New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-15
THE SCENES IN THE COURT ROOM.

and five persons were selected as jurors.
THE SCENES IN THE COURT ROOM.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ACCnMMoDATIoN OF THE
BAR AND THE PUBLIC-GUITEAU BEAkiN" III"
SELF WITH GREAT iMPUDENCE AND ARRoGANOE
INSISTING ON TAKING PART IN THE DISCUS
sIoNs-REPUDIATING ONE OF HIS COUNSEL
COUNSEL DIsAGREEING.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
wAsu1NGToN Nov 14.-Guiteau's trial began at
10 o'clock to-day. The court room, capable oi
seating 500 or 600 people, was well out ho'
uncomfortably filled. The arrangements Tor pre-
serving order were excellent and the decorum ana
the propriety of the occasion were unhroken DS
the spectators. Immediately surrounding the
Judges desk were the seats and tables, ana close
TO the marshal the newspaper CORE reSpondents. Be
vond them were placed tables ana cnalrs Ior
counsel and for the prisoner and his friends The
remaining space within the bar, which comprises
about two-thirds the area of the room, was re-
served formembers of the bar and for ladies' OUTSIDE
the bar platform three feet high had been erected
and about two hundred chairs were placed upon
il for the accommodation of the general public.
Correspondents and members of the bar were adj
mited as they arrived but the doors were not open
to the general public until few minutes before ten
o'clock There was an exciting scramble for seats
by the motley crowd which rushed in. but 1t lasted
roarsbals. wearing broad red ribbons as badges of
authority were stationed at different points in the
room TO preserve ORDER while two policemen well
armed took their seats directly behind aud close to
the chair reserved for the oner MIR. Scovlllethe
brotber-ia-law and counsel of the prisoner entered
the rooom about zen o'clock and took one of the
chairs reserved for the counsel. His eye had its
babitual merry twinkle and his face
wore a smile. Mrs Scoville the prisoners
sister. a portly woman neatly dressed IN
black accompanied by her brother, john W.
Guiteau, of Boston, good looking man OF about
FORTY OF forty-hve years of age followed Mr.. Sco-
Vile after an interval of q few minutes, and took
their seats beside him, leaving however, an empty
chair between Mr.. and Mrs. Scoville. District At
torney Corkhill, accompanied by Judge Porter and
Mr.. Davidge associate counsel for the Government,
and by Mr. Smith. of the Attorney Generals Depart
rnent came next. seating themselves IN group at
the left of the row reserved for the counsel. The
entrance of Judge Cox, the formal opening of the
court. the calling of tie roll Of the eInpanelled
iurors and the entrance of the prisoner were the
incidents of the next fifteen minutes. Guiteaus air
and general appearance were in contrast
with what they were when he was
indicted He was clad in a new suit of dark ma
terial aud he wore a standing white collar and his
polished cufIs were fastened with imitation gold
cuf buttons He staggered as he came IN, scowlng
instead of cringing as the former occasion, and
very evidently deemed himself parsonage, to
honor whom the assemblage had been gathered. lie
walked around to the seat reserved Tor him. and
stood for a minute more while his manacles were
being unlocked and removed at the same time CIV
ing some directions to the officers who were per-
forming the services Seating himself he looked at
the Judge and at the people in front ofbm for few
seconds and then turning TO his left he shook hands
rather patrOninngly with his sister and brother
As the three sat side by side, 1t
was easy TO trace family resemblance
in the features of the three, but the face of the
prisoner seemed to be distorted caricaure OF the
regular features of the others. He less frOwzy
than Oh the former occasions, but not less repellant
His large cold grew eyes seemed to be incapable of
wearing any expression except of cruelty and sell
fshness He smiled he greeted his sister, but the
expression was more devilish than his customary
arrogant frOwn. General Swain entered the room
shortly after the prisoner was seated, but he re-
NAMED only moment. There were no other per-
sons of note present except those whose duties called
them there Perhaps dozen women occupied seats
at the rear within the bar
The first proceeding was plea
made by Leigh Robinson, the counsel,
assigned TO Guiteau by the Court for delay. This
proceeding was an evident surprise to Mr. scoviIle
who. with something of Indignation in his voice,
made spirited protest against being ignored by
Mr. Robinson He said that he represented the
prisoner both as relative and counsel and that he
would refuse to have anything to do with the case
If counsel whom he did not know and had not ap-
proved were brought into the case. He was ready
10 nroceed with the trial and did not wish for delay
This disagreement gave rise to suspicion that the
counsel. in default of a better method of defence
were seeking to make public sentiment in favor OF
their client by an exhibition of the poverty of his
defence aud perhaps to leave him without a de-
fender The suspicion was probably unjust. The
air of the contending counsel honest, and that
OF Mr. Robinson betrayed some confusion of mind
and chagrin. He protested that il was for want OF
time alone that he had not consulted Mr. Scoville
but the impression left upon the minds of his audi
tors that he had not treated his associate with
entire courtesy.
with emphasis signifed his approval of the senti
nents uttered He did not want delay. From time
10 time during subsequent proceeding he got uT
and with increasing emphasis asserted that hc wa
his own lawyer that Mr. Seoville was his assist
ant and that he did not want Mr.. Robinson In th
case at all. He was allowed to talk considerably
but was usually pulled down at last by the police
men, at whom he growled and whom he commanded
to mind their own business. Once he peremptorill
ordered Mr.. Robinson to take his seat. WheI
Judge Cox commanded him 10 desist he ac
qulesced readily, saying no would heed the coni
mands ofthe Judge, but not Of policemen. There wa
throughout willingness on the part of his counse
that he should exhibit himself at his worst; bu
the prisoner himself seemed TO be inspired by hi'
own dornlneering egotism aloue Aside from the
nnHsuaI nature OF the attempt 10 conduct his OWL
deIenee, there was no sign of insanity in his pro-
eedure. 1t was finally decided TO proceed, and
draw the jury, reserying the question OF delay
until another occasion. The drawing for jurymen
occupied the remainder of the session. Mr.. Scoville
questioned the Jurymen inquring generally regard;
N iaea .4 md
the depth of their conviction of the guilt
p the prisoner Tle ad con