The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1881-12-03
Correspondence.
WASHINGTON LETTER
tFrn,n our regular Correspondent.
WAsHINGroN, Nov. Is, 1881.

Public interest here at the Capital, and
throughout the country, is much taken up
with the Guiteau trial now in progress. In
every respect it Is one Of the worlds cele.
brated criminal trials, and as such it at.
tracts universal attention. Not that any.
thing new or startling is likely to be de.
veloped in it, but the circumstances of the
case render it one OF national import.
ance and the public look tor full reports OF
every detail. 1t is expected that the trial
Will last fully two, and perhaps three,
months. There have been no dramatic
scenes as vet, though the opening address
of the District Attorney and the testimony
of Secretary Blaine, both narrating the facts
of the great tragedy which recently sad
dened all he arts, brought the painful events
of the Summer fresh 10 mind. The author
OF that terrible calamity, now ON trial tor
hts crime, has stilt further excited public
feeling against him by his outrageous con.
duct in court In spite q. the efforts of his
counsel and the court to restrain him the
miserable wretch continues dailv to inter.
rupt the proceedings and to exhibit him.
self as a creature in whom conceit and in
science predominant in about eqal parts.
10 most people within and without the
court room his conduct, so far, CONVEYS .he
impression that he Is really acting a part, that
as old Polonius said Of Hamlet, "rhouyh
this be madness, vet there's method in it,"
and that underneath the outer disguise Of
a "crank," he only conceals the real char.
acter OF an assassin. 1t is hard for people
to restrain themselves in the face Of this
mans insolent conduct and his loud boast
ing in the court room that il any ..disrtpu.
table characters undertook to iniure him
would IN1 SlNo Ganl t,.,1 lat,
guard" the police. There is much com.
plaint that the scoundrel is shown too
much consideration bv the court and au.
thorities, and man, good people actually ex-
press regret that the man who attempted to
shoot him the other night had not taken
octter aim. 1t would at least have brought
the whole business to close and set ut rest
all fears OF a possible escape from Justice
through the many crooks of the law. The
court room is crowded daily, many lawyers
and goodly number of ladies being
among the spectator :. The prisoners sis
ter, Mrs. Scoville, ana his brother, J,hn
Guitcau, Of Boston, show plainly how deep.
~ they feel, and the sister frequently bursts
into tears.
General Butler is expected bv Mr.. SEQ.
willie to shortly come to his assistance in
Guiteau's defense. The General is now
here and It is said expects to spend good
part Of the winter at the Capital, taking
possession Of his fine house at present occu.
pied by Senator Jones and President Ar.
thur. He is a good liver, and the hcaricst
OF eaters, devouring an enormous quantity
Of meat, vegetables, milk, coffee. and salads.
at his four meals day A chicken disap-
pears before him like a nice tender partridge
before a Methodist preacher. lie keeps a
fine stock of wines in his cellar for com.
pany but drinks only about tu,nhler full
OF sherry at dinner. When he really wants
something stimulating he takes glass of
Jamaica rum, or the states,nan's drink,
brandy. He smokes cigars that are strong
enough to knock a marine over. Yet he
prides himself upon, his temperate life, to
which he traces much If his prosperity
AT Il table gathering recently where he was
feeling as Il basis fi,r intellectual work. and
pending the brief drawn arguments passing
to and fr, a curious smile curved over But.
ler's face, his elepantine cvrlils trcmbled
with motion enough to show gleam from
the eniymatical eyes beneath. and leaning
back from heavy meal, which seemed to
distend his whole todv, he recited with
most comical effect in view Of his astonisl,.
ing appetite the following:
~ cannot eat but little meat.
My stomach is not good,
But sure think that can drink
With him that wears hood:
Though | go hare, take We no care,
nothing am a--cold:
l stuff NV skin so full within
OF jolly good ale and old"
There has been no time in wears when so
MANY changes in the higher grades o
Government offices seemed to be in pros
pect. Besides the entire Cabinet several Of
the bureau heads and other important
officials are likely to be chaged. Commits.
sioner Of Patents, Marble, has already re.
signed. Commissioner Price will probably
retire from the Indian Bureau when Secre.
tarv kirkwo,d goes out Of the interior De
partmcnt. Chief Clerk Lock wood and AS
sistant Secretary Bell are also understood
to be booked for retirement. Assistant
Secretary Upton has gon. west, and it is
said he packed up his private effects before
he left Apropo> of the Treasury Il di>tin.
guished officer Of the Government called
ON Secretary Folger day or two ago, and
found him in his private room drinking
milk. The officer coming out, met n friend.
"'rhe new Secretary won't do" he said.