The semi-weekly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1879-1882, 1881-12-05
THE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.

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Senators, and that it took full posses
sion of him two weeks later, abou,
the 1st of June. This, however, wal
not the first time that he had beer
inspired He acted, be said, under
a special inspiration when he wen
to the Oneida Community; when h
set out to establish theocratic paper
to be the organ of the Deity, and
when he left the Law to work for the
Lord in the lecture field. He asserted
that his life had been specially pre-
tected by the Lord, but be did moi
explain why his boasted faith turned
into cringing cowardice and abjecl
fear whenever his life seemed to b.
in danger. He had no doubt that
the time would come when the Amer.
lean people would speak of Guiteau
as the patriot instead of Guitoau the
assassin. The cross-examinatioB was
conducted by Judge Porter, who,
after few questions relating to the
Oneida Community and other minor
matters, began to question the prison.
er as to his inspiration to remove the
President. To one Of Judge Porter't
FIRST questions, as to whether he was
conscious of being man of consider.
able ability, Guiteau's modesty pre-.
vented him from expressing any opin-
ion. He also stated that for twenty
years he had entertained the expec-
tation ofbeing at some time elected to
be President Of the United States, and
he had not given up that expectation
yet. The people laughed at this dec.
laration. While on the stand the
prisoner wes closely watched by ex.
psrts in insanity. At 3 o'clock Court
adjourned.
On Wednesday Guiteau seemed
quite shaken by the very solemn man.
ner and the questions Of his examin
er, but on Thursday he either got back
his confidence 10 his inspiration OF
summoned all of his audacity to aid
In the duel between himself and the
lawyer, and was not disposed to stand
meekly on the defensive. From the
start to-day he broke ont into ageres.
sive criticisms, rebukes, and mimicry.
He was in turn violent and sullen.
One moment he scolded Judge Porter
for his dishonesty, as be called it,
and in the next settled back in his
chair and fatty refused to say moro
The purpose Of the Government, of
course, was to prove criminal motive.
Most Of Judge Porter's questions had
that end in view. As to the main
theory of inspiration the cross-exsm.
liner elected to-day little that was new,
Griteau stuck to bis story that
he shrsnk from the deed, being as be
himself confessed, coward and op-
posed to any physical violence, but he
was under divine pressure, which grew
II became irresistible, aud that
that he simply executed the commands
Of the Deity. When asked If be
thought Mason and Jones did wrong
IN shooting at him hereplied yes, un.
less they could show they acted az
agents Of Deity. He became angry
whenever it was suggested that he was
guilty Of murder, and declared that
his shooting Of Garfield was no more
murder than the shooting Of q man by
q soldier in war.
It was the doctors who were guilty
Of murder. he could not be driven
from his position that his failure to
get the Paris Consulship had nothing
to do with the assassination Fifty
times Judge Porter spoke Of the crime
as murder, aud SIS often was be in
dignautly rebuked BY the prisoner.
Whenever Judge Porter SEEM
ed to the witness to become more
derisive than the theme warranted, ,
Guiteau sharply rebuked him, once
declaring that be was making light Of
q serious matter. AT times it seemed
as if Judge Porter was at the bar
instead of Guiteau. The prisoners
manner was very violent. He looked
pale and haggard, and his eyes were
wild and uneasy. The cross-exami-
nation was unfinished when court
adjourned.
The cross-examination of Guiteau,
which was concluded on Friday, con-
stituted With bis direct examination,
remarkable chapter of this most re-
variable trial. Whether sane or in
sane Gnitesu has proved an extraor-
binary witness. He was quick to see
the effect Of any question put by
Judge Porter on his inspiration theo-
~, and when the question admitted
of an answer favorable to the theory
be was not slow in giving it; but when
he was driven to the wall by the mer-
ciless logic of the cross-examiner be
found it convenient to decline to ssdis-
cuss the details of the matter" The
assassin spoke Of bimself as a man Of
destiny. He described the 'delight-
full aud cosy fellowship" he witnessed
between President Garfield and Sec
Rotary Blaine, aud which, he said,
intensified his conviction that the
President must be removed" in or
der to avert the evils Of Mr. Blaine's
influence over him. He admitted
having Lad some remorse for his crime
but quickly qualified the admission az