The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-24

AO IL tCkl VI " altO&as
The trial of the assassin of the President
continues at Washington. The testimony in
behalf of the prosecution was closed on Mon
day last 1t covered a wide range of inquiry.
The mass of evidence introduced bore only
remotely upon the question at ISSUE The fact
of the shooting, and the well known rircum-
stances attending it, were admitted by the as
sassin's counsel. But as if there were doubt
was examined, the testimony Of each serving
no other purpose than to corroborate the state
ments at first made.
In the examination of Secretary Blaine
every detail of the tragedy was infinitely set
forth, and history of the sad days that sue
ceeded was demanded. The witness was re-
qured to rehearse the facts attending the res
ignation of Senators Conkling and Platt, and
to explain to the court and jury what was
meant by the term ''stalwart" and "hafbreed."
This was intensely gratifying to the prisoner.
1t pandered to his vanity by establishing some
kind of connection between his dastardly
crime and the political troubles that at that
time existed Almost every witness was in
terrupted time and again by Guiteau, and this
disgusting performance was kept up until the
Judge threatened to send the assassin from the
court room and proceed with the trial in his
absence.
In the examination of DR.. Bliss, revolving
spectacle was witnessed. After showing by
diagrams and models the range of the ball and
the parts affected by it, q section of the dead
Presidents back bone, which had been extract
ed in the postmortem examination, was ex-
hbited to the jury. After it had been inspect
ed by them, Guiteau himself was permitted
to handle it, which he coolly did, and then
passed it back TO the witness.
The opening OF the case for the defence was
signalzed by the retirement of Mr.. Robinson,
who had been appointed as associate counsel
in the defence. This action grew out of the
Fact that the Washington Post of Monday pub
lished an interview with Mr. Scoyille, Guiteaus
brother-in-aw and principal counsel, in which
Mr.. Robinson was severely criticized Mr..
Scoville stated that the defence would rely en-
tirely upon the plea of insanity, and that Mr..
Robinsons cross examination with view to
establishing a case of malpractice on the part
OF the physicians, was entirely unauthorized.
In consequence Of this, Mr.. Robinson asked to
be relieved, and the court granted him an hon
orable discharge.
Mr. Scoville then stated that he expected to
have other counsel with him, when the prisoner
interrupting said: understand that Judge
Magruder is anxious to assist in this defence
have sent him public notice that want him;
also John ID. Townsend, of New York-not
George D.-and again desire to hear from
those gentlemen, her publicly or privately.
invite them publicly to meet me here; also
MIR. Trude and Mr. Sweet, OF Chicago. "On
the question of malpractice" broke In the
prisoner, after pause, I'VE do not propose to
insist on that here, but desire the record to
| show that l appear here in my own capacity as
counsel. The idea of malpractice is this: that
according TO the physicians statements, the
President was not fatally shot on the 25th of
July, at the time they made the official exami-
nation, and said he would recover. 1fhe was
not fatally shot on the 25th of July, we say
that his death was caused by malpractice. We
do not desire to press that but desire it to
go on the record for the court in banc, if nee
essary. [After pause.l My defence here is
| that it is the Deity's act and not mine, and
expect that he can take care of it. He has
| taken care of it very well SO far" Laughter
After some further proceedings Guiteau was
himself allowed to open the case, which he
did in short speech, saying that his defence
was contained in his published paper, the
substance of which we gave last week. Mr..
Scoville then followed in a forcible presenta-
ton Of his side, in which he insisted that the
defence would be confined to insanity
| Guiteau has been permitted to interrupt
court, witnesses and counsel, and his flip
pant remarks and general behavior have
been disgusting in the extreme. When not
engaged in talking he is constantly writing
and reading newspapers. 1t seems strange
that it should be SO, but large proportion of
the audience are ladies, and the assassin is
constantly besieged for his autograph. Of
course he always complies with the request.
1t fatters his vanity. He is a hero in his con-
ceit, and nothing could be more grateful to
him than the notice he attracts. The misera-
bic creature is doubtless insane, but his insan-
ty is of the contagious type, and if an exam
pie is not made of him, we may expect an
epidemic of the disease.