Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-15
GUITEAU AT THE BAR.
THE TRIAL OF THE ASSASSIN
BEGUN.
He Opposes n POstpODement and
Addresses the COurt-The Seiecx
sloQ OF The Jury Under WaY-FIve
chosen - The MuTderel,s Clever
PTetenses - Charging Malpractice
and Divine InspIratEOns

WASHINGTON, November 14.-A low cell
inged, large sized square room in the eastern
wing of the City Hall, well lighted by three
wide windows in the northern and southern
walls, is the court room of the District Su-
preme Court, In criminal term, in
which the trial of Charles J. Gui-
teau, for the murder of the late President
Garfield, opened to day. At the eastern end
of the room is a platform containing the
Judge's seat, with the Clerks desk right
below it. The table, which usually occu-
pies the greater part of the space allotted to
the bar, has been removed. and instead
of 1t several smaller tables have been
arranged for the accommodation OF counsel
and reporters. In the western half of the
room q platform has been raised on
which are arranged some hundred
chairs for the use of spectators.
The seats assigned to the jurors occupy a
section Of the room at the northeastern end.
There is hardly any noticeable excitement
outside Of the building, and no verv 0rsat
pressure to obtain admission to the court
room. As soon as the public doors
were opened the spectators, seats
were Immediately allied, for the most
part with rather roughly dressed set of
YOUNG men, including many who would
come under the designation of ''rouehs," +"
'strsmps" and "cranks.u Some half a
dozen ladies had got sandWiched 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. Dsvidge, of
Washington, for the prosecution, and Mr.
Scoville and Leigh Robinson for the de-
fense. Mrs. Scoville occupied q seat close
fn mel hoN hov A~Nk I'll.
on one side and her brother, the prisoner,
on the other.
At ten O'Clock Judge Walter 8. Cox en-
tered the court room and the court was de-
elared formally opened by the crier In the old
Norman form. Immediately thereafter the
prisoner, Guiteau, was brought into the
court room by the Marshal and his depu-
ties. He looked in much better con-
dition physically and otherwise than
when he last appeared in the same room to
plead to the indictment. Still he had the
same restless, furtive expression as of q
hunted wolf, which characterized him be-
fore.
He was at once relieved of his handouts
and took his seat beside his sister. One of
bis first movements was to thrust his hand
into one of his pockets and half
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 'he 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 q re-
nor STRANGE with Mr.. Scoville, who appa-
rently 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 irrepressible,
aud IN nervous, but pretty distinct man
ner, he proceeded with his speech as fol-
lows:
81 was not aware that my counsel, Mr.
Robinson, intended this morning to make
application for a postponemenr, and de-
sire to be heard in my own behalf In this
matter at the very threshold Of the case.
am charged with murderous attempt, and
desire to be heard in my own behalf"
The Court-~'This is not the proper time
to enter upon the defense. The only ques-
tion before the court is whether further time
should be allowed counsel to prepare for
the Defense"
The Prisoner (emphatically)-''S far as l
am concerned l don't want further time.
We are ready to try the case noW.'
(To deputy marshal, who endeaVored to
restrain the prisOner) -"Will you be auietR"
The COurt-"The question is whether
further time ought to be allowed counsel"
The Prisoner (emphatically)-"I don't
want that, II the court please"
District Attorney COrkhill insisted that
the trial should proceed now.
Mr.. Robinson pressed his claim for post
ponement.
n nuinu fA
and the prisoner to the application of Mr..
Robinson for an extension Of time, the
court stated that for the present the case
should proceed, as far at least as swearing
In the jury was concerned, and then the
court would consider the question of exten-
sion.
At ii o'clock the work of obtaining q
jury begun, the three who first presented
themselves being disqualified, two on the
ground that they had formed fixed
opinions on the case, and the
other on the ground that he had
conscientious scruples on the subject of
capital punishment. In examining the
jurors Mr. Scoville went over a wide range
of questions. inQuiring as to their religious
and political belief
Up to this hour, lbs, five jurors have
been obtained and sworn in. Their names
and occupations are as follows: John p.
denberg, cigar makeri Chss. g. Stewart,
-four and feed dealer; Henry j. Bright, re.
tired from business; Thos Fl. Langley, gro
Ger. The court then adj 6i5urned.
In speech which Guiteau had prepared
for delivery In court to-day, he says he is
charged with numbering one James A Gar
field. Nothing can be more absurd, be
cause General Garfield died of malpractice.
General Garfield was a good man but weak
politician. Being President, he was in a
position to do vast harm to the republic,
and he was doing it by an unwise use OF
patronage, and the Lord and himself took
the responsibility of removing him. His
duty to the Lord and to the American peo-
pie overcame his personal feelings towards
General Garfield, and he sought to remove
him. He not being a marksman, General
Garfield was not fatally shot, but inccmpe-
tent physicians finished the work, and they,
not himself, are responsible for his death.
He then speaks of the breach In the Re-
publican party and his resolve to remove
the President, and claims that the Deity
ordered him to fire the shot. He refers to
his work on theology, the insanity In his
family, his married life aud his life In
prison, and appeals to those whom, he
says, he has put in position and to the
general public to send him money for bis
defense.
REcoLLECTIoNs OF CORVALLIS SUR
RENDER. Mrs. Graham, of Port Byron,
NJ