The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-11-19
GUITEAU'S TRIAL.
The District Attorneys Opening Statement
AN Outline of the TestimOny-Thc Pris-
Onel's Behavior.


one1's Behavior.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17-By $50 o'clocl
this morning the Criminal Court room wa
we'll filled. There was noticeable increas
in the number of ladies present. Eacl
days proceedings appear to increase th
public interest in the trial. The doors wer
thrown open to the pubic a few minute
before 10 o'clock, and this was the signal TO
a general stampede. A number of coloret
] men and half-grown boys deliberately threw
themselves over the bae.s of the real
line OF seats in order to procure
point from which they could view the pris
oner. Mrs. Scoville entered the Court room
at 10 O'Clock accompanied by her little
daughter about five years of age. A story
was published in a morning paper purport
ing to give details of the arrest of an accom-
plce of Guiteau at Kensington, O., yester
day, and stating that telegraphic CORE. ond
ence had occurred on the subject betw cen
the authorities of that place and the Distric
Alto rney, CorkhilI. The latter officer Ge-
mes that he has had any such CORE
sIOndence, and says he knows nothing
of the story, and if he did, should
not feel at liberty to talk about il
for publication. Immediately after Court
opened. Counsel Scoville arose to make a
personal explanation, in which he said
there had been no disagreement between
himself and Robinson. as wonld appear
from certain publications. and in conclu-
sion said that Robinson would render all
the aid possible in the case, and that they
would work in harmony. At this point
Gn,f II n
taking part in the defense. He said he
would manage his own case. He wouldn' e.
trust Robinson with anything, as he had no
brains. He wished the Court to understand
him on this point, and if counsel were
forced upon him he would make noise
about it to the country.
HE REPRESENTED THE DEITY
In this case, and wished the Court TO under
stand it, Continuing. he said two or three
bnnderbu>s lawyers would lose the case for
him, and he did not propose TO submit to
anything of the kind. The Court informed
the prisoner that if he did not remain quiet
he would be removed from the room. After
few minutes the pr soner burst out afresh
with the remark: There Is not word of
truth in the Chicago dispatch, published in
the Post this morning 1t is lie from the
beginning to the end" This is the dispatch
referred TO above, regarding the arrest
of the supposed accOmplices of Guiteau.
For some time after this last remark the
prisoner conversed in very excited manner
with his counsel and brother at intervals,
using his clenched fist upon the desk before
him In an exceedingly demOnstrative man.
ner. At 1880 O'Clock Secretary Blaine ac-
cOmpanied by Assistant Secretary Walker
Blaine and Chief Clerk Brown, entered the
Court room end were ushered to seats imme-
dialely in the rear of the counsel for the
lN.erv. Co.. I'll
ing. the opening statement was made by
United States District Attorney Corkhill.
THE GOVERNMENTS STATEMENT.
May it please the 'urt, and gentlemen of the
jury: The prisoner at the bar ands before you
charged with the murder of James A. Garfield.
U"der any circumstances there rests grave and
re>pOnslble obligation upon every man called
upon In discharge Of his duty under law 10 rem
dor declsi N upon which depends the life of a
charged in the present case is no greater In legal
gravity aud consequence to the prison. than If
by his act he had taken the life of the humblest
still it is idle TO overlook the fact
life was taken, his high official position and the
startling fleets of commission of the crime rem
der the case one of unusual, and unparal eled i'm
nortance. Ii is the secoud time In our history
sna citizen chosen by the people of the uni,ed
lies as President has fallen victim To q lawless
assassin. But in the former Case we were Just
% a
war The country had been rocked by commo
u m aud stirred by civil feuds Throughout the
length and breath OF this land nearly every house
slain ON the hoty contested battle fields
Of the Republic. IL was danger
thoughtful men had anticipated 1t was
caiamnlty that patriots had feared. and when II
came with ali Its dread consequences 1t ac-
ceptd as one of the results of the then disordered
we had passed from the arena of war Sworos
had been DeaIen into 2! Iwshares and spears into
pru"ing hooks The country was united and
pence regued at home aud abroad There we. e
II" local discussions aud there were no intense
sfrlies seed ume aud harvest had come and
gone The battle field, redeemed from the scars
ana havoc OF their blOOuy Contest. were blossom
ing with the fruit of peaceful labor. Suddenly
the startling fact was proclaimed hrughout the
land and around the would that the President of
the United states had fallen victim to
the assassin's bullet I'm the Capital of The Nation
Murder, unde! all circumstances aud upon all
occasions, is shocking The life, of which we
know SD liltle, anu which we hold by SO fragile a
tenure. as Is dear to all when it is brought
To a cluse. not In the usual order aud course Cf
nature. but prematurely BY violence, no matter
what may be the CO. dition of the person. the
human mind Is appalled, with terror. When a
man, holding position III emi ence and power,
ialls cau>elesS victim TO the murdeIer's stroke.
we realize still more fully the awfuIness of the
deed which produces this result.
EFFECT OF THE SPEECH.
During the time occupied by the District
Attorney in the delivering of his argument
the prisoner assumed an air of apparent in
difference and devoted himself to the morn
ing papers, scanning them hurriedly The
argument was delivered by Colonel Corkhill
IN very effective manner, tears falling be-
lore the eyes of many in the audi
ence, but the countenance of the pris-
oner remained unchanged Toward
the close of the argument he laid
his newspaper aside and leaned back
In ms chair, covering his eyes with his hand,
endeayOrng To conceal the emotion which
he evidently felt He then drew a package
OF manuscript from his pocket, and COM
menced writing in hurried and nervous
manner. Ihe prisoner constantly shook his
head IN approval or disapprOval of the
statements made in the argument of Colonel
Corkhll. AT one time he interrupted
the District Attorney, which action
was called to the attention of
the Court by Judge Porter,
OF the counsel for the prosecution. Judge
Cox announced that it was within the power
Ot the Court To try the case i'm the absence of
the prisoner, and if he persisted i'm his t1r-
bulent remarks he would cause him to be
removed. Guiteau in response said. II will
not do IL again, your honor. but have very
aeep Ieeiing IN this case" [Laughrerl Mrs
ocovllle. sister OF the prisoner, cried bitterly
during the delivery of the argument. and
her E.tle Child could be seen appealing in
an aHectionate manner with Mamma.
mamma. what is the matter?p
SECRETARY BLAINE's TESTIMONY.
AT the conclusion of Colonel Corkhill's
argument there was long and continued APP
pause. Secretary Blaine was then called to
the stand by the counsel for the Govern
ment. MIR. Blaine. after giving his name
ar If