The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-11-30
THE ARCH assassin.
A Brief Review Of the Proceedings
in Court.
The Prisoner Does a good Share Of Talk
ing and is Hard to Shut off.

ing and is Hard to Shut off.
The Insanity Dodge the main Reliance Of
the Defence -Guiteau's Oapers in Court.
WASHINGTON, November 23.-The attend
ance at the Criminal Court to-day was
senslbly diminished on account of the rain
storm. While Guiteau was taking breakfast
Il the City Hall he expressed dissatisfaction
At the release of Jones upon beil. When the
| court opened Scoville made formal request
for the papers taken from Guiteau at the
time OF his arrest, stating that they were
material evidence for the defence, and since
| the prosecution had not needed them he
could see no reason why they should be
withheld.
The District Attorney offered to furnish
copies Of the papers, but Scoville insisted
upon his rights in the matter and asked for
the. originals. Pending the discussion
GtAteau insisted upon being heard, and sald
Il can throw light upon this. Atthe time
OF my arrest ! haaf1 " to- or fifty editorial
shs,s showing the political situation in May
AM June. These slips show the action
Of the forces that impelled me to shoot
the President. They are very important as
showing the gist of the whole matter
There were forty or fifty slips denouncing
President Garfield. It was living on such
ideas as these that I was impel]ed to shoot
! t'se President"
! Goi Corkhin interposed again, saying3
TH will favor you to get through to-day
Will send tor them.
i s3oovllle, resuming, referred to Guiteau's
| career as q politician, and drew the conclu-
sion that his intellect WAS deficient. This
view aroused the prison at once and he
began series Of il err,,ptions; protesting
Scoville's Conclusions. When reference was
made to his running around from one COM
mittee room to anOtIel seeking to be en-
ployed as a campaign speaker and his failure
to obtain recognition were mentioned,
Guiteau shouted angrily 1T wasn't be-
cause | had no ability, but because was not
known / had ideas, but not a reputation
They wanted big guns like General Grant
and Senator Conkling-men who would
draw" Then in direct contradiction to his
counsels declaration to the jury yesterday,
that Guiteau was man who never made q
| joke in his life, he looked up with an
assumed smile and added: Il presume I'd
draw now" This provoked general laughter
which was promptly suppressed by the
Judge, who struggled to disguise smile
on his own features Scoville continued on
the same line, and criticized Guiteau's speech
/ entitled 'sGarfield VS.. Hancock saying that
4 it was mere tumble of ideas collected from
newspapers and the speeches Of Others No
one but a crazy man would have imagined,
as Guiteau did, that this speech possessed
any merit. Guiteau became more and more
restless, and in the most excited manner yet
shown by him shouted to Scoville: Il OBJ
/ iect to your theory on that score, and when
you try to make out that I'm fool I'm
down on YOU want you to tell the truth,
but you need not try to make me out 9 fool.
[ say that the Diety inspired my act, and He
will take care Of it. | want the truth, and
| that's all there is about it..
Col CorkhN arose 70 protest against the
Interruptions by the prisoner, when Guiteau
! waved his hand to bim patroniEingly and
i said: sIt is not necessary to make any re-
marks, Colonel Just let matters drop. !"
Scoville was willing to agree to any measures
| the District Attorney might suggest to re-
strain the prisoner.
The first witness for the defense, H. N
1 Barton. was then examined. He testified
| that he did not think the prisoner was SO de-
ranged as to be irresponsible. He thought
him not deranged, but very badly arranged.
There was no cross s-examination Of this
| witness.
n. M. Davis, Of Erie, Pa. testified to the
knowledge of the insanity Of one Of Guiteau's
aunts.
Thompson Wicoxson, of Freeport,
Illinois. knew Guiteau's father and described
his peculiarities.
After recess the witness again took the
stand. He did not see Gniteau after he had
run away from Scoyille's house, Beaver
Lake Wisconsin.
The prisoner. returned 10 Chicago