Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-23
Our Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov 10. 1881.
Mr.. Editor Since the trial Of Mrs. Surratt,
there has been no such throng Of visitors at the
criminal court as are watching the proceedings
against
CHARLES j. GUITEAU.
| had not seen the man until this week, and
was rather surprised to find him 80 quiet and in
offensive In appearance. His face is intelligent,
and his look and action not unlike that Of other
men Of the world. His hair and whiskers are of
peculiar color, nearly like that Of slate stone,
and are fine in texture. His forehead is we'll
shaped; his head, high above the ears. The back
and top part of 1t is particularly large, which
phrenologists would say shows the leading traits
of the assassin's character,-sef-conceit and OBJ
stinacy. lie has clear, penetrating voice and a
nervous manner, and speaks readily, and with
no more excitement than an ord mary man would
show upon subjects of great interest to him. The
jurymen are q misunderstanding lot, and impress
one as having more eye to labor and trade than
to the morning paper even. They are more equal
in appearance than is usual in a Washington jury,
where the colored laborer and the pompous off,
cal are often side by side. The court room will
hold about three hundred persons, and is packed
all the time A large part of the audience are
through both sessions but the presence OF women
in court is not particularly noticed in this city Of
lady lawyers. There is no doubt but there will
be fair trial, public spirit is inclined to
uphold the law than visit summary vengeance
upon an offender. The true public sentiment is
| not expressed by the acts OF violence which have
been done Guteau, such as the shooting this az
ternoon, by which he was slightly wounded in
| the arm. This is all that the prisoner can ask,
| and is what he is coming to fear most for no one
can see him in court, watching with interest and
intelligence the proceedings, without believing
that he is morally responsible for the deed which
| he has done.
Inasmueh as public issues are waiting for the
assembling Of congress, and the actions OF the
president are too little known to furnish even
basis for conjecture as to cabinet changes and
other important business, venture to describe
THE VIEW FROM THE CAPITOL
Immediately around are the fine grounds which
are now green as Vermont meadow In June
From these grounds eleven streets and avenues
| go straight out like spokes from a hub, dividing
| the city into triangles. To the east stretches a
beautiful street running along the ridge OF the
hill on which the capitol stands. A little way
down is park and In 1t the famous emancipation
statue. To the right Of the street some two miles
awav IA tho ia,l-ot which mnch has haen written
since tbe assass,nat,on q, ,ha n,ea,dsnt Inst ha-
vond u IA Nh csr s,erv with Go
Of white ceno,anbs inst visible the rees and
the r,vsr IEas, Ranch, snar,,las along in ts ,sar
To the southeast is the navy yard with its line
| Of monitors and its machine shops and foundries.
South lies the broad and beautiful Potomac dot
tod x.tth ata On, and md Nil 90
on, =, s,oh, aro ,ho .,aa,,os ., Alarondr,o w.,
"a ,,a r,a,l ,,,h a.. r,ods 800. and hn,,a,nns