The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-11-18
THE GUITEAU TRIAL.

! black broadcloth, was escorted lilo court by
| two officers. He took seat beside his sister.
MIR. Robinson being on the other side
/ The officers sat Immediately be-
hind him, and one of them, leaning
over, unfastened the handouts from Guiteau's
wrists, The prisoner then shook hands with
bis brother and sister, handed the latter a
small pamphlet and package Of paper, and
! then arranged the articles on the table before
! him, rather as if he had been the counsel than
| the accused. He appeared much more col
! lected than at his arralgnment and had 10th
! ing of the frightened look that marked him at
that time. When all was quiet MIR. Robinson
addressed the court asking for more time be-
fore trial. He said he had reason to know
/ that he could get needed assistance as counsel
! before long, and that he had some witnesses
who could not get there before Dec. |. He
was willing to give the court the names of said
| witnesses
AS Mr.. Robinson sat down Guiteau arose and
said !: eff your Honor please, desire to adj
/ dress the court. did not know that my coun-
| SCI was ready to make his speech this morning.
! / desire to speak for myself. am here on q
murderous charge, and desire to be heard in
my own defense"
| This is not the time to enter upon the de-
Tense, said Judge Cox, quietly. 1t is only
question whether more time is necessary for
| preparing the defense"
| I" It is not needed" said Guitean. "We afe
ready to go Oh with the case now"
Mr.: Robinson smiled at this and asked
Guiteau to sit down.
! The prisoner said: "You keep still" But
he did sit down, rnuttering, as he did SO ave
! are ready to go ahead now.
! Col Co1khill said he saw no reason why the
time should be extended.
| Mr.. Robinson made an affidavit that the sole
| ground on which he asked delay was in order
to get the necessary witnesses and counsel
He said he was practically alone in the case
and needed some one.
There was developed an evident split be-
tween Messrs. Scoville and Robinson. Mr.
Scoyille, addressing the court, said that Mf.
Roblnson's application was made without his
knowledge, which was certainly a strange pro-
ceedlng, since he had not even seen the afida-
Wit nor heard what counsel hoped to get. For
his part he was ready to go on with the trial
He knew he was incompetent to go ahead with
out assistance, but he had hoped without Mr..
Roblnson's assistance to be able to proceed
Even now he hoped to be of some assistance to
Mr.. Robinson, but if he was to go on in this
way, he (Scoville) should withdraw.
Here Guiteau jumped to his feet and said
in an excited manner 81 indorse every word
he says. Robinson came into this case without
consulting me- and I don't like the way he
talks. | order him peremptorily to withdraw
from the CASE"
Mr.. Robinson renewed his application
Mr.. Scovile claimed the near relatives of the
prisoner should at least know who was expect
ed to come for the defense.
Guiteau again interposed "We don't want
Robinson, anyway. This is peremptory and he
must CO."
Mr.. Scoyie went on I: "If we have time
enough we eodld get counsel good enough and
plenty without money, but if the court is going
to give us time and at the same time assign
/ counsel don't agree with it,
With this Guiteau jumped up again. Rap
ping the table with his knuckles, he said 'sMr
Scoville is next 10 me in this case I intend 10
do thl5 husmess myself. Robinson is not
wanted"
The officers tried to keep him quiet, but he
told them to mind their own business. Hewas
in the presence of the court, and would talk
when he felt like it,
COL Corkhill asked the court to try to keen
the prisoner quiet, whereupon Guiteau sat
down, saying he would do whatever the cotirt
wished him to. After that he was compare
lively quiet.
Judge Cox then said he was inclined to give
the defense little more time. He intends
that the prisoner shall have at least fair trial
but he thought it would perhaps be better to
allow the case to proceed SO far as the selection
of jury, leaving it for counsel to arrange for
time and q future continuance and for addi-
tional counsel.
Mr.. Scoville said it should be understood that
he should not even question q juror until he
knew exactly who WAS to be associated with him
and MIR. Robinson in the defense.
The court said no one could be assigned,with-
out Mr.. Scoville's consent.
MIR. Scoville and Mr.. Robinson both ex-
pressed themselves satisfied with this arrange.
ment, and the jury panel was then taken up.
The court explained that it was wrong inter.
probation of law to demand on such a i1ry oulv
EhOa6 hQG sd
only absolutely disqualified persons were those
who had formed an opinion that could not be
changed by any evidence whatsoever.
The first four of the jury panel stated dis
tinctly and finally that they had opinions which
no evidence could change, and they were speed
lily excused. The fifth seemed all right until
asked if he had any scrupes as to capital pun.
ishment. He smiled as he answered in the
affirmative, and seemed glad to get out of it.
The sixth thought he could give verdict in &C.
cordance with the evidence, though he had re-
peatedly said he should hang the prisoner,
This man was in the hardware business Mr..
Scovile said the juror was not wanted.
The next man was mechanic. He
had an opinion, though not very decided
thought he could give a fair verdict. Mr..
Scovile asked as to his politics and religion.
Judge Parker. of the prosecution, objected
Mr. Scoville said he desired to know something
of The jurors cons ,ience before knowing
whether he might exercise the right to per-
emptory challenge. That was all he was driv-
ing at. He was willing to let that question rest
until he could present authorities. This man
was William P. O'Donnel, and in his case the
defense made their first peremptory chal-
lenge. The eighth was excused be-
cause he held firmly to the opinion formed
Immediately after the shooting. The ninth
man was John Hamlin, well-known restau-
ranter of Washington. He answered all ques-
aaaf of oc RI NH ho ba1d
TO any lnfdel belief. He was accepted by the
defense, and was duly sworn as the first juror.
Five jurors have been obtained and sworn
in. Their names and occupations are as fol-
lows John P. Harlin, restaurant keeper;
Fred W. Brandenber, cigar-maker Charles G.
Stewart, flour and feed dealer; Henry j.
Bright, retired from business Thomas Fl.
Lsugley, grocer.
The panel was exhausted after five jurors had
been obtained, and at the suggestion of the
District Attorney an order was issued for draw
ing seventy-five additional names from the box.
The prisoner at this point slowly rose and
informed the court he would like to make a
speech tomorrow morning. but he was ordered
by the court to take his seat. He then passed
the manuscript of his speech to newspaper
reporter, but before the latter could leave
the courtroom scoville called him back and
compelled him to return it. This raised the
anger of the prisoner, who excitedly declared
he was not under control of his counsel that
he was lawyer and knew law himself that
when he wanted help he would ask for it and
that he desired his speech to be published for
the purpose of influencing public opinion. He
was again siienced by the court, and it having
been agreed that the sitting of the court should
be from 10 a. m. to 8 p. m. daily, allowing half
an hour for recess, the court adjourned.
In the speech which Guiteau had prepared
for delivery in the court he says he is charged
with numbering one James A. Garfield Nothing
can be more absurd, because Gen. Garfield
died of malpractice. Gen. Garfield was good
man, but weak politician. Being President
he was in position to do vast harm to the
republic, and he was doing it by the unwise
use of patronage, and the Lord and himself
took the responsibility of removing him.
That his duty to the Lord and to the
American people oyercame his personal
feelings toward Gen Garfield, and he
sought to remove him. Not being marksman,
Gen. Garfield was not fatally shot, but in.
competent physicians finished the work, and
they, and not him, are responsible for his
death. He then speaks of the breach in the
Republican party, and his resolve to remove
the President, and claims that the Deity Or
dered him to fire the shot. He refers to his
work on theology, insanity in his family, his
married life, and his life in prison. and appeals
to those whom he says he has put in position
and to the general public to send him money
for hia dafaDaa