Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-11-25
GENERAL NEWS.
Guiieau Explains Some Of His
Past F0olishness.
He Asks Nothing But Absolute Justice
and is down on Crooked Work.
A Proposition for the Estalisl.
ment of Postal Savings Banks.
Tho Trial Of Guiteau.

AuO AfAhA OA 0ulUoou,
Washington, Nov. 25.-The criminal
court was crowded. mostly by ladies rep
resenting the fashionable circles.
Scoville stated that Guiteau desired
to make statement. No objection be-
ing made, Guiteau read from manuscript
substantially as follows:
j propose to have all the facts bearing
on this case go to the court and Jury,
and TO do this / have been forced to in
teirupt counsel and witnesses who were
mistaken as to supposed facts. I Imean
no discourtesy TO them or any one. Any
fact in my,carecr bearing on the question
OF who fired that shot-myseIf or the
Deity-is of vital Importance in this
case, and l propose it to go
to the jury. Hence my personal
political and theological record may be
developed. am glad your honor and
the opposing counsel are disposed to
give historical review of my life, and I
ask the press and public to do likewise.
All ask is absolute justice, and 1 shall
not permit any crooked work. have no
idea that my counsel want crooked work.
They are often mistaken on supposed
facts, and shall have to correct them.
Last spring several newspapers in New
York and Washington were bitterly de-
nouncing the president for breaking up
the republican party by improper ap-
pointments. L would like these papers
to reprint those editorials now, and see
how they would look and sound. In at
tempting to remove the president only
did what the papers said ought to be
done. Since July 2ud they have been de-
fsndlng thepresident and denouncing me
for doing the very thing they said ought
be done. I want the newspap ers and
doctols who actually killed the president
to share with me the odium of his death.
l never would have shot him of my own
voiltion, notwithstanding those newspa-
pens if l had not been commissioned by
Deity to 90 the decd, but this
fact does not bell eve the
newspapers from the supposed disgrace
of the presidents removal. If he had
been properly treated he would have
been alive to-day. 1t has been published
that am in fear of death. 1t is false +.
1 have always been religious man and
an active worker for good. Some people
think l am murderer, but the Lord does
not, for he inspired the act as in the case
of Abraham and score of other cases in
the bible. The assault made upon me
on Saturday last by crank has been
condemned by the press. The eyes OF
the civilized world are watching this
case and it behooves this court and the
metropolitan police to protect me at all
hazards. l hereby warn all cranks, OF
high or low degree, to keep away from
me under penalty of instant death, He
would lave been shot dead Saturday but
for the rearing of the horses in the van;
as the assassin was shooting the horses
shock the van SO he lost his aim, and
though the van pursued him he tempora.
rily escaped. I waste my arguments Oh
crnnks; all they can see in the case is q
policeman's revolver. Again, say. If
they value their lives they must keep
away from me 1 desire the court and
jury to dispose Of this case on the facts
and law, and leave all responsibility
about 1t to the verdict.
scoviile then referred to his previous
demands for certain printed newspaper
clippings which were taken from Guiteau
at the time OF his arrest. A coloquoy
ensued between the counsel in which
considerable feeling was shown upon
both sides. Scoville protested against
the course Of the district attorney in the
matter, ans tho latter contemptuously
retortcd froL, his seat, ooh, stuff! stuff
All stufl!' The controversy was finally
settled, and Scoville called John A
Logan for the defense. The witness did
not respond, however. Guiteau, who
seemed greatly excited, here broke il
again and shouted. "There is anothel
matter l want TO speak about right now
l understand my divorced wife is to b.
brought here Us witness against me.
that's SO, there will be trouble. She wa
n poor, unfortunate thing. Inevel
should have married her; but if sh,
comes in to testify against me and dc
me any harm, I'll rip up her whole rec
ord. she was seduced a Philadelphi,
and had child before I nlarried her"
With great difficulty Scoville, ate
, some minutes of expostulation. succeed
3 ed in quieting Guiteau.
Twenty-Five other witnesses were cal
ed, but failed to respond.
Joseph B. Smith, of Freeport, Illinois
testified rs to his acquaintance with til
Guiteau family.
Z. o. Foss testified Us to the scene
the depot on the morning Of the shoe
J. ing. There were several sharp passag,
I between Scoville and counsel for Il
prosecution during the questioning
this witness.
Chas. II. Ried, of Chicago, detaile
several incidents in Guiteau's career
n a lawyer at Chicago. Witness w
I. prosecuting attorney for twel
r. years and met Cutie,
frequently, but his relations with hi