Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-29
GUTTEAU
PUT INTO THE DOCK.


Judge Cox Aceedes to Coensellor Porter's
Request and filss his Opinion for
his Action.
In the Guiteau trial yesterday Judge
Porter renewed his motion to have Guiteau
put into the dock and Judge Davidge then
proceeded to speak to the motion. He
believed the time had come when every
one present was satisfied that the prisoner
was perfectly sane in respect to his be-
havior, and amenable to the same rules as
other prisoners. In the case of General
Sickles, who was tried in this court for
murder, the Judge refused to deviate from
the rule, although lie was distinguished
lawyer and member of Congress at the
time, and he sat in the prisoners dock
during his trial.
proposition which might be deemed neces-
had from the prisoners behavior.
Guiteau Gnterrupting)-Well, it's be
cause you are jackass on this case. If l
ha4decent counsel shouldn't have any
occasion for remarks. You arc doing we'll
enough on your theory, but your theory is
altogether too narrow. You haven't got
brains enough for this case.
Colonel Reed denied the assumption
that the prisoners sanity had been estab-
lished. No human knowledge could
fathom the workings Of the insane mind,
and humanity would dictate, if reason
able doubt should exist, that leniency BE-
extended toward him. He thought an
admonition from the court would suffice.
Colonel Corkhill insisted upon the re-
mOval of the prisoner to the dock, and
the removal from around him of the
special policemen who We're not regular
attaches of the court that he should be
kept in the dock with no other special
protection than is accorded any other
prisoner.
Scoville protested against this sugges-
ton to shoot Guiteau Porter defended
COrkhill and Guiteau kept up his inter-
rupting and finally tho court said it was
hardly necessary to say that the conduct
of the prisoner had been in persistent
violation of order and decorum. In the
beginning the Only methods which could
be resorted to to suppress this disorder
were such as must infringe the constitu-
tiOnal rights of the prisoner, and that was
conclusive argument against them. Until
Saturday last no other method had been
proposed when this proposition (Which he
had already had in mind) was submitted.
1t had hitherto been an impression,
shared by the court and counsel, that
the prisoners conduct anu language in
court would afford the best indication Of
his mental and moral character and con-
tribute largely to the enlightenment Of
court and jury on the question OF his re-
spOnsibility. 1t was therefore Oh the ex-
press desire Of the district attorney that
the court had allowed such latitude of
conduct in order to furnish tho experts
an opportunity of diagnosing the prisoners
case. AS it now appeared the opinions
Of the experts had been largely
founded on the exhibitions which bad
taken place on the trial, and if they had
contributed to enable those experts to
reach their conclusions it would be COM
plete vindication of the view of tho dis
trict attorney rs to tie proper course to be
pursued. At this stage of the trial, how
ever, this object seemed to have been &C.
complished. The triaiwa now approach
ing its close. The experts had had ample
opportunity to make up their judgments
and pronounce them before court and jury.
1t was incumbent ON the court now to i'm
of the case admitted and which would
conduce to the orderly conduct of the
case. The prisoner had right to
hear the testimony of tho wit
nesses. lie could not be gagged or sent
out of the court. The proper place for
prisoner Oh trial for felony was the dock.
He could only come within the bar to bc
arraigned and to receive sentence. If the
court granted him the privilege Of sitting
beside his counsel it was a privilege which
could be withdrawn summarily. While
the prisoner had the undoubtcd right to
act as his own counsel or to appear by
counsel, he could not exercise both rights
simultaneously. Having accepted counsel
the prisoner had waived his right to ap-
pear as such in person. On the consider
alton Of all the circumstances the court
thought that the motion would have to be
granted and that the prisoner should be
placed in the dock, but he did not mean
that the prisoner should he exposed to any
danger. IIe should have the fullest pro
lection.
The prisoner smiled upon the judge, and
in the most insinuating manner promised
to keep quiet if allowed to remain with
his counsel; but Judge Cox replied
"You will 60 to tho dock because no re-
lance can be placed upon your promises.
Guiteau shouted "Then l move, your
honor, that the court room be cleared"
A passage was made through the crowd
and the prisoner was finally seated in tho
dock. 81 amt afraid,' he shouted, "to
walk through the streets of Washington.
God Almighty will protect me, as he has
DONE" After glancing around from his
new place he called out "Oh rather
like this, your honor it gives me much
better opportunity to see."
After one or two OutburstS on tho part
of the prisoner the examination progress
ed for several minutes without incident.
Mr.. Scoville handed up the plaster cast of
Guiteau's head asked witness if the in
equalities wore sufficient to attract his at
tentiOn. "That looks like Humpty
Dumpty," shouted Guiteau, rs the wit
ness held up the head and closely exam
ined it. "Corkhill, Pm indebted to you for
this fine scat. It's great improvement"
Witness thought tho head was decidedly
we'll shaped, though he attached very
little importance to such matters. He
had in his asylum insane persons with
very symmetrical heads, and knew plenty
of sane people with very ill-shaped heads,
Witness did not believe Guiteau had
been feigning insanity in the court house,
but thought he had exaggerated his
natural characteristics of egotism, vanity
insolence and audacity.