Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-11-14

counsel i'r Guiteau Move Tor Further Pos
! ponement Against the Prisoners Pro-
test.-Ihe Trial to PrOceed.-
Selecting JHry.-A @ Sem
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.-The Guitea,
trial commenced here this morning. A
precisely 10 o'clock Judge Cox took hi
seat and the prisoner was brought in
taking seat between his sister, Mrs
Scoville, and his brother in-law. Guitear
looked in much better condition PHYSICAL,
and otherwise than when last in court, bu
still had the same restless, furtive expires
sion, as of a hunted wolf, which character
lied him before.
He was aG once relieved of his hand
cuffs. One Of his first movements was to
attempt to draw from his pocket a roll of
paper, but at sign from Scoville he put
it back
| MIR. Robinson, prisoners counsel, then
arose ard made plea, apparently much
against tue prisoners wish, for a post
ponement, asking for more time to pre-
| pare for the defence. All the time he was
speaking Guiteau was carrying on a re-
monStrance with ScOvillc. who was az
parently trying to quiet him.
At the close of RObinson's speech Gui-
teau insisted on being heard. He said he
was not aware that postponement was to
be requested. He desired to be
heard in his own defence at the very
threshold of the case. So far as he was
concerned, he said, lie did not want
further time. He was ready now to try
the case.
The judge then announced tat trial
should proceed as far at least as the swear
ing of tho jury. when he would consider
Robinson's S application for an extension.
At II O'Clock the work Of obtaining a
jury was begun. The three first were dis
qualified, two because they had formed
fixed opinions, and the other because he
had conscientious scruples on the subject
OF capital punishment. In examining
jurors MIR. Scoyille went over a wide
range, inquiring as to their religious and
political belief. At noon the defense had
percmptorily challenged ono man and two
had been accepted and sworn in.
The panel was exhausted after five
jurors had teer obtained, and at the sug-
gestion of the district attorney an ordt 7
WAS issued for the drawing of Is addition al
names from the box. The prisoner at this
point slowly Srose and informed the
court that he would like to make a speech
to O-mOrrOw morning, but he was ordered
by the court to take his seat. He then |
passed the manuscript of his speech to q |
newspaper reporter, but before the latter |
could leave the court room Mr.. Scoville |
called him back and compelled him to re- |
turn it. This raised tho anger of the pris- |
Oner, who cxcitcdly declared that he was |
Eot under the contral of his cOunsel-that |
he Was lawyer and knew the law himself |
that when he wanted help he would ask |
it, and thai he desired his speech |
to be published for the purpose of intlu-
encing public opinion. He was again 81
lenced by the court, and it having been |
agreed that the sitting Of the court should |
be from 10 q. m. to ) p. m. daily, allowing
half an hour for recess. the court at 1 :O5 |
adjourned.
In the speech which Guiteau had Pre-.
pared for delivery in court to-day he says
he is charged with numbering one James
A. Garfield. Nothing can be more alb
surd, because General Garfield died
Of malpractice. General Garfield was Il
good man, but a weak politician.
Being president he was in position to do
vast harm to the republic, and Lo was
lOiHg it by the unwise use of patronage,
md the Lord and himself took the re-
'ponsibility of removing him that his
luty to the Lord and to the American peO-
Die overcame his personal feelings to-
wards Gen. Garfield and he sought to
emove him. Not being marksman, Gen.
fairfield was not fatally shot, but incOmpe-
ent physicians finished the work, and
hey, not himself, are responsible for his
leath. He then speaks of the breach in
he Republican party and his re-
olive to remove the president, and
laims that the duty ordered him to fire
he shot. He refers to his work OH the
'logy, insanity in his family, his married
ife, and his life in prison, and appeals to
hose whom he says he has put in position
nd to the general public to send him
money for his defense.