Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-09
GUTTEAUS TRIAL.
THE CONTAMINATION cLosED-JuDdE PoR-
TIERS HREwDNEss-aUITEAU oUTw1TTED-
EXAMINATION OF ExPERTs-REBUTTINa TEs-
TIMoNY.

THE CRoss.ExAMINATIoN oLosED-JuDdE FOR.
TIERS sHREwDNEss- oUTw1TTED-
EXAMINATION OF ExPERTs-R EBUTTINa rEs-
T1MoNY.
Guiteau's cross-examination closed on Fri
day, after having lasted for nearly three days.
The prisoner kept himself on the alert
throughout and discussed questions of poll
tics, ethics, law, theology and business with
mental vigor that would be considered ex-
ceptional in person of unquestioned sanity
and ability. He evidently msconceived the
theory of Judge Porter's oss.examination,
fanoying that it was to be a trial of his wits
instead of bis lack of wits, and accordingly
he made the most of his opportunity and
bent himself to the task of giving the Judge
as good as he sent. Whenever he was led up
TO anything like inconsistency he either
sheered off, or fell 10 Safeguarding the
Judge, or refused TO answer. When, for in
stance the Judge asked him IL he would have
shot President Garfield on July 2, IL Mrs.
Garfield had been with him, he replied that
he would not. "Then," pursued the Judge,
interrogatively, cit depended entirely on your
will ?" The prisoner saw the trap and per-
ceived that there was no way to avoid it ex-
cept by shutting his mouth and refusing to
answer for il It depended entirely upon his
will, then the agency of the Deity in the case
was eliminated. So he took up newspaper,
adjusted his Eyeglasses, and commenced
reading, pretending that he had already an
swered the question more than once, and that
II would be waste OF time to answer il
again. All through the three days he showed
the clearest apprehension of the nature and
quality Of his act. This was especially illus
trated in the dramatic climax with which the
cross-examination closed. Judge Porter had
been questioning the assassin upon the incl
nantQ nf the ahOONinn Then fol1fnfr HE
aud fixing his dark eyes full upon him, Judge
Porter said, with slow, impressive utterance :
And from that day to this you have never
felt remorse for the deed 2" Guiteau tried to
escape from the query. He shifted about
restlessly in his seat and his eyes, which
were lowered ran backward aud forward
along the top Of the witness box. He SEEM
ed to shrink from looking at Judge Porter
Being pressed hard for an answer, he finally
replied, throwing angry and furtive glances at
the cross-examiner, Why Of course, fet
remOrse, so far"
THAT is all" said Judge Porter gravely,
sitting down. "7He examination is end
ed."
Guiteau had seen the mistake as soon as he
had made it, and Judge Porter did not get
his words out Of his mouth before the assas-
sin was pounding on the front Of the witness
box and holly explaining that his remorse
was only regret for the necessity of the act
On Saturday Emory A. Storrs, the eminent
Chicago lawyer, was called and testified, but
did not help the prisoners case. Senator
David Davis was also called Mr.. Scoville's
purpose evidently being to obtain an opinion
that the tendency of the political methods be-
fore the tragedy was TO ruin the country.
Such an opinion Mr.. Davis declined to give
and he was excused after few moments.
On Monday the examination of experts be-
gan, and was continued through Tuesday,
when the testimony for the defence practi-
cally closed. Several of the most noted spe-
cialists in the country were called. These
gentlemen were only asked to answer q hypo-
thetical question which assumed all that the
defence claims concerning Guiteau's mental
condition. They were not allowed TO say
whether they considered him responsible for
his acts or not. Others, it is said, were not
put upon the stand at all. because it was
known TO Mr.. Scoville that they had become
convinced of Guiteau's sanity by observing
his language and behavior during the trial
Guiteau demanded TO have Gen. Grant, ex-
Senators Conkling and Patt, ex-Gov. Jewell
land that sort Of men called TO testify. Dur
ing one Of his speeches he declared that he
would rather be hung as a sensible man
than acquitted as a fool" Mr.. Scoville de-
sired to have President Arthur called to the
stand but finally consented to prepare list
of written questions to be submitted to him.
On Wednesday Gen. Sherman testified that
his first thought ON hearing of the shooting
was that it was part of a conspiracy, and
for that reason he ordered out the troops at
once. Upon making inquiries, however, he
was soon satisfied that it was the act of but
one man. As Gen Sherman was about to
leave the stand, Guiteau nodded Familiarity
and saluted him with: 81 want to thank you
general, for your promptness in calling out
the troops. I'm indebted to you for it 9TH
erwise l should not now be here. want to
thank you and Maj. Brock for protecting
me-" Important testimony was put in in OPP
position to the alleged insanity of Guteau.
People who had known the prisoner and his
family intimately for years said they never
supposed any of them were insane.
The rebuttal testimony was continued on
Thursday. In the minds of many people
the theory of hereditary insanity in the Quit
eau family has been completely overthrown.
The Presidents answers to the questions
sent him by Mr.. Scoville were received.
The answers state in short, that the Presi
dent knew Guiteau in a passing way, that
the President knows of no service that Quit
eau has ever rendered the Republican party,
and that he was never promised any Office.