Middletown transcript., 1881-11-18
Guiteau on Trial.

The trial of Guiteau for he murder
Of President Garfield began III the
Criminal Court at Washington on Mon
day. Three days were consumed in
getting a jury, which is said to be one
Of good character. a fact necessary
to mention, we SUPPOSE, because it is a
q District jury The jury was COM
pleted at 1890 on Wednesday. and
after being sworn in as a whole, an adj
iournment was had until Thursday to
allow the jurymen time to fix up their
private matters. While lethejurymenWer
being selected, Guiteau produced a
document addressed to the legal pro-
fession Of America" inviting them to
volunteer in his defense. He insisted
upon giving this tothe reporters and got
into wrangle with his counsel aboutit.
Just before adjournment Mr.. Scoville
made a personal explanation about the
address Guiteau had written and given
to the reporters. He said it was en-
tirely without his authority, and [
simply want it understood he said,
''that from this time anything of this
kind that gets into the papers is entire
" without my consent and approval. "
This speech had the effect of bringing
the prisoner to his feet and in an eX-
cited manner he said:
desire to be heard. 1 appear here in dual
! capacity. firStas prisonerand second rs coun-
sci, and l want to have the final say in this
matter. When l request counsel the Court
| can assign them. That paper was addressed
to the legal profession and | expect many re-
sponses TO it, want it understood that ap-
pear here in part as my own counsel. and un-
| til / request counsel propose to defend my
self.
The prisoner then resumed his seat,
the manacles were placed upon his hands
and he was taken away to jail.
District Attorney Corkhill opened the
case for the government in an eloquent
speech. which brought forth great ap-
plause at its close. The prisoners face
blanched at the sympathizing applause
ofthe crowd. Thepallor was followed by
a miicious flashing Of the eyes and he
glared upon Mr.. Corkhill as though he
would like to pull the trigger upon him.
Once he interrupted him, which caused
the District Attorney to demand that
the assassin be compelled to keep 81.
lence. Secretary Blaine was examined
as the first witness. He detailed the
incidents of the morning of July 2 as
known to him, using canvas plate OF
the station in explaining the respective
positions Of the parties on that day.
He stated that he was at the Presi.
dents side when he was shot. He had
recognized and followed Guiteau as the
assassin before the police arrested him.
Mr.. Scoville's cross-eXamination
was skillfully conducted, ,and was mostly
confined to the political situation at the
time the late President was shot. He
asked Mr.. Blaine to speak Of the cir.
cumstances Of Mr.. RobertsOn's appoint
ment. which Mr.. Blaine did with great
naiyete. He defined stalwart'' to be
a friend Of Grant p /" half-breed, y tc
be Zone not stalwart." He said
Robertson was a half-breed" and
Conkling a stalwart," but he con.
tented himself with a simple statement
Of the successive occurrences. During
the afternoon session Guiteau once
more created a scene and upbraided
Mr.. Scoville for retaining Robinson ir
the case. When the Judge ordered
him to stop talking and the Marshals
tried to force him back into his seat he
said IL do not care if you do put me
in irons The American people have
something to say about this matter
and it is an outrage that l. should not
be heard in my own defense. "