Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-22
The Assassin Attributes His Escape
Saturday to the Deity.
BEHAVES BETTER IN COURT.
At Robinson's Request He is Re
ieved from the Case.
Scoville Makes His Opening Ad'
dress.
Guiteau Makes q Speech.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 81. The crowd today
was larger than ever before. G1itean ar
rived in the van at O'Clock, having an es-
cort OF three mounted police, in addition to
the two officers in the van. He was at once
taken to his room. where he breakfasted and
read the morning paper. He seemed to have
recovered entirely from his scare. He at
tributed his escape Saturday to the in,erpo-
stion of the Deity, and desired his hearers
to understand that he was not afraid to die if
the Deity desired. but he did not want to be
shot down like dog before he had time to
fully vindicate his conduct in the court Of
Justice.
Upon being brought into court, Guiteau at
once devoted himself to his papers, and con-
trary TO general expectation made no demon
stration whatever or allusion TO the latest at
tempt upon his life. Immediately upon the
opening of the court. Mr.. Robinson arose and
addressed the court for the purpose of calling
attention to an article in the Sunday Post, in
which Scovlle was made to say that he should
request the withdrawal of Robinson from the
| case, rs he (Scoville) has become satisfied
that (Robinson) could be of no assistance,
but rather an embarrassment in connection
| with the defence.
| Robinson recited at length the circumstan-
| Cts VI MS COllltCllOH Vase anu viz
| icised in severe terms the discourtesy he had
received from several. He was here inter-
rupted bv Guiteau, who broke in with ''Your
honor, want Robinson to stay in"
| Continuing. Robinson requested the court
to grant his discharge from the case, and
| positively stated he could not with proper
self-respect remain in association with SEQ
vile.
| Guiteau, who had been following Robinson
all through the latter portion Of his speech,
broke in again, and with considerable warmth
said That's an able speech and | agree
| with most oft. If he had only made it last
Monday there would never have been any
disturbance between u.s."
Scoville tried to quiet Guiteau, when the
| latter retorted upon him, keep quiet your
self. I'm talking now. l sympathize with
him in this matter"
Mr.. Scoville made briet statement deplor-
| ing the disagreement, after which Judge Cox
| relieved Mr.. Robinson from further connec-
| ton with the defence.
| Mr.. Scovile began to address the court
with, We don't expect to be compelled to
| conduct the case entirely without assistance.
| Here Guteau exclaimed, 81 understood
Judge Magruder was anxious to assist in this
trial: also Mr.. Townsend. | should like to
have them appear here as well as Messrs.
SWEET ard Trude of Chicago" Then adding
after a short pause. lone word on the ques-
ton of malpractice. My idea is simply this,
| by the physicians own statement, on the 25th
of July, the President was not fatally shot.
We don't want to press the subject, only de-
sire to have it go on the record, so that the
court in force may take notice of it,
| After brief pause, Guiteau added
''That's all there is to the malpractice bust
1 shnr nd IN no mint I ,rish II upIor
stood appear as my own counsel here.
am the agent of the Deity and expect him to
take care of me. | think he has managed
pretty well so far
| The District Attorney then called Drs.
| Woodward and Lamb. who testified to the
character of the wound, that it was mortal
one. They also identified the ball which
was exhibited to the jury as the one they
had taken from the body of President Gar
field. The prosecution then rested their
case, and Guiteau was allowed permission to
be heard in the opening of his defence. Gui-
teau. retaining his seat, began:
| Your Honor, was not aware that I was
expected to speak this forenoon Mr.. Sco-
vile here leaned over and whispered to him,
when Guiteau retorted sharply and with i'm
patience: II won't stand up. l am not
afraid to. however. but / have only mo-
ment to speak, and will keep my seat.
don't care to say more than was pub
lished last Monday in my address to the pub
lie. Ipresume the jury all saw it. l have
no set speech to make. l appear as my own
counsel and my idea is to make corrections
as we go along, just as have done the past
three or four days. don't mean any dis
| courtesy to any one. | only want to get at
the facts. If any one saws l owe him 500
and don't. will deny it on the spot. My
idea is to take things when they are hot and
not let them get cold and suffer from misrep-
resentation. OF course l shall go on the
stand at the proper time to be examined and
| cross-examined.
| My idea, however, is to meet a misstate-
ment when it is hot instead of waiting to let
the matter get digested and misunderstood
think the true way is to interject my state
ments as the case proceeds. l have no set
! speech to make, but am much obliged to your
honor, and to nv counsel for the courtesy of
the invitation.
| He settled back in his chair with an air of
exhaustion and rested his head upon his hand,
while careworn expression appeared upon
his features
Scoville then addressed the jury at consid-
cradle length. Much, he said, had been in
troduced in evidence thus far which to his
mind, should have no bearing upon the case
| All men shared same OPINION relative to the
suffering of the President 1t was not pleas
ant to contemplate these things, and when
they were presented to the jury they must
| exercise an influence.
| The only question, however. for the jury
to consider was whether the prisoner killed
the President, and whether at the time he
was in such condition mentally as to render
him responsible for the action.
| The speaker. with no attempt at oratorical
effects. presented in plain, matter-of-fact
manner, the points which he proposed to
make and upon which the defence would
rely Without concluding his opening address.
Scoville requested that the court would allow
him further time and permit him to finish to-
morrow. This was granted, and the court
adjourned till tomorrow.
| At the close of Scoville's speech TODAY.
Guiteau, who was very much pleased with
Il