The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-12-02


shooting until speaking of the presi
dents ingrztitude to Grant and Conk
ling. He was led BY Judge Porter =
admit that ingratitude Is the basest o
crimes.
Judge Porter: Stop there; what woul'
have thought Of your act in killing tn
president had be given you the Pari
c,nsulship instead Of having refused it
Guiteau had previously said tina
Gar6eld was his (prisoner's) warm, per
sonal and political friend. That no per
sonal motives whatever we're involved
In the act, and fearing some trap wa
being set for him, he hesitated a mo-
ment, and then with great emphasis
said, want to just fasten you solit
right here. would not have taken thu
Paris consulship after the llrst of Juns
if ! had been appointed to it, and ths
president and Secretary Blaine had both
beseached me on their knees 20 take it
1 had At that time resolved to remove
the president from the good American
people,
Recess.
After recess, Guiteau resumed the
stand. looking very haggard. l had
no special purpose In using some fatter.
ing words to Blaine. simply made a
suggestion to him in case he assisted
me in getting the Paris consulship !
should feel bound II he was q candidate
at the national convention to assist
him. That is the way they do in poll
tics. The judge understands that that
is the way politicians get on-you tickle
me, tickle you.
Did you write President Garfield the
letter. marked private. in which you
said 81 intend to express my sympathy
for you on account Of the pressure that
has been upon you since you came to
this city2''
Yes, wrote that letter. My idea
was just to express my personal regard
for Gen. Garfield. ON account of the
pressure on him for Office. and that is
what 1 meant by saying considered
him my personal friend. sympathize
with any president who has this enor-
mons horde Of Once seekers at his
throat. At the time these letters were
written I had not the slightest concep-
tion Of removing the president. II you
want to bring those letters against me,
that were written at the time when 1
had not the slightest conception Of re-
moving the president, then you are try
ing to do what you cannot do. and will
not do (banging the railing violently
The prisoner being asked how many
times he had spoken with Conkling on
the street. answered: I met him once
ON the street; he was exceeding cordial,
bowed and said, "How do you do. Mr..
Guiteau?' / was on good relations
with all those men during March and
April.
Porter. slowly and with great deliber-
alton: Did Senator Conkling-.
Prisoner. interrupting: Oh, don'tlook
so fierce at me; don't care snap of
my finger for you.
Porter: But you will answer my
questions.
Prisoner: Put your questions in q
quiet and simple sort Of way and 1
will.
Porter: Did Senator Conkling ever
promise to support your application sor
the Paris consulahipp
Prisoner: My expectation about the
Paris consulship was, that would get
it through my personal influence with
the president. Blaine and Logan, and
that when my nomination went to the
senate. Senator Conkling and that sort
of men would see it through; but don't
think 1t necessary to discuss this matter
of the Paris consulslIip; went over it
all yesterday. and decline to discuss
it further. There is no use Of wasting
the time Of this honorable court in GO
ing over it again. If you don't know
the facts about yet it. you had better
read this mornings papers and you will
find them.
The prisoner was asked about the In
spiration Of his suggestion to Garfield
that he would succeed, himself, in 'S4.
He replied in resolute tone: I de-
cline to discuss this matter any further;
you have gone over it two or three
times, and decline to discuss it any
more. II your idea were correct about
my having malice in the matter, Blaine
was the man for me to have shot; what
possible i'll will could have had against
Garfield; Blaine was the man to have
been shot according to your theory.
Ny getting or not getting office had
nothing to do with 1t whatever, it only
shows how absurd and nonsensical your
theory is. II Garfield had paid respect
to those letters 1t would have been all
right; but what did he do? He went
and sold himself; soul and body, to
Blaine. He did not appreciate the sem
timent Of those letters, but threw him
self into Blaine's hands, and allowed
Blaine to use the presidency to destroy
Conkling and Grant.
Q. ibid you say TO President Gar
held he would have no peace till he got
rid Of Blaine?''
Prisoner: "Yes, and that was the
way the stalwart and liberal papers all
over the country talked. That was the
way Washington republicans and Cor
ham and that kind OF people talked.