The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-12-03
THE GUITEAU TRIAL.

We have given, on our inner form, pretty
liberal extracts from the proceedings In the
Guiteau trial up to Wednesday evening, from
which the reader can form, If SO disposed, O
pretty fair idea OF the solemn comedy that is
now being enacted at Washington before
Judge Cox. The Judge by the way, is pretty
freely censured by the papers for the unbound
ed license he gives Gulteau to shoot off his
mouth" on all occasions, converting what
ought to be very serious and dlgnified state
trial into dIsreputable farce, and the reader
of our resume referred to will be able some
what to Judge of the justice of the censure.
Judge Cox evidently justifes himself on the
theory that Guiteau is insane and is not there
fore to be treated as a responsible individual 4;
while those who censure the Judge insist that
Guiteau should be treated rs if In full pos
session of his faculties and only feigning In.
sanity or playing part for effect.
To proceed with a brief resume of the trial,
1t remains to be stated that on Tuesday
Guiteau himself was put upon the stand, first,
to continue his Identification of the bundle Of
letters that had been introduced the day before,
and secondly, to give an account of his own
life, the object being to get before the jury by
the relation the exact condition of his mind,
the ideas which prompted and the motives
which determined his actions, as well as his
methods of reasoning, &c. AT the close of the
day the prisoner had given his autobiography
down to about 1887.
Wednesday Gui,eau was again put upon the
stand, Continuing his narrative, but telling 1t
rather tamely. He complained of being sick
and seemed tired out, or used up. Indeed his
fatigue ives so manifest by halfpast II that by
agreement of court and counsel, recess was
taken until O'Clock, to permit HIM to get
good dinner and rest After dinner he com.
pleted the story of his wanderings and adven-
lures up TO the time of the assassination, show.
ing his repeated failures as lawyer, lecturer,
and politician. Finally, in May he became
inspired. A divine pressure TO Kill the presl'
dent was laid upon him. lie struggled for a
tortnis ht, but could not shake off the duty.
lie prayed that the necessity for Garted's re-
luOVui might W uCt III othci ""y, ou'
no other alternative appeared. Then he HIM
self did the deed, and was happy. He dwelt
with evident pleasure on his favorte theme,
that he was the special instrument Of divine
providence, and repeated with great earnest
ness the recent lnterposition of the Lord IN his
behalf IN protecting him against the assaults
of Mason, Bill Jones and McGIll. "Ycs," he
exclaimed, "the Lord has always taken care of
NE and always will" Having finished his
statement he was turned over TO the opposite
counsel for cross examination, an ordeal which
he evidently dreaded and under which he bore
himself with great uneasiness, though moth
ing very noteworthy was elected.
On Thursday the cross-examination Of suit
eau was continued by Judge Porter The prs
oner was IN better health and spirits, and tho
Judge Porter is admitted to be one OF the most
skIllful cross examiners IN the country, he
found his match IN the assassin Whether the
witness Is to be regarded as playing a part or
acting out his nature, 1t was not to be denied
that ne stuck to his tale and baflled all at
tempts to break him down. When he leaves
the stand it is understood that both sides will
be ready to call IN the medical experts on the
question of insanity which is to close the tes.
EmOnV