The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-12-29
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
GUIrEAU DOCKED.

Washington, 2S.-In the Guiteau
trial, to-day, Porter. following SEQ.
vile, said The assassin of the
PRESIDENT will assassinate no more
forever, and the voice which is not
Sllenced now will be dumb as that
OF MS victim when the end of the
law Is reached. (Applause.) That
man, sane or insane, is permitted
TO say the arm of law in his pres
ence is powerless, l have approved.
l say 1T in view of the condemna-
ton OF the American people, as
represented by their papers, because
they did not understand the situa-
ton as We did. [ have approved
and Vlndicated your honor's course
down to the time this prisoner pro-
CLAIMED, with the acquiescence of
his counsel, that he had been sane
from the hour after he executed
this foul, diaeolical and infamous
murder. When l made this mo-
ton, [ felt the time had come
when it was due to the majesty of
the law, to the vindication of the
American government, and above
all, to the Vlndication of the judici-
airy, that the step should be taken,
winch L now request. You sus-
pended your decision in the hope
that you might be able to extend to
this sane criminal and homicide,
still further clemency, but if j. be
extended it will be at some peril; a
peril to the name of American
jurisprudence, peril in respect of an
indefinite continuation of a trial,
which without the interpOsition OF
the prisoner, would have terminated
three weeks ago. The time now
comes when the law must make its
appearance in this court room and
the man who pretends TO be maniac
shall no longer sit at the counsel
table and exercise the privileges
which you would accord no member
Of the American bar
The prisOner-A very nice speech, |
but not word of truth is IN it. The |
court then rendered its decision. 1t |
was hardly necessary to say that the
conduct Of the prisoner had been in |
persistent violation of order and
decorum. In the beginning the only
methods which could be resorted to |
to suppress this disorder, were such
as must infringe On the constitu-
tional rights of the prisoner, and
that was conclusive argument |
against them. Until Saturday last, |
no other method had been proposed,
then this proposition (Which he had
already had in mind was submit |
ted. 1t had hitherto been an i'm
preston shared by the court and
counsel, that the prisoners conduct
and language in the court would af-
ford the best indication of his moral
character and contribute largely to
the enlightenment of the court and
jury on the question of his respOns-
Utility. 1t was, therefore, on |
the express desire of the dis |
trict attorney that the court has
allowed such a latitude of con-
dnct in order to furnish the
experts an opportunity of diagnos-I
ing the prisoners case, as it now ap-
peared the opinions of experts had
been largely founded on exhibitions
which had taken place on the trial, |
and if they had contributed to en-
able them to reach their conclusions |
it would be a complete vindication |
of the view of the district attorney |
as to the proper course to be pur- |
sued. At this stage of the trial. how
ever, this object seemed 20 have been |
accomplished. The trial was now |
approaching its close. Experts had |
had ample opportunity to make up
their judgments and pronounce
them before the court and jury. 1t |
was incumbent on the court now to |
impose such restraint as the circum- |
stances of the case admitted. aud |
which could cOnduce To the orderly |
conduct of the case. The prisoner
had d right to hear the testimony Of |
witnesses. He could not be gagged or |
sent out OF the court. The proper |
place for a prisoner on trial for
felony was III the dock. He could |
only come within the bar 10 be ar
and to receive sentence. |
If the court granted him the privi-
lege of sitting beside his counsel it
was privilege which could he
withdrawn summarily. While the /
prisoner had undoubted right TO act |
as his own counsel, he co Id not ex-
ercise both rights simultaneously. |
Having accepted counsel, the pris-
oner had viewed his right to APP
pear as such in person. Cn consid.
GRAFTON of all the circumstances, the
court thought the motion should
have been granted and that the pris-
oner should be placed in the dock,
but he did not mean that the pris-
oner should be exposed to any dan
ger. He should have the fullest
protection.
The prisoner (speaking quietly, as
though he dreaded being placed in
the dock, which was filled at the
time with spectators)-To settle the
matter, l will sit quietly here. Will |
it not be satisfactory if l remain
quiet and stay here
The COurt-Clear the dock and
place the prisoner there.
In the confusion and noise incl
dent to this movement, the pr .oner
exclaimed in subdued tone, Il have
no objection to going to the dock, if
your honor says So"
Court say so simply in the Z
hopes of keeping you quiet.