Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-12-07
TRYING THE ASSASSIN.

Mr.. Scoville stated Guiteau desired tC
make statement. No objection being
made, Guiteau read from manuscript
as follows:
Il propose to have all facts bearing
on this case to go to the court anG
jury, and to do this | have been forced
to interrupt counsel and witnesses who
were mistaken as to the supposed facts
| meant no discourtesy to them or any
one. ANY fact in my career bearing
on the question as to who fired that
shot, the Deity or myself, is of Vita
Importance in this case, and / propose
that it go to the jury. Hence my
personal, political and theological rec.
ord may be developed / am glad that
Your Honor and opposing counsel are
disposed to give historical review OF
my life, and | ask the press and public
to do likewise. All | want is absolute
justice, and l shall not permit any
crooked work. l have no idea my
counsel want crooked work. They are
often mistaken on supposed facts, and
/ shall have to correct them. Last
spring certain newspapers in New
York and Washington were bitterly
denouncing the President for breaking
up the Republican party by improper
appointments. | would like to see
those newspapers reprint those editori-
ais now and see how they would look
and sound In attempting to remove
the President l only did what the pa
pers said ought to be done. Since
July I'd they have been deifying the
President and denouncing me for doing
the very thing they said ought to be
done. | want newspapers and doctors
who actually killed the President to
share with me the odium of his death
| never would have shot him of my
own volition, notwithstanding those
newspapers, if ] mad not been commits.
stoned by the Diety to do the deed
But this fact does not relieve the news
papers from the supposed disgrace Of
the Presidents removal. If he had
been properly treated be would have
been alive to-day. 1t has been pub
lished that | am in fear of death. 1t
is false. | have always been religious
man and am an active worker for God.
Some people think | am murderer,
but the Lord does not, for He inspired
the act, as in the case Of Abraham and
and a score of other cases in the Bible.
The assault made upon me Saturday
last by crank has been condemned
by the press. The eyes of the civillz-
cd world are watching this case, and it
bchooves this court and the metropolitan
police to protect me at all hazards. |
hereby warn all cranks, of high or low
degree, to keep away from me under
penalty of instant death He would
have been shot dead on Saturday but
for the rearing Of the horses in the van
as the officer was shooting. The
horses shook the van so that he lost
his aim, and, though the van pursued
him, he temporarily escaped. | waste
my arguments on cranks. All they
can see in this case is policemen's re-
volyer Again, | say if they value
their lives they must keep away from
me. | desire the court and jury to
dispose of this case on facts and law,
and to leave all the responsibility
about it on the verdict"
BLAST AT HIS EX-wIFE
Guiteau, who seemed greatly excit-
ed, here broke in again and shouted,
| There is another matter l want to
speak about right now. understand
my divorced wife is to be brought here
as witness against me. If that is so
there will be trouble. She was poor,
unfortunate thing, and / never should
have married her. But if she comes
in here to testify against me and do
me any harm, I'll rip up her whole rec
ord. She was seduced in Philadelphia,
and had child before married her,
With great difficulty Mr.. Scoville,
after some minutes of expostulation,
succeeded in quieting Guiteau.
TESTIMONY RESUMED.
Charles H. Reed, of Chicago, de.
tailed several incidents in Guiteau's
career as q lawyer at Chicago. Wit
ness was prosecuting Attorney for
twelve years and met Guiteau frequent
ly, but his relations with him were
never intimate. He had loaned him
money, which is still due. He always
regarded him as very earnest and
sincere map, but unbalanced. He nev.
er saw any indication of violence, and
always deemed him harmless man
until recently.
UNBALANCED, OF UNsoUND MIND.
Witness saw Guiteau here several
times last spring Frequent references
were made during conversations to the
Office Guiteau was expecting to have
Witness told Guiteau he had no show
for the Paris Consulship, and he would
help him to get a clerkship or some
minor position where there was little
responsibility attaching, but Guitear
became very indignent and said: You
watch the papers for the next three Ol
four days, and you will see the an
nouncement of my appointment to the
Paris Consulship.' The witness visit
ed Guiteau a few days since in th'
jail and asked him why he killed Pres
ident Garfield. The prisoner was ly
ing down on his couch. He rose ex
citedly and began a rambling sort 0
speech, saying: L didn't do it; tin
Lord did it. was only the Lord
instrument ii removing the President.
At times the prisoner would SHOW
great excitement, striking his fist
against the walls with considerable
violence; then he would relapse into
perfectly quiet state, speaking almos
in whisper Witness received th
impression that Guiteau was Of IN
: sound mind. Being pressed for NOR
direct answer he replied, i had III
doubt of it.
GUITEAU CoNTRADICTs THE WITNESS.
Upon cross-examination witnes