Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-29
GUITEAU As A WITNESS.
RELUCTANT TO TESTIFY NOW.
AFRAID OF CROss-ExAMINATIoN.
BUT FINALLY HE BEGINS HIS STORY.

BUT FINALLY HE BEGINS HIS STORY.
CURIOUS REVELATIONS OF 4 CHECKERED LIFE.
The expectation that the prisoner would be
called to the stand again this morning, had viS-
BILE effect at the doors OF the City Hall. II the
crowd was not larger the pressure was greater
than on other mornings, for the people seemed to
struggle for entrance with energy in proportion
10 the expected attractions Of the day. So there
was perfect jam about the doors and steps of the
east wing of the City Hall at nine O'Clock. Those
who had business in the court house had to aban-
don 1T altogether, or else risk life, limb, and time
In pushing, struggling mass of humanity. The
officers had hard task to keep the passage
clear. The counsel and other Interested In the
case, were tardier than usual.
THE PRISONER
was brought up at nine O'Clock, and taken to his
room without exciting any demonstration. He
wears the same coat that torn by the bullet OF
the "man on horseback" The tear could be
mended with a few stitches, but Gu1teau prefers
10 nave 1t gaping open. He wears it as proudly
wound
PACKED COURT ROOM.
The court room began to fill up before half-past
9Oclock, and at 10 O'Clock the room was packed
SO full that 1T seemed impossible to get another
person In outside OF the bar without bursting the
walls At the back Of the "galery' there were
Two or three rows OF ladies standing up, clnging
with their feet to the most precarious places The
olncerS OF the court estimated that tOday's attend
ance was greater than that OF any preceding day
except saturday last, and fairly rvalled that OF
SATURDAY: A few minutes before 10 O'Clock there
was sudden wave OF motion through the " Jury :"
door and the legion of the defence, headed by Mr..
and Mrs Scovlle and Mr. John W Guiteau filed
II. SCOVillP had several
her, who took seats at the defence table. Mr. SEQ
Vile was attended by Mr.. Amerling, the Williams
counsel" The outer doors of the court house had
TO be closed upon the faces OF the. crowd at 10
O'CLOCK SO as TO prevent serious crush inside.
CONGREssMEN OUT IN THE COLD.
Two members of Congress -Messrs. Aiken and
Evans OF South Carolina-and Acting Attorney
General Phillips were among those who were thus
barred out. The Congressman expostult ted with
Inc policemen at the door, who guarded the
mems ears were deaf to Congressional eloquence,
and said that they could not admit even the
preSlaent OF the United States. Even the judge
caught ag the spirit OF tardiness this morning and
0ld not appear ON the bench until q Quarter-past
Ten O'CLOCK, when the
COURT WAS CALLED TO ORDER.
The prisoner was then brought in and spent the
time consumed by the opening formalities talking
with his brother and sister.
Mr.. Scovile rising, said he wanted to iii nm
blank In the evidence OF yesterday by showing
me record OF the death OF Francis w. Guiteau, at
the BlOom1ngdale asylum. Dr. Nichols. he said,
had forgotten to bring the record, but John W.
Gulteau had copy OF 1t. He asked John Gulteau
to stand up. Mr.: Guteau stood up in his place by
tne deience table and produced the record, which
ne mad copied at the asylum. After some discus
sion as to the admissibilty OF this copied record
pute as to the death OF Francis Guiteau in the
insane asylum and his insanity. The matter was
there dropped.
Guiteau Uneasy ON the Witness stand.
h 10 hons III
the stand.,' This was an announcement waited
for with great interest, and when made it created
little ripple OF excitement. The prisoner was
conducted to the stand, where he sat down resting
on his elbows on the edge of the box. There was
Sg a Strong guard making complete wall posted
oeIn1a Oenina MN. 10 When the prisoner had become
De considerably agitated, Mr.. ScOvlle st,nding up
near the table OF the prosecution, said: "YOu may
state your earliest recOllectiOns OF your mOthern
HE OBJECTS TO GIVING HIS TESTIMONY AT THIS TIME.
The prisoner hesitated a moment, looking first
at Judge Cox and then at Mr.. Scoville
"DO understand, }" he said, "that am to go on
the stand as regular witness now? I under
stood that was only to identity some papers I
90 don not care to 60 on as regular witness to be
cross-exam1ned at this stage of the case. There
are other witnesses to be examined
Mr. ScOvilie explained to the court that the nrfs.
Oner was not very we'll.
think sa,d probably IN the course Of week
can go on the stand !" ~
Mr.. Scoville insisted that he must go on with the
examination N
you ought to have notified me.n said the prts.
oner rather emphattcally; "when go on the stand
and scientifically" wa -'
Mr.. ScOvile said he would make the examina
tion easy, ana ask only few questions.
GulTEAU WILLING TO TESTIFY IF He WAS NOT TO BE
CROsS-ExAMINED.
VI am willing TO answer, providing the prosecu
ZION 90 not take advantage OF my position to cross
m a nd hrfncr
Judge Porter said that whenever the prisoner
was examined that the prosecution of course would
claim the right to cross-examine He suggested
that Mr.. ScOville might avoid any dilemma at
present by reading the letters which were identi-
ned by the prisoner last evening.
Mr.. ScOv1lle said If the prisoner became ex-
hausted he would suspend and read the letters
~ don't want to be forced on the stand to state
my defence just at this time," protested the prs-
Oner. F
The court said in reply to question Of the pros
not be interrupted in the midst OF q continuous
narrative without the consent OF the prosecution.
~ want the court to state" said the prisoner
turning to Judge Cox, "whether am to be forced
to go on and state my whole defence now. Iwant
your h0nors ruling on that"
The court said again that unless the prosecution
aSSented TO IL the examination OF the witness could
not be interrupted, and the only way to escape
cr0ss-examination was to suspend the entire ex-
animation.
81 desire to have 1t suspended" said the prisoner
81 don't feel very well, and haven't for several
days"
THE PRISONER HAS HIS WAY
Mr.. Scovflle then put an end to the colloQuy by
saying 81 Will read the letters then"
81 don't think" said the prisoner, 81 should be
forced on the stand at all at this time"
"YOu are not obliged to testify at all," said
Judge Cox; "but II you do testify you must, OF
course, submit to cross examination"
THE PRISONER OBJECTS TO BEING TOO CONSPICUOUS
Mr. scoville, taking the bundle of letters identi-
fed by the prisoner yesterday, walked through
the crowd to the witness stand. Having adjusted
his spectaces he began to arrange the letters. The
prisoner meanwhile became restless. He evil
IDENTIFY did not like his conspicuous place in the
court room. "If the court please he said, 81
would like to retire to my old seat 1t will take
him Qnotoning to Mr. Scoville) an hour or two"
The Reading Of Guiteau's Letters.
The prisoner was then escorted back to his seat
at the table, and for convenience OF facing the
jury, Mr.. Scoville stepped into the witness stand
He spread the letters out on the ledge OF the box
In front Of him. Tie first few letters read were
dated at Chicago, in the fall and winter OF 1857
andf aarlv he Of Thav