Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-12-01
THURSDAY, DECEMBER /, 1881,
Guitesu's Trial.

The question is often asked "ls the trial
Of Guitesu being converted into farce p
Il Is by no means singular that tins question
should suggest itself IN view Of the frequent
applause Of the spectators at the outbursts
OF the prisoner. If newspaper reports are
true, as Is probable, even the Glgnlhed
Judge before whom the case Is being tried
occasionally unbends and Yields TO the mer-
riment resulting from the interruptions OF
GuiIeau. Somehow, the people have the
impression that the trial Of such q dastsrdly
assassin 81 Guiteau is q matter of so much
importance a to exclude every yestlge Of
merrlment from the proceedings. The peo-
pie. though al first feeling a resentment
against the prisoner 50 strong as to sugges,
a desire for revenge, are nov possessed OF q
dsslTe for strict justice only, and. a. bile they
are willing to accord to the assassin per
fectly fair and impartial trial, they will not
calmly consent TO having the trial conYerte
into farce. conducted for the amusement Of
e gaping crowd Of morbid sentimeniAlists.
That this feeling is growing stronger j.
evidenced by the numerous Letters received
daily, by Judge Cox, Of which The following
sre samples
OSe letter, dated 81. Paul. MINI, Nov,
2l, 1851. and signed Justice" SAYS:
The enclosed article was taken from the
St Paul Pioneer Prcss Of Nov. %, 1881.
The people Of America say amen to this
article. You are making farce Of the
Guiteau trial. Ii IS disgrace 10 the nation
and TO the world. For the love OF God and
the country charge the jury to convict him
Of murder in the first degree. Justice de-
mAnds that he must hang. If he goes free.
il Is An encouragement 10 any man who is
disappointed al the soIion OF another to
coolly (sicl murder him. II The jury DO no,
cause him to be hanged. the people VII bang
him and YOU with him. DO not irlde With
the feelings Of $4,000 900 Of people The
insanity dodge is too (sioD common. Hang
a few and others will not 20 crazy. Tbs
people want justice done. Pie ase read this
article carefully. 1t is full Of good sense.
The people are becoming Disguised with
lawyers and Judges. Judge Lynch" will
soon be the popular Judge.
4 postal card come, from Ladies Of 81.
Paul" as follows
Judge Cox We see BY this morning.
Press that Jones, the yould-be murderer OF
the seoundrel and assassin. Guiteau, has
been held IN 5000 bail DO you not think
that you are showing altogether too much
compassion and mercy 10 the notorious
scoundrel and murderer Guiteau. For the
sake Of humanity aud the memory Of 50
good a man as Garfield mete Out justice TO
him The hearts Of the nation ache for
se2geanoe on the wretch who deprived as Of
oar dearly beloved President, james 4.
GarteId."
A Washington lady complains thai
1.-The palate Of the contemplate wretch is
.ickled with stewed oysters, eggs. juicy
beefsteaks and other da!niles"
A party Of "Philsdelphians writes -
Moral imbeciiIty when II leads men TO Kill
etbeFs. is precisely what men are hanged for
in welLfegulated communities. II We vii
only punish SAINTS who commit murders, We
sa2ll have few executions"
"A friend of Jgsuee and the law" in Brook
lyn, y. Y, writes Ill would be very
easy way for criminals 10 70 scot free If the
Law permitted them to explain their seuons
by divine inspiration"
How to silence the prisoner and put stop
20 BE annoying interruptions has been Sc
rioas question with Judge Cox, who has
more thsg once consulted his associates up
On the subject. To remove the prisoner
from the c0sn and proceed With the trial IN
hi. absence. as vas FIRST intimated by the
Court might be done. would deprive him Of
his gBdoubted constitutional tight to con
front the witnesses against him, ssils to gag
him, as the Judge on Saturday Threatened
10 do, would be open to the objection that 1t
would serve a. & constant reminder TO the
Jury aud exert perhaps an undue influence
upon ther minds.
The situation seems 10 be an anomalous
one. So long as the prisoner insists upon
acting as his own counsel the court cannot
deny him the right without admitting his in
saa.tT as the bar TO its exercise. The court
cannOs well punish for contempt as he i, al
ready ~ confinement.
The position Of Judge Cox is one Of embar-
rassueni, NO doubt, so far as controlling the
prisoner is coneerGsd but this is not true re
grdiAg tbe spectators. They may be ST.
fenced or excluded from ,hs court room al
together sRd L is manifesty tbs duty of the
Court TO set thai this is done. Ii is aot es-
sential to the cause Of justice that the pris-
oRer's posing and displays Of Wit or temper
before the Jury should be backed BY the Ap-
plause Of crowded court room and 1t is
this Of which the people may justly snd
properly complain.