The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-12-08

tne rOsuum. Then he osclllated petWeen law,
insurance and theology for several months.
He finally left Chicago for good in the summer
of 1879. ALI his other careers-theology, law
and business-making him no satisfactory re-
turn, in 1880 he decided to go into politics.
He offered his services to the National Repub-
lican committee, and they were declined.
However, he started out on his own
hook, trying to fud audiences for his
lecture, "Garfeld against Hancock"
He related his campaign services,
bringing the story up 10 his arrival in WASH
ington ON March 8. He entered on the last
dark chapter in his autobiography by stating
emphatically that his getting or not getting
office had nothing to do with his attempt to re.
move President Garfield. That he said was
political necessity to which he was urged by
Divine pressure. He then rccounted his efforts
to gain tho ear of public men; they failed.
Then, he declared, came the inspiration. Sud-
denly on the evening after Conkling's resigna-
ton, he thought that il President Garfield was
ont of the way all would go WELL He tried to
shake it of, but it grew In fortnights time
it had become fixed resolve. He do
clared he never has doubted since
that tme--about the first of June-that he
was inspired. He prayed and prayed, asking
God il Garfield were not to be thus removed to
got rid of him in some other way. The re-
moval, he said, was necessary 10 save the ma.
tion.from ruin. He said that he felt relieved
of burden and happy after he had firod upon
years he had entertained the expectation of
being at some time elected to be President OF
The United States, and he had not given up
that expectation yet. The spectators laughed
at this declaration. When ho had finished his
cross-examination was at once begun by Judge
Porter, of New York. He began in tho most pleas
ing, insinuating tone to question Guiteau as to
his age and as TO his law experience. He asked
him with the skill of great cross examiner
such quos ions as would tend to so divert his
mind that he could put with great sud
and force n question which would be likely to
-tartle the prisoner. He led up through
long series of questions about Guiteaus law
career to tho question whether or not he had
been guilty of vices or had been truthful, and
then, taking up n I3te boon, pun question
to him which would indicate that Guiteau had
lied. Judge Porters manner as he approached
this question was effective. Throwing aside
his insinuating voice and manner, he re-
minded Guiteau Of the discrepancies in his
statements, and Of the discrepancies between
his statements and those of other witnesses,
and attempted to show that Guiteau's state
ments that he was truthful were incorrect.
But he did not frighten Guitcau, who became
very angry when Judge Porter spoke to him Of
the murder of the President. He would not
have that word murder used. He said it was
not murder. 81 have never looked upon il
il that light" he said 1t was something that
he was not personally responsible for. Judge
Porter at once tried TO soothe the excited
prisoner, smiling pleasantly at him and SEEM
ing to take his view of the subject and then led
up to the matter of inspiration. He got Guiteau
somewhat confused as to his statements that he
was in pired on May Ii by God, and was not
satisfied that it was an inspiration until June /.
He asked Guiteau then the terrible question
whether his delay during those two weeks Of
his doubt WAS not due to the fact that he knew
that the act he contemplated was murder il
human law. Scoville, the counsel for the
prisoner the jury, and even Judge Cox leaned
forward in some excitement to catch the
answer. For moment Guiteau said nothing
then starting up, he said, with great force, that
he never thought of the question OF murder at
all. He was simply striving to find out whether
the Deity really demanded of him to do the act
which was Of itself horrible to him in his per-
sonality. all through the day insanity experts
watched Guiteau with the closest attention.
DR.. Thew, of the Connecticut asylum, D Good
ing, of st. Elizabeth, Dr. Nichols, of Blooming
dale, and other eminent experts were grouped
in seats very close to the witness, studying his
face and listening to his statements.
When the court opened on the fifteenth day
Mr.. Porter rose to continue the cross -examina-
ton, but the prisoner interposal- Before
Judge Porter commences" said he, 81 want to
speak of q personal matter. Some weeks ago
l sent out an appeal for money. 1t was on my
own account, and Mr.. Scoville said that it was
done without his consent. l again desire my
money for my defense. I presume that have
some friends interested in the cause of justice,
and desire them to send whatever they think
they ought, SIS, SO, $50 $10e, $1,000 if they
want. The money will be used in my defense.
We need money. Another matter: received
very kind letter from John D. Townsend the
other day stating that he would appear in my
defense if Mr.. Scoville wished him. Mr.. SEQ.
vile notified me that he had telegraphed Mr..
Townsend that his services were desired.
have not heard from him since. / would be
very glad to see him on this case. This money
can be sent to George Scoville, Washington,
The name may be withheld if theparties so de-
sire."
The cross-examination was then continued
by Mr.. Porter, the prisoner being in very
nervous and excited state of mind. Although
excited, and at times violent in his manner,
tho prisoner-witness was too alert to be easily
entangled in the nets of tho cross-examiner.
He refused to be frightened when Mr.. Porter
pointed his finger at him and asked questions
in dramatic style, and often he declined to
bo led upon ground that had been gone over
before Through it all he stuck to his text
that it was the Deity who inspired his
act. When asked if he thought Mason
and Jones did wrong in shooting at
him, he replied yes, unless they could
show they acted as agents of the Deity. He
became angry whenever it Was suggested that
he was guilty Of murder, and declared that his
shooting of Garfield vas no more murder than
the shooting of a man by a soldier inwar. 1t was
the doctors, he said, who wero guilty of muir
der. He could not be driven from his position
that he had no malice and that his failure to
get the Paris consulshp had nothing to do with
the assassination. In fact, he said, after the
lst of June, when he became fully possessed
of his inspiration, he would not have
accepted the Office if it had been ten
dered to him. lie even appeared 10 be in
dignant at the way in which Mr.. Porter spoke
of his inspiration, which was a sacred subject,
not to be lightly treated. When pressed closely
| on the question of malice he replied that, of
| course, he had no malice, for if he had, Blaine
| was the man for him to have shot. He con-
| fessed that he was physically coward, but yet
| he was morally brave when he had the Deity at
his back, and he expected there would be an
act of God. if necessary, to protect him from Ig
| either shooting or hanging The assassin dis
played remarkable quickness of perception
and much shrewdness. In spite OF cunning,
| however, he was involved in many
| contradictions, and was fairly brought
| to bay more than once. At such
| times he either became angry and violent
| or insolent and defiant. The scene was re-
markable one. Judge Porter was practically
| on the stand nearly as often as Guiteau, and
| Guiteau's finger was shaking at Porter about
| as often as Porter's at him. The assassin was
more than ever master of ceremonies. He
scolded Judge Porter, abused him, mocked
| him, stopped him, refused to answer his que5-
| tions whenever he felt 80 disposed, called upon
| the stenographer to read his notes at intervals,
and after four hours f this extraordinary ex-
hibition, himself adjourned the court.
| The cross-examination OF Guiteau by Judge
Porter was continued and brought to con-
ciusion on the sixteenth day. The assassin
spoke of himself as a man of destiny. He de-
| zcrihed the "dehghtfJl and cOZy fellowship D