Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-11-15
TELEGR APHIC.
Onenina of the Trial Of Guiteau.
the Assassin Of the
President.
The Prisoner Creates Something
Of a Scene in Court,
And Attempts a Speech In HE
Own Defense.
The Tedious Work of Choosing
The Tedious Work of Choos1ns
Jury in Progress.
Trial of Chas. J. Guiteau.

WASHINGTON, D. G., November IA.
The low ceiling and large sized
square room in the eastern wing of
the city hall well lighted by three
wide windows in the northern and
southern walls is the court room OF
the District Supreme Court, the
criminal term in which the trial of
Chas. J. Guiteau, for the murder of
the late President Garfield, opened
to>dav. At the eastern end OF the
room is "a platform containing the
Judges seat, with the clerk desk
RIGHT belowit. The table which usually
occupies the greater part OF the space
allotted to the bar has been removed
and instead of it several smaller
tables have been arranged for the
accommodation of counsel and re
porters. In the western half OF the
room a platform has been raised, on
which are arranged some hundred
chairs for the use of spectators.
The seats assigned to the jurors oc-
cupy the section of room on the
northeastern end. There is hardly
any noticeable excitement outside
the building and no very great pres
sure to obtain admission to the court
room. As soon as the public
door was opened the spectators
seats were Immediately filled, for the
most part with rather roughly
dressed set of young men, including
many who would come under the des
ignation of ''roughs, Z" tramps and
.cranks.' Some half dozen ladies
have got sandwiched in among the
crowd. In the meantime the lawyers
in the case had got into their seats,
the district attorney, Judge Por-
ter, of New York, and Wal
ter Z. Davidge, of Washington,
for the prosecusion aud Mr. Scovilie
and Leigh Robinson for the de-
fense. Mrs. Scoville occupied the
seat close to her husband, having
her brother, John, on one side aud
her brother, the prisoner, on the
other. At 10 o'clock Judge Walter
S. Cox entered the courtroom and
the court was declared formally
opened by the crier IN the old Nor
man form. Immediately thereafter
the prisoner, Guiteau, was brought
into the court room by the
marshal and bis deputies. He
looked in much better condition
physically and otherwise, than when
he last appeared in the same room to
plead to the Indictment Still be
had the same fugitive expression as
of a hunted wolf, which character
lied him before. He was at once re-
lieyed of his handouts
and took his seat beside his
sister. One of his first
movements was to thrust bis hand
into one of his pockets and half take
out roll of paper. Mr.. Scoville
however, in dumb play ordered him
to put it back, and he did so. Their
the district attorney arose and de
clared the readiness of the prosecu-
tion to proceed with the case.
Mr. Robinson arose to make hi
plea for still more time to prepare
for the defence, which appeared MOI
to meet the approval of Guiteau- AL
the time that Mr.. Robinson was
speaking, Guiteau was carrying or
what appeared to be remonstrance
with Mr.. Scoville, who was apparent
ly trying to quiet and suppress him
No sooner had Robinson taken his
seat than the prisoner rose and il
al excited manner addressed the
court and said that he wished to be
heard. In vain Mr.. ocoville en-
deaVored to make him resume his
seat and remain quiet. He was
lrrepresslble. In nervous, but
pretty distinct manner he proceeded
with bis speech as follows: 1 was
not aware that my counsel, Mr.. Robin
son, intended this morning to make
application for postporement, and
desire to be heard in my own behal
in this matter at the very thresh
old of the case. l an
charged with murderous al
tempt, and desire to be heard in M
own behalf.
The Court.-This is not the prope
time to enter upon the defense. Ih
only question before the court i
whether further time should be al
lowed counsel to prepare for the de
fense
The Prisoner (emphatically).-S,
far as I am concerned, don't wan
further time. We are ready to tr,
the case now. (To the deputy mar,
shal, who endeavored to restrain the
prisoner) Will you be quiet?
The Court. The question is
whether further time ought to be
allowed counsel.
The Prisoner (emphatically) y).-I
don't want that, if the court please.
District attorney Corkhill insisted
that the trial should proceed now.
MIR, Robinson pressed his claim to
postponement. Owingto the oposi-
ton OF Mr. Scoville and tho prisoner
to the application of Mr.. Robinson
TOR an extension Of time the court