The Portland daily press., 1881-12-03
The Cross Examination of the Pri-
soner Ended.
THE CULPRIT HARD PRESSED BY
JUDGE PORTER.


tions that are mere repetitions of what we
have already been over"
Judge Porter Immediately resumed the
cross examination with the question, "Was
one of your purposes ID removing tne fresi-
dent to create demand for your book?
A.-Yes sir, with the modification that 1t
was to preach the gospel.
The witness regarded his book as the col
lateral gospel--in other words the gospel
brought down to the present time. The wit
ness soon became excited and gesticulating
wildly insisted upon his inspiration and that
the Lord had selected him to do the work. He
was no fool. The Lord never selected fools to
do his work He had inspired him to remove
Garfield and left him to use his own judy
ment in selecting him, continuing excitedly,
''And the Lord has taken care OF me. I've
neither been shot nor hung"
Judge Porter-And you did not expect to
be?"
Al decline to discuss the matter with you.
l did not have any thought on the subject. 1
left it all to the Deity.
The witness repeatedly refused to answer
questions or as he termed it to "discuss matters
under inquiry" At one time he appealed to
the court for protection against the manner OF
the croSs-examnation. Judge Porter I'm a
very polite manner) 81 have not attempted to
force a reply from you, Mr.. Guiteau. Ii you
will allow the jury to understand that you re-
fuse to answer. it will suit my pur pose just as
we'll"
The witness at once turned to Judge Porter
and in equally polite tone inquired wen,
what was your question, Judge?
The witness was then asked if his entering the
Oneida community was an inspiration, or II his
leaving it was an inspiration lie declined 70
discuss the subject. Guiteau was questioned
upon his alleged inspiration in attempting TO
start theocratic daily paper and was confront
ed by Judge Porter with two letters by him
(Guiieau) about the time of bis leaving the
Oneida community. Guiteau readily identi-
fed one of them but he hesitated over the 9TH
err which was a manuscript of several pages OF
foolscap. evidently suspecting some trap into
which he might be led.
Guiteau-"I will read it over and perhaps
can tell by the sentiments whether wrote 1t. -
Judge Porter-"Let me read it to the jury
Guiteau-"I wouldn't trust you to read 1t.
Scoville requested to be allowed to see the
paper and after inspecting it admitted its gem
uineness, as did Guiteau. 1t was placed In evil
dence but not read. Guiteau after hastily look
ing it over, chuckled gleefully and said, That 8
a pretty good thing Judge, want that to go
in. l want it read to the jury. Have you got
any more of my documents. Judge9 LII you
have want you to put them in.
Judge Porter then produced Guiteaus book,
ssTruth T" which witness had claimed was the
result of direct inspiration from the Deity, and
compared it paragraph by paragraph with the
"Berean," the Oneida community BOOK writ.
ten by John III. Moves. The similarity OF
ideas and identity of expression were apparent
all through and the witness struggled desper-
ately TO explain away his palpable plagiarism
Col. Corkhill read a document which had a
short time before been placed in evidence. IC
set forth at great length Guiteaus purpose and
views upon the theocratic paper which at that
time he desired to establish, and claimed IN
spiration from the Deity that he (Guiteau) was
working for Jesus Christ & Co., the strongest
firm in the world.
"Those were my sentiments" said Gniteau.
(f. Al cDsro ion wo
inspiration that led me twelve years after 70 go
about from house to house as st. Paul did, to
preach the gospel and save souls. 1t was the
s me inspiration, but society was not prepared
for my ideas. That was all the trouble"
Guiteau was warned by the court not to IN
terrupt the reading and remained perfectly
quiet until the conclusion. Another letter ad-
dressed by Guiteau TO the community was then
read, in which the writer confessed his love
for and subsection to John Fl. Noyes and the
Oneida community. Several other ietters
written by Guiteau about the time he left the
community were then placed in evidence,
identified by Guiteau and read by Corkhiil.
One of them, addressed to the communltv,
sets forth the writer's repentance for acts OF IN
subordinatlon, and contained confession tnal
he acted under the influence of his own self
willed, convicted and fanatical disposition.
Guiteau insisted, in spite of warnings, In mag
ing his explanations as the reading progressed.
ST was elbowing my way out OF the communl-
ty them" said the witness. You want 10 I'M
agine yourselves in hell, ladies and gentle
men, and trying to get out Then you can
understand my position at that TINT"
In another letter Guiteau asked to be allowed
to return to the community, confessed he was
satisfied his undertaking to publish daily the
ocratic newspaper was devellsh de,nslon,
that had tormented him. Guiteau broke in:
'"Twas no deviish delusion, it was a good idea,
but not feasible that time" He further said
in answer to Judge Porter he never bad dew
ilish delusion-in the sense in which Porter be-
lieves it, Witness believed in personal exist
ence of a Deity and devils. When the I'M
pulse to remove the President seized him he
wrestled and prayed to find if it came from the
Lord or devil, aud had il not been for the poll
cal situation he would not have shot the Presl-
dent but would have believed the purpose was
prompted by the devil. Witness was then ask
ed care you insane at all?" and replied II am
not an expert let these experts and the jury
decide that" Being pressed he declined to
answer and was tben'subjected to rapid ques-
tons, and soon began to exhibit 1rrltabiIty and
anger, and his replies when given at all were
in short, jerky sentences. He was asked II ne
laid in wait for the President in an alley by
night, and after the short wrangle said, Now
you are on that Til give you little news. I'll
tell you what occurred that evening July LIST.
Witness then detailed his movements up to
the time he saw the President and Blaine
emerge from the latter's house and walk down
18th street. Said Guiteau, "They walked along
So lovingly arm in arm, their fellowship was
delightful, and it confirmed me in the belief
that Garfield had sold himself body and soul to
Blaine, and that Blaine was using him to ruin
the Stalwart wing of the Republicanaparty."
Guiteau here became furiously excited and
plunged into wild harangne denouncing
Blaine and striking the desk with violence he
shouted Eyes sir in my opinion Blaine is NOR
ally responsible for the death of Garfield"
After recess the cross-examination of Guiteau
--.. Il I ~ frxfa IN
move the President on the night he visited the
Christian church. He went to see where the
President sat. He intended to remove him
whenever he could find favorable opportunity.
II he had removed him then he would have
shot him through the head
He visited the Jail about the first of June.
wanted to see it because be expected he would
he taken there for removing the President.
He had his pistol with him in the alley on the
night of July 1st He took it out and ex-
amned it and would probably have shot Gar
field that night if he had been alone. Blaine
was with him. 1t was hot night. He was
not feeling well SO he did not try to shoot the
President.
Judge Porter-Did you thing it would make
you hotter to pull that trigger?
Guiteau angrily and mimicking Porter's
manner of speaking replied. NOW don't you
put on SO much style on that trigger business. "
In answer to Porter's que stions Guiteau
then after earnest circumstances against go
ing over the whole story again, narrated the
particulars of the shooting.
Judge Porter asked You shot him in the
back
Al did not fire at any particular place.
Odd you not fire for the hollow of his
back?
Any intention was to shoot him in the
back.
Odd you think if beteot two balls in his
back it would remove him?
Al thought SO.
Q.-And you intended to put them there?
Al did.
Q.-(In solemn manner) and from that hour
to this you never felt regret or remorse?
Al regret giving pain or trouble to any
one, but have no doubt as to the necessity or
divinity of TIE act.
Q.-You never limited to any remorse?
Any mind is perfect blank on that sub
jet,
Q.-Do you feel any more remorse about rem
dering his wife a widow and children father
less than about breaking the leg of that puppy
dog?
Al have no conception of it as murder or
killing.
Q-And you feel no remorse?
AIN low and almost inaudible tone) Oh
course feel remorse as fat as my personal feel.
ings are concerned. / feel remorse as much as
any man, and regret the necessity of the act,
but (raising his voice.
Mr. Porter-The cross-examination is closed
De- tIa avo;fadlv Gpnu