The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-15


eastern wing OF the City Hall, well lighted
by three wide windows in the northern and
southern walls, is the courtroom OF the
District Supreme Court, the criminal term,
in which the trial OF G. j. Guiteau for the
murder Of the late President Garfield.
opened to-day. At the eastern end OF the
room il a platform containing the judges
seat, with clerks desk right below it.. The
table which usually occupies the greater
part of the space allotted to the bar has
been removed, and instead OF II several
smaller tables have been arranged for the
accommodation Of counsel and reporters.
In the western half Of the room plat
form has been raised, on which are ar
ranged some hundred chairs for the use Of
spectators. The seats assigned to the iu-
rors occupy q section OF the room in the
northeastern end. There is hardly any
noticeable excitement outside Of the build
ing and no very great pressure to obtain
admission TO the courtroom. As soon
as the public door was opened the spec
tators' seats were Immediately filed, for
the most part with rather r0ughly-drcsS-
ed set OF young men, including many
who would come under the designation OF
"roughs, tramps, and cranks." Some half
dozen ladies got sandwiched in among the
crowd. In the mean time the lawyers in
the case had got into their seates-the Dis
trict Attorney, Judge Porter OF New York.
aud Walter ID. Dayidgc OF Washington.
for the prosecution, and Mr.. Scoyille and
Leigh Robinson for the defence. Mrs.
Scoyille occupied seat close to her hus-
band, having her brother John on one
side and her brother the prisoner on the
other.
At 10 O'Clock Judge Walter s. Cox en-
tered the courtroom, and the court was
declared formally opened by the crier in
the old Norman form. Immediately
thereafter the prisoner Guitcau was
brought into the courtroom by the Mar
shall and his deputies. He looked in 4
much better condition, physically and
otherwise, than when he last appeared in
the same room to plead to the indict-
mcnt. Still he had the same restless,
fuItiye expression OF the hunted Vol
which characterized him before. lie was
at once relieved OF his handouts, and took
his seat beside his sister. One OF his first
movements was TO thrust one OF his hands
into one Of his pockets and hall take out n
roll OF PAPER. Mr.. ScovilIe, however, in
dumb play, ordered him TO put it back, and
he did so. Then the District Attorney
rose and declared the readiness OF the
prosecution TO proceed with the ease.
Mr. Robinson rose to make plea for
still more time 10 prepare for the defence,
which appeared not to meet the approval
of Guitcau. All the time Robinson was
speaking Guiteau was carrying on what
apDcared to be a remOnstrnncc With SEQ
Wills, who was apparently trying to quiet
and suppress him. No sooner had Robin
son taken his seat than the prisoner rose,
and. in an excited manner, addressed
the court and stated that he wished
to he heard. In vain Mr.. ScoYille
endcavorcd to make Kim take hiS
seat and remain quiet. IIewas progressive.
In nervous but pretty distinct manner
he proceeded with his speech, rs follows !:
81 was not aware that my counsel, Mr..
Robinson, intended this morning to make
sppication for q postpOnement, and de-
sire to be heard in my own behalf in THU
matter ut the very threshold in the ease. |
am charged with murdcrOus attempt, and
/ desire to De heard in my own BEHALF
The Court This is not the proper time
to enter upon the defence. The only ques-
ton beiore the Court is whether further
time should he allowed the counsel TO pre-
pare for the defence?
Prisoner COMPATIBILITY: So far as ] am
concerned ! don't want further time; we
are ready to try the case now.
To the Deputy Marshal (who endeayored
tn restrain the prisoner VIII you be
quiet!
The Court The question is whether
further time ought 60 be allowed the coun-
sci:
Prisoner COMPATIBILITY: don't want
that, il the Court please.
District-AttCrney Corkhill insisted that
the trial should proceed now.
Mr.. Robinson pressed his claim for post
ponement.
Owing to the opposition OF Scoville and
the prisoner to the application OF Robinson
for an extension of time the Court stated
TINT for the present the ease should pre-
coed ns far at least rs the swearing OF the
Jury was concerned, and then it would
consider the question Of extension.
At IL o'clock the work OF obtaining q
Jury wns begun. the three who first pre-
scented themselves being disqualitied-two
on the ground that they had formed fixed
opinions on the case, and the other on the
ground that he had conscientious scruples
on the subject of capital punishment. In
examining the Jurors Scoyille went over j
large range OF questions, inquirlng MS to
religious and political belief. Up to this
hour-12 noOn-thc defence has pcrempto-
rally challenged one iuryman, and two
hive been accepted and sworn in.
Up to this hour (l2:j0 p. NJ five juror
have been obtained and sworn in. Their
names and occupations are rs follows
John Z. Harlem, restaurant-keepcr; Fred
w. Brandenberg, cigar-maker; Charles G.
Stewart, flour and feed-dealer; Henry j
Bright. retired from business, and Thomas
II. Langley, grocer.
The court then adjourned.
GITEAU's UNsPoEEN SPEECH.
WASHINGTON, November 14.-In th'
spcech which Guiteau had prepared fo
delivery in court to-day he says he i
CHARGED with numbering one James \. Gar
field. Nothing can be more absurd, be
cause General Garfield died OF malpractice
General Garfield was a good man, but
weak politician. Being President, he wa
I in a position to do vast harm 70 the reprb
lie. and he was doing ii by an unwise us
OF patronage, and the LORD ana hllllsel
took the responsibility Of removing
him; that his duty to the Lord an,
to the American people oyercame hi
personal feelings towards General GaI
field. and he sought TO remove him. No
being a good marksman, General Gariiei
was not fatally shot, but incompetent ply
sielans finished the work, and they, no
himself, are responsible for his death. II
then speaks OF the breach in the Republi
can party and his effort to remove IN
President. and claims that the Deity OF
dcrcd him to fire the shot. He refers to m
work on theology, insanity in his family
his married life, and his life IN prison, an
appeals to those whom he says he has pu
in position and to the general public |
send him money for his defence.
wouId.Rc Assnssins Arrested.