The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-24
How GuIteaus Case Would Probably be
Tried In England.


In Mondays foreign dispatches in the
1SrEtlloENCER was the following remark
Of the London Times in regard 10 the trial
Of Guiteau;
1.-THE admiration and sympathy for tho
ilustrious victim excited in Europe by
President Gartleld's death arc too great to
admit OF much concern about the motives
and conduct OF the criminal. In America,
as In Great Britain, some amendment In
the conduct oil criminal trials seems called
for, when tho prisoners mien denies him
free choice OF advocates in both countries,
However, the judge may happily DE 6llsted
10 supplement any deficiency on the weak.
er side. The American nation neither de-
sires to sacrifice lunatics nor to be so faCile
In her acceptance Of counterfeit evidence
oil disease as TO encourage wanton aSsassi.
nation" So"
1t certainly cannot DO said that Judge
Cox Is not allowing tho utmost latitude to
the disgusting wretch who Is on trial for hiA
life at Washington. He Inns every latitude
that even the most exacting counsel could
claim for him. As compared with a noted
assassin who was tried in England, he has
had extraordinary latitude. Perhaps there
Is yet living among the very oldest readers
Of the 1NrELttoENCER ut least one whose
memory will recall the following case Of
trial for The crime Of assassination.
"As Mfr. Spencer perceval was entering
the House OF Commons shortly after i
o'clock In the afternoon OF May H. 1872
John Bellingham, who had placed himself
at the side door for tho purpose, fired q
pistol at the Prime Minister, infliCtng O
wound which caused immediate DEATH
The inuzzle OF the weapon, indeed, touched
the victims coat, and tho ball passed
through his heart. lie was dead-morC
fortunate that President Garfield before
he Gould be carried into the Speakers
room, and his munleter-who alone re.
tanned his Calinness and imper.
durability amidst scene Of un.
paralleled exCitement-made no at.
tempt 10 escape, but exclaimed, firmly,
My name is Bellinghan. It was a private
injury which prompted tho deed Justice
did not lag In those days, or, at any rate,
10 this instance; for, having killed Mr.
PerceyNl on May II, the assassin was put
upon bis trial at the Old Bailey on May 10
John Belllnghan was Russian merchant
who, being under the impression that lie
had sustained some grievous wrongs from
the Government OF 81. Petersburg thought
II the duty Of Mr.. Perceval aud Of his col.
leagues to take up the matter and extOrt
compensation from tho offenders, The
ihjhred man, as he deemed him.
self, presented petition after pc.
titlon al the Treasury, but TO none Of them
was any reply vouchsaied. Btoodlng lin.
der sense Of supposed injustice, BCling.
ham took his stand upon a spot close 10
which Mr.. rercival was sure TO pass, and
fired his pistol into tho Minister'S heart.
The CulbfIts defense, when put on his
trial with such rapidity that the excitement
aroused by the crime had not begnn to de.
crease, even in London, four days after lie
occurrence. was TO the effect that he was
mad. The prisoner listened with great at.
tentiOh 10 the opening Of the proceedings,
and, when the question, Guilty or not
gilliy2" was put TO him, he made a short,
firm, and sensible speech, complaining
that his trial had been hurried on with
iidecotous speed, and that the
documents Upon which he relied
for bic defense had been taken from him.
The impression produced by this address
upon the minds Of the jury was fatal to lie