South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-11-25
Letter from Washington.
tE'on our Rsssla, csrrapoadsas.,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. %.

itb, ANU throughout the country, Is
much taken up with the Guiteau trial
now in progress. In every respect il
is one of the worlds celebrated crimi-
nal trials, and AS such il attracts uni.
versal attention. Not that ANYTHING
new or startling is likely TO be devel-
oped init. but the circumstances of
the case render it one of national i'm
portaDce and the public look for full
reports of every detail. 1t 10 expect.
ed'that the trial will last fu)lytwo, and
perhaps three, months There have
been no dramatic scenes as vet. though
the opening address Of the District At
torney and the testimony of secretary
Blaine, both narrating the facts of
the great tragedy which recently sad.
dened all hearts, brought the painful
events of the summer fresh to mind
The author OF that terrible calamity.
now on trial for his crime, has still
further excited public feeling against
him by his outrageous con duet in
court. In spite Of the efforts of his
counsel and the court to restrain him
the miserable wretch continues daily
to interrupt the proceedings and to
exhibit himself as creature in whom
conceit and insolence predominant in
about equal parts.
To most people within and without
the court room his conduct, SO far.
conveys the impression that he is real.
ly acting part that, as old Poloni.
us said of Hamlet, Though this be
madness, yet there's method in it,
and that, underneath the outer dis
guiss of - crank" he only conceals
the real character OF an assassin. It
is hard for people TO restrain them
selves in the face of this mans inso.
lent conduct and his loud Boosting in
the court room that if any 'disrepnta-
bio characters undertook to injure
him they should be shot dead by his
body guard the police There is
much complaint that the scoundrel is
shown too much consideration by the
court and authorities, aud many good
people actually express regret that
the man who attempted to shoot him
the other night had not taken better
aim. 1t would at least have brought
the whole business to close and set
at rest all fears of a possible escape
from justice through the many crooks
ofthe law The court room is crowded
daily, many lawyers and o goodly
number of ladies being among the
spectators. The prisoners sister, Mrs.
Scoville, and his brother, John Gui.
teau, of Boston, show plainly how
deeply they feel, and the sister fire..
quently bursts into tears.
General Butler is expected by Mr..
Scoville to shortly come to his assist
ance i'll Guiteau's defence. The Gen.
eral is now here and it is said expects
to spend good part of the winter at
the Capital, taking possession of his
fine house at present occupied by Sem
ator Jones and President Arthur. He
ID a good liver, and the. heartiest of
eaters, devouring an enormous guam.
tity OF meat, vegetables. milk, coffee,
ard salads, at his four meals day.
A chicken disappears before him like
nice tender partridge before Me.
thodist preacher. He keeps a fine
stock of wines in his cellar for compa.
ny but drinks only about tnmbler
full OF sherry at dinner. When he
really wants something stimulating he
takes glass of Jamaica rum, or the
statesman's drink. brandy. He smokes
cigars that are strong enough to knock
a marine over. Yet he prides him.
selfupon his temperate life, to which
he traces much OF his prosperity. At
a table gathering recently where he
was host the conversation turned upon
good feeling as basis for intellectual
work, and pending the brief drawn
passing 10 and fro a curious
smile curved over Buffers face, his
eyeids trembled with
melton enough TO show CLEAN from
the enigmatical eyes beneath, and
leaning back from q heavy meal,
which seemed to distend his whole
body, he recited with most comical
effect, in view of his astonishing APP.
petite, the following:
'f cannot eat but little meat.
Ny stomach Is not good.
But sure I think that | can drink
With him that wears a hood
Though go bare, take ye no care,
] nothing am H-cold:
stuff my skin 90 full within
OfjoIly good ale and old"
There has been no time in years
when so many changes in the high
er grades of Government Offices
seemed to be in prospect Besides
the entire Cabinet several of the bu
reau heads and other important Off.
Gals are likely to be changed, Com.
Of Patents Marble has al
ready resigned. Commissioners Price
will probably retire from the Indian
Il H.