Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-12-02
The Speakership Assumes a
New Phase.
A Contest Between the staIwarts ant
the Half Breeds.
Gufteau Still Upon the Stand as
Il Witness in His
Own Case.
The Trial of Gu,toau

VIC 0ultcuu trlaI, the prisoner on the
witness stand:
Scoville-Have you distinct recollec.
tion OF the I'd of July?
Guiteau (smilingly)-Oh, yes; certain
ly:
Witness then briefly recited his
arrest with the least personal feeling.
When was finally lodged in Jail l felt
happy and said, "Thank God, it's all
over with"
After few questions lie broke out: II
want to define my position on this one
point. believe Gen. Arthur is friend
OF mine. He ought to be, for am the
man that made him-or my inspiration
did-but / have never yet asked favor
OF him, and don't suppose ever shall.
Guiteau continued: A few weeks ago
| addressed Bennett note suggesting
that he send me $4,000, and 1 think It
very likely he will send it. I owe prob.
ably 81 600, and that is every cent I do
owe in the world. II Bennett sends me
the money L shall pay Off some of nv
board bills. He did me great deal Of
damage in 1874, but Bennett is good
hearted fellow. have had an idea in
my head for tweney years that 1 should
be president. l suppose people think I
have been badly cranked about it. had
the idea in the Oneida community.
went to Boston with a distinct feel.
ing that 1 was on the way to the white
house, and shall make it yet. Laugh
teri. If am ever president it will not
be my act. God will get the nomination
as Lincoln and Garfield did, and shall
be elected as they were. l anticipated a
decided change in public opinion regard
ing me. The idea that l would
be president being in my head 1 did
not want to get the Herald down on me.
That is the only reason why did not
press my suit against it. don't care
now snap of finger about being presi-
dent. 1 don't know as should take it
if were nominated and elected.
Witness related story of his personal
inviting correspondence with view to
matrimony, and said: I won't say q
word now in reference to my divorced
wife.
The court-No, not now.
Prisoner-I do not know anything.
The prisoner bore the examination
with considerable self.possession al-
though he was occasionally tlurrled and
excited.
Question. You determined to kill
Gen. Garfield, did you not? Answer. I
decline to answer thar. That's very
strong way to put it. with some ex.
citement)-I consider myself the agent
of the Deity in the matter. had no
personal volition in the matter.
Q. Did you say to officer Scott on
leaving the depot after the murder that
Gen. Arthur is now president? A. I de.
cline to answer that question.
q. Why do you object to answering
that? A. ] suppose I did say that, add:
ing (excitedly)-1 want it distinctly un.
derstood that I did not do that Of my
own personal volition, but on the inspir.
alton of Deity. I never would have shot
the president on my own personal &C
count. The Deitv inspired the act and
would take care of it. The Deity tur
nished tho money with which bought
the pistol. was the agent of the Deity
He inspired me to remove the president
and had to resort to my own means te
accomplish the Deity's will.
Q. The only inspiration You had was
to use the pistol on the president? A
The inspiration consisted in trying tt
remove the president for the good of the
American people. Qmpatiently)-Al
these details are nothing to the case
The whole matter was in the hands O
the Diety and Gmpatiently)-I dom
want to discuss any further. 1 appreci
ate the fact of the presidents long sick
ness as much as any person in the world
; but that is very narrow view to tax
of the matter.
Q. Did you contemplate his remova
> otherwise than by murder? A. No, sir
(petulantly)-I do not like the wor
, murder. do not recollect the actuo
, facts in that matter. Excitedly)-lf
had shot the president on my own pei
! sonal account, no punishment would b
: too severe nor too quick for me, but ac
: ing as the agent of the Deity, that put
an entirely different construction on til
act and that wish to put to the coul
! and the Jury, and to the opposing coul
D sci. I say that the removal of the pres
! dent was an act of necessity from I'll
4 situation, and for the good of the Ame
= ican people. That is the idea wa,
you to entertain, and not settle down {
d the cold-b.ooded idea of murder, becau
never had the first conception OF mu
. der in the matter.
Mr.. Porter-Were you aware it VI
against human law? Answer. I felt th
the Deity would take care of me. ne
er entertained the idea of murder in Il
matter-never had any conception
ct the matter as murder. My mind is pc
fectly blank on that subject and h
been.
~ The cross.examination will be CONT
= ued tomorrow.
Washington, Dec. 2.-Immediately u
on the opening of the criminal cou
Guiteau was placed in the witness be
He glanced at the papers moment a
then said: II desire, Judge Porter,
., state to you and to the honorable cou
that decline to answer any more qu
tions which are mere repetitions of wi
,. We have already been over"
= Judge Porter Immediately resum
!. the cross examination with the questi,
"Was one of your purposes in removi
the president to create demand for "
/. book
Answcr-Yes, sir; with the moditi
ton that it was to preach the gospel.
Witness soon became excited aud 6
ticulating wildly insisted upon his ins
ration, and,that tho Lord had selec