Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-11-17
In the Case of Charles Guiteau,
the Assassin.
The Brazen-Faced Culprit Makes
An Appeal to the
Profession,
And His Counsel Disclaims Any
Responsibility Therefor
Court Adjourns Till To-Day,
When the Trial Will
Proceed.

WAsH1NGToN, D. c., November 16.
The attendance of spectators in
the courtroom this morning shows
that public curiosity is increas
ing and. the desire to witness the
proceedings is daily growing stronger
IN higher classes OF the community.
There is a much larger proportion OF
ladies and Of well dressed people in
the audience than there was on
either the first or second days of the
trial Before 10 o'clock every space
in the room was occupied. The law
yers on either side soon filed in and
made their way with difficulty to their
respective tables. The judge entered
and the court was opeHed with the
usual proclamation. Yhereupon Gui-
teau was brought into court by police
officers and deputy marshais, and
upon being relieved of his handouts,
took his usual seat between his law
yers, Mr.. Scoville on the one
side and his brother and sister on the
other side The nine jurors, already
selected and sworn, were called and
answered to their names, and then
the names of Is men, composing the
pannel for this morning. were called.
Then the work of testing their indi
vidual qualifications to sit as jurors
in the case began. Several of
the first batch confessed of having
entertained very decided opinions as
to the prisoner guilt. One of them
however, o laborer, named Thomas,
declared that he had neither express
ed nor formed an opinion that be
cannot read and that he had never
had any conversation whatever on
the subject Nh. Scoville remarked
that this. man was about the kind of
a juror the law contemplated, but
| that the defense did not want him.
He therefore challenged him per-
emptoritIy.
The next, a colored barber, named
Williams, answered all questions IN
such a manner as to show that he
was not disqualified. In his case,
also, the pelemptory challenge was
interposed by the defense.
VIM. H. Browner, commission mer
chant, being closely questioned by
Scoville and no objection being ad :
vanced by the government, was ac-
cepted and duly sworn, making the
i tenth juror in the case.
/ George T. Keen, in response
to interrogatories, said there
was nothing under the sun
which could change the opinion
he had formed, and several other
gentlemen were as decided in their
answers as was Mr.. Keen.
During the examination of the
talesmen the following statement
was prepared byGuiteau, copied by
his brother, and given to the press i:
i To the legal profession of America /:
am on trial for my life. formerly
practiced law in New York and Chs
cago, and I propose to take an active
part in my defense, as know more
. about my inspiration and views in
the case than anyone. My brother
inIaw, Geo. Scoville, is my only coun-
sci, and l hereby appeal to the legal
: profession of America for aid. Lex
: pect to have money shortly, so can
s. pay them I shall get it partly from
! the settlement of old matters III
New York and partly from the sale
of my book and partly from the pub
lie contribution to my defense. My
diary was published in the New
) York Herald on October 9th, and in
| my speech published November
! 18th, yesterday Any well>known
/ wyer of criminal capacity desiring
to assist in my defense will please
telegraph without delay to Geo. IS.
Scoyille, Washington, u. G. If for
any reason the application be res
fused the name will be withheld from
the public.
[Signed1 CHARLES GU1TEAu,
: In court, Washington, D. c., Nov
= 16, 1881.
f. Heinlein, an iron worker, has
a been sworn as the eleventh juror.
Joseph Prathen, a commission mer-
chant, has been accepted and sworn
{ as the twelfth juror.
A recess of one half hour was
. taken: When the court reassembled
theoath was administered to the jury.
> The district attorney then said it
had been customary in cases of the
kind, to allow the jury one day to
make arrangements relative to bus-
mess matters, and therefore asked
!, for an adjournment until tomorrow.
Mr.. Scoville arose and disclaimed all
and any responsibility for the papers
written and given out by Guiteau to
the press. Guiteau sprang to
his feet, in an excited manner
and said I desire to
be heard. I appear here in dual
capacity; first as prisoner and
second as counsel, and i want to
have final say in this matter, when
/ request counsel the court can
I then assign them That paper was
II 4 = 4