Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-11-17
GUITEAU,S TRIAL.

The trial of the assassin was begun last
Monday. The statement is made that the
government will be active in its efforts to
break down the insanity defence of Guiteau.
Detectives, in the person of surgeons, are emI
ployed to visit the Jail and examine Guiteau's
physical and mental condition. As Guiteau
is always anxious to converse there is no diff.
6culty in the matter. He willingly subjects
himself to an examination of his body.
Guiteau says he does not object to this, al
though men who call themselves surgeons
poke him about the ribs and arms to see if he
is sound. One of these experts, Guitean
says, called himself DR.. Smith, and professed
to be a surgeon, anxious to know if the pris.
oner's ribs were sound. Mr.. Scoville, attor.
ney for the accused, says he has no objection
whatever to experts making examinations in
behalf of the government. He wishes them
to have free course in their examination, as
this will only help to establish the fact of the
prisoners insanity. The question for the
court to consider is whether Guiteau was in.
sane when he shot President Garfield. He
says he can discern a decided difference in
Guiteau at different times, and that his insan-
ity is unquestionably chronic in its nature.
At times Guteau is calm, and on other days
excitable and wild in his manner and speech.
He is not only glad Of an opportunity to
talk, but converses freely with any one, con-
sequently he is a good subject for medical ex.
perts to examine. .... . .,....,..
The following is an account of the prelimi-
nary proceedings in the trial on Monday:
There was hardly any noticeable excitement
outside the building and no very great pres
sure to obtain admission to the Court room,
as soon as the public doors were opened the
spectators seats were Immediately filled; for
the most part with a rather roughly dressed
set of young men, including many who would
come under the designation of "roughs'
"tramps" and "cranks." Some half dozen
ladies got sandwitched in among the crowd.
In the meantime the lawyers in the case had
got into their seats, the District Attorney,
Judge Porter, of New York, and Walter d.
Davidge, of Washington, for prosecution, and
Mr.. Scoville and Leigh Robinson for the de-
fense. Mrs. Scoville occupied seat close to
her husband, having her brother John on one
side and her brother, the prisoner on the 9TH
er. At ten o'clock Judge Walter S. Cox en-:
tered the Court room and Court was declared
formally opened by the crier in an old Nor
man form. Immediately thereafter the pris-
oner Guiteau was brought into the Court
room by the marshal and his deputies. He
looked in much better condition physically
and otherwise, than when he last appeared in
the same room to plead to the Indictment Still,
be had the same restless, furtive expression,
as of q hunted wolf, which characterized him
before He was at once relieved Of bis hand.
cuffs and took his seat beside bis sister. One
of his first movements was to thrust his hand
in one of bis pockets and half take out roll
of paper. Mr. Scoville, however, in dumb
play, ordered him to put it back, and he did
so. Then the District Attorney rose and
declared the readiness of the prosecution to
proceed with the case. Mr.. Robinson arose
to make his plea for still more time to pre-
pare for the defense, which appeared not to
meet the approval Of Guiteau. All the time
that Robinson was speaking Guiteau was
carrying on what appeared to be remonstran-
ces with Scoville, who apparently tried to
quiet and suppress him. No sooner had
Robinson taken his seat than the prisoner rose,
and, in an excited manner. addressed the
Court, and stated that he wished to be heard.
In vain Mr. Scoville endeavored to make him
resume his seat and remain quiet. He was
and in nervous but pretty dis
tinct manner, he proceeded with'a speech, as
follows:
81 was not aware that my counsel, Mr.. Rob-
nson, intended this morning to make applica-
ion for postponement, and l desire to be
heard in my own behalf in this matter at the
threshold of the case. am charged with
nurderous attempt and desire to be heard in
ny own behalf
The Court-"This is not the proper time to
enter upon the defense. The only question
before the Court is whether further time
should be allowed counsel to prepare for the
lefense"
The prisoner (emphatically)-"So far as
I'm concerned, don't want any further time.
We are ready to try the case now" Clo the