Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-16
Concerning Gui tNau.

GUTTEAU - GUITEAU AS A CONSTITUTIONAL
LAWYER.
A STAR reporter found Col. Corkhill in his
Office this morning, tearing up and throwing
away basketful Of cards received from the
myriad of newspaper reporters and correspon-
dents who have swarmed about his office during
the last fortnight. There was also an immense
accumulation of postal cards and letters waiting
to be winnowed. You must have been
II don't call it bother. 1t is fair showing
of the great interest felt by everybody in this
crime" replied Col. Corkhill.
you have never had such an experience be-
fore in your term Of service?" said The STAR, in
quisitively.
There never has been such an occurrence in
this country since Lincoln was assassinated. In
that case the assassin was killed when captured
The trial wasb by military commission. There
never has been such thing in the history
of the country as trial BY a civil court
of a man who attempted to assinate the Presi-
dent. When Mr.. Lincoln was assassnated YOU
will remember. Booth was killed by Boston Cor
bett. My mail' continued Col. COrkhill, look
ing over the heap of letters and postal cards on
his desk, lis very large every day from all parts
OF the country embracing suggestions from law
yers as to the method of trial, suggestions Of
citizens as to what ought to be done, from per-
sons giving notice that they have known Guiteau
and relating instances Of his life. There is an
anxiety all over the country to show the man
up"
Have you settled the point about the double
Indictment of Guiteau?"
81 am not prepared to say whether two sep
arate offences can be made out of the two shots
fired. There were two shots fred however
am not entirely satisfied that they do not con-
stitute two offences. / have given no definite
opinion and made no announcement that in
tended to present him on two separate charges
The gravity of the crime is so great and the pun
lShmeuf jn0ip0nHfp fhpSa
have grown out Of the situation
BOOTH AND GUITEAU.
" There is" continued Col Corkhill. ga great
similarity between this mans crime and Booths
crime. Both of them had the matter in contem-
plation for some time, and both were seeking
public place to commit the crime. Each pre-
pared carefully weeks before written state
ment and defence of his crime. In the one case
Booth delivered his statement to an actor named
Matthews, who was in such dread of having it
in his possession that he read it and burned it,
Booth left his statement with Mr. Matthews to
be delivered to John F. Coyle. then editor of the
National nteltige7.ce,' and desired it to be pub
lished to the country. This man Guiteau had
the same ambition to have the reasons for
his crime published and SO far as l have been
able to ascertain both statements are similar in
character. Mr.. Booth regarded the assassina-
ton OF Lincoln as necessary to the restoration
of the supremacy of the south in the control of
long as Mr.. Lincoln was president the south
would continue to be oppressed. Guiteau re-
garded the assassination of Mr.. Garfield as
curing peace and harmony in the republican
party. Guiteau followed Gen. Garfield in his
carriage; Booth followed Lincoln in his carriage.
Booths idea was to shoot Mr.. Lincoln in some
public place, and he had no desire to conceal from
the public the fact that he committed the crime
Guiteaus idea was exactly the same. He eX-
pected to kill Mr. Garfield in church. in the
oylyin jnfn
rlage and ride dramatically to the Jail. Booth
assaSsinated Mr. Lincoln in a theater. sprang
upon the stage. and had his means of escape
after appearing in the presence of 2.0OO people
one was an actor. accustomed to the theater; it
was the arena of most public significance to
him. The other was man accustomed to speak
in churches-on religious subiects-and to dis
cuss theological points, and the church was in
his mind. the most conspicuous place for the
public commission of this crime Both of them
were men of inordinate vanity. There is
another coincidence When Booth was cap
tured in the barn. in his diary. he says, that
there was very little left me to clear my name
and the government will not allow it to be
printed" And so Guiteau complains that the
government will not allow his defence to be
printed, in almost exactly the same language.
GUITEAU AS CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER.
The reporter asked the district attorney what
truth there was in the published statement that
Guiteau yesterday sent for him and undertook
to prove that the disability of the President as
contemplated in the Constitution was complete.
and that it was imperitiye in Vice President
Arthur to assume the executive office. There
is nothing in that at ALL" replied the Official
Zone day was at the Jail. He asked me how the
President was. told him l had not learned
He asked me if had considered the constitu-
tiOnality of the question. He said that under
the provisions OF the Constitution the Vice
President was to succeed in the case OF the
Presidents inability to act. He then asked tor
get it.'
docs he know that the President lives?"
He has not been permitted to see the papers
but he can tell from his surrounding-by seeing
the hags flying and not hearing the bells toll
that he lives"
Guiteau and His Correspondents.
SOME WRITER'S WHO WANT TO ''GET THE DROP"
ON HIM, AND ONE WHO WANTS TO EXHIBIT
HIM.
The following are choice extracts from some Of
the letters for Guiteau which have fallen into
District Attorney Corkhils hands. One signed
Hero" and postmarked Cincinnati. saws
Charlie, old boy! How do you like prison
hash? 1t is not too rich for your blood. is it? l
think SO much of you that would like to spring
the trap that would cause your sweet spirit to
sail toward warmer climes." Ex-Union soldier
writes from Athea, Md. to say: You are too
onery to live and you are sentenced for term of
.oeiS w Viz pcuitSolltioiy W IltU your teI1n eX-
pires and you remain in this country twenty-four
hours after, or some Of my pards will get the
drop on you, and don't you forget it,"
David Brainard, of IS Milk street, Boston, writes:
II should like to make contract to exhibit you
in alf the principal cities of the country and win
guarantee you 500 per week. and will also give
the same amount per week to the Presidents
family Please ask the District attorney if he
will allow it if keep you in a strong cage"
Ex-C 8. A. writes from this city: Assassin, re-
ligious hypocrite and villain remember the head
OF the government at Washington stin lives. but
you are a doomed man. You can't play OF
cranky with the people of this District" Daniel
Wood, OF Lebanon, Me-. Ga "conseniA sririt. y
apparently sends the following verses:
God rules and all must be right. for He is yfeht
re mas mace us His tools to do right
ne lnaue Guiteau to shoot the President
70 pieaA, ,up the ring and save the government.
Giirheld TO lead the ring as he thought right
Anu & tne circumstances to obscure the light
pom were necessary to carry out His plan.
II rs 1or him to judge which rs the best man"
lSee Jeremiah 10th, 23d.l
Av1RGINIA SUCCESSION.
Among the postal cards received by Col CorA-
hill to-day was one from Virginia saying: al
low me to offer suggestion that win suit the
hearts OF every American. Have an expert
sh0ot Guneau IN exactly the some spot as our
DelOVeu PreSl0ent I