Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-09
ARTHUR AND GUITEAU.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT KNOWS
OF THE ASSASSIN.
His Deposition Read I'm Court
Slender Basis for the MuFderer's
BOssts-mOTe DEspYOof OF the
InssnitY Thcory-A Flat Contra
dIcIsau.

WASHINGTON, December S.-The court
room was again densely packed. Mrs. Julia
M. Wilson, of Leadville, COL, was the first
witness. She testified that L. W. Guiteau
was ber uncle, and that she knew him from
her earliest recOlle ction. She gave a most
feeling account OF the life and character of
her mother, Mrs. Maynard (who it had been
alleged by the defense had died insane), who
died frcm pneumonia in 1856 Witness was
her constant attendant up to the hour Of
her death, and never saw the slightest in
dicaticn OF iigh;iness or insanity.
Guiteau during the examination of this
witness became greatly excited, and inter
rupted the testimony several times. At the
conclusion of the witness examination Geo.
G. Maynard was called and corroborated
portions of her testimony, and the court
took a recess for an hour.
Several witnesses were examined, all of
whom have known Guiteau in the West
and in Boston, and none ever supposed him
insane, though all thought him lacking in
moral character. Rev. r. s. Macarthur,
pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, New
York, testified that Guiteau had been a
member of his church and had been cited
before the congregation for immoral con-
duct. This witness testimony irritated
Guitesu greatly.
Mr.. ScOville objected to the admission of
this testimony, when the District Attorney
announced that the object was to demon
strate that what the defense calls insanity is
nothing more than devilish depravity.
The questions put to President Arthur
and his answers were put in evidence as
follows:
Q-Do you know the prisoner in this
case
A.-Yes.
Q-How many times and when and where
did you ever see him?
Al have seen him at least ten times,
possibly as often as twenty altogether
mostly in and about the rooms of the Re-
publican State Committee, in the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, New York city, in the fall
of 1880, and two or three times In the streets
of Washington In the spring of 1881.
Q.-What conversation, If any, did you
have with him.
A.-NOne, excepting TO retura the ordi-
nary salutation of the day, and once or twice
in answer TO his request to be employed in
the campaign as a speaker by the Republi
can State Committee, Of which am Chair
man.
Q.-What political service, if any, did the
prisoner render TO the Republican party
during the last Presidential campaign
A.-None, that l know of.
q WAS there ever anything to your
kDowlsdee in bis relations to yourself or to
General Grant, or to Senator Conklipg, or
to any leaders Of the Republican party, Sc
cially or politically, furnishing a shadow of
reasonable claim on his part for political
preferment?
A.-No.
Q.-Did you or not ever give him any
reason to think that he had or could have
any political or personal influence with you?
Al never did. | have been requested
by counsel for the defense to produce let
ter written by the prisoner, aud enclosed
to me by his counsel, since his indictment.
That letter was received by me in the month
of October last, and was not preserved. l
90 not remember its contents particularly,
excepting that it contained some claim to
have rendered important service to the Re
publican party in the Presidential cam
paign, and en- appeal for postponement
OF his trial to give him time TO prepare his
defense,