Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-11-25
GUITEAUS SHOW.
An Interested Crowd, Com
posed Mostly Of Fashion
able Ladies.
The Assassin Makes a Speech
from Manuscript.
he Only Did What the Papers Said
Ought to be Done.
Says the Newspapers and Doc
tors Killed Garfield.
also Commissioned by Deity.

WASHINGTON, November 25.-The
Criminal Court was crowded in every
part this morning, mostly with ladies
for the most part representing the
fashionable circles Of Washington So
ciety. Immediately upon opening
court Scoville stated that Guiteau de.
sired to make a statement. No Objec-
tion being made Guiteau read from
manuscript substantially as follows
Il propose to have all the facts bear
ing on this case to go to the court and
jury, and to do this have been forced
to interrupt counsel and witnesses who
were mistaken as to supposed facts. [
meant no discourtesy them or to any
one. Any fact in my career bearing
on the question Of who fred that shot,
the Deity OF myself, is Of viialimport-
ance in this case, and | propose that
it 20 to the jury, hence my personal
political and theological record may
be developed, and am glad that
Your Honor, and opposing
counsel are disposed to give a histori.
cal review Of my life, and / ask the
press and the public to do likewite.
All l want is absolute justice and |
shall not permit any crooked work. I
have no idea that my cousel will want
crooked work. They are often mis-
taken in supposed facts. and l shall
have to correct them. Last spring
certain newspapers in New York and
Washington were bitterly denouncing
the President for breaking up the
Republican party by improper appoint
ments. | would like those newspapers
to repeat those editorials now and see
how they would sound. In attempt.
ing 10 remove the President I only
did what the papers said ought
to be done. Since July
I'd they have been defying
the President and denouncing me for
doing the very thing they said ought
to be done. / want the newspapers
and doctors who actually killed the
President to share with me the odium
Of his death. | never would have
shot him Of my own volition, not
withstanding those newspapers, if ]
had not been commissioned by the
Deity to do the deed. But this fact
does not relieve the newspapers from
the supposed disgrace of the Presi-
dents removal. If he had been prop
erly treated he would have been alive
to-day. 1t has been published that l
am in fear of death. 1t is false. l have
always been a religious, Christian
man, and an active worker for God.
Some people think l am murderer.
but the Lord does not, for he inspired
the act as in the case of Abraham and
a score of other cases in the bible.
The assault made upon me Saturday
last by crank has been condemned
by the press. The eyes Of the civil
lied world are watching this case, and
it behooves this court and the metro
politan 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 have been shot dead
on Saturday last but for the
rearing of the horses in the van as the
officer was shooting. The horses shook
the van SO he lost his aim, aud though
the van pursued him, he temporarily
escaped. l waste my argument on
cranks, and all they can see in this
case is policeman's revolver. Again
[ say. if they value their lives they
must keep away from me. l desire q
court and jury to dispose Of this case
on the facts and law, and leave all re-
sponsibility about it to the verdict.
Scoville then referred to his previ-
GUS demands for certain printed news
paper slips which were taken from
Guitean at the time of his arrest. A
colloquy ensued between the counsel il
which considerable feeling was showr
on both sides. Scoville protested
against the course Of the District At
torney in the matter and the latte
contemptuously retOrted from his seat
"0h, stuff, stuff; all stuff" The con
troversy was finally settled and SEQ
! vile called Jno. A. Logan for the dc
. tense. Witness did not respond, how
a ever.
Guiteau, who seemed greatly ex
cited, here broke in again and shout
: ed: There is another matter l wan
to speak about right now. under
! stand that my divorced wife is to b
q brought here as a witness against m,
If that's so there will be trouble. 81
d was a poor unfortunate thing, and
y never should have married her. Bl
y !. if she comes in here TO testi
d against me and do me any harr
I'll rip up her whole record. 81
was seduced in Philadelphia and hi
lg child before l married her" Wi
u y great difficulty, Scoville after son
X minutes expostulation, succeeded
ty quieting Guiteau. Two other wi
nesses were called, but failed to !
1T