
thp haI
religion, politics, ETC., had to be nicely shaded
to the tastes of the defence to avoid q challenge.
From the seventy-fve talesmen four more
jurors were selected, making nine in all, and
the Court ordered the Marshal to summon an
other list of seventy-fve for the next day, after
which Court adjourned.
The proceedings upon the third day con-
sisted of completing the jury. The interest
had not diminished and, as had not been the
case upon the two preceding days, quite a
number Of ladies we're present, probably fifty.
The Jury is as follows John P. Hamlin, q
tall silvered-hair. thoughtful-faced, conscen-
tious American, restaurant keeper Freder-
ick w. Brandenburg. little, excitable, black
haired, honest German, cigar manufactured :;
Henry J. Bright, broad-shouldered, bright
faced notwithstanding, keen-witted Ameri-
can, aretired merchant. The other nine Chas. J..
Stewart, merchant, Thomas Fl. Langley,
grocer, Michael Shehan, grocer, Samuel F.
Hobbs, plasterer, George W. Gates, machinist,
Ralph Wormley, laborer, W. e. Browne,
grocer, Thomas Henline machinist, and Joseph
Prather are, with the exception, Of Wormley,
men Of a similar stripe. Wormley is char
ac,er. He is a man Of natural ability,
very quick witted and well balanced.
All the jurors are intelligent, educated, think
ing men. They are all Christians. There are
no Masons and no office-holders or Office
seekers among them. Most of them are men
of family and all of them are respected resi-
dents of the District. While the Court was in
session Guiteau wrote an appeal to the legal
fraternity asking for assistance in the defense
of his case, saying that he had every prospect
of obtaining money from the sale of his book
with which to pay for such services. MIR.
Blaine will be the first witness for the Govern
ment. DR.. Agnew has been summoned as q
| witness.
The fourth day of the trial began by an ex-
| haustive and eloquent argument by District At
| torney Corkhill opening the case for the Gov
| ernment. As usual Guiteau behaved in q crazy
| manner, making bold assertions and unreasona
| BILE Interruptions until he was finally informed
by the Court that his case could be tried in his
absence, and if he did not conduct himself in q
| quieter manner he would not be permitted to
be present during the remainder of the trial
| This took the starch completely out of him and
| he promised the Court he would behave him
self. DIR. Gray, of Utica, and DIR. Kempler, OF
| Wisconsin, who are present and watching Gui-
| teau, say there is more of method than mad.
ness in his manner. As usual the Courtroom
| was packed, the number Of ladies present in
| creasing. 1t is stated that during the delivery
| of Col. Corkhill's address, the prisoner
manifested the greatest indifference until Cork
| hill arrived at tnat point in his argument
where he showed that the assassin's motive in
committing the crime was prompted by malice,
q result Of his failure to secure an appointing
| to a foreign consulship. Then Guiteau was al
attention, riviting his eyes on the speaker and
manifesting the greatest interest in the re-
marks. The address was very touching, and
| Mrs. Scoville, Guiteau's sister, was observed tc
cry almost constantly. After the close of this
argument the first witness called to the
stand was Secretary Of State James G.
Blaine, who was with the President when the
fatal shot was fired. His story, as told
same as has been rehashed over and over agair
by the newspapers of the country. In his
cross-examination, Scoville, for the Defense en-
deavored to draw out of witnesses evidence tc
Republican party, and that that dissension wat
daily growing wider. The drift showed that
evidence was desired to prove that so great wal
the feeling that had sprung up between the
party factions as to drive the prisoner, or othel
excitable persons who were interested in The
welfare OF politics, to desperation, and thai
while laboring under this excitement the pris
oner shot the President. MIR. Blaine testified
that Guiteau had been one OF tho mos
persistent office seekers who had be
sieged the Executive Mansion. He cam,
in person and letter, until he was finally told
that he could have no office whatever. HI
never had been encouraged, at first being
treated as other Office seekers, politely. Offict
seekers called at the White House to the mum
Der of forty day, and Guiteau was rot dis
tinguished from others until by his repeated
calls, he became known and finally dismissed
peremptoriy. Other witnesses were examined
as follows: Senior Comancho, Venezuelan
Minister; Mrs. White, who supported the Presi