The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-11-18
EVIDENCE BEGUN.
The Opening Argument for the Pros
ecution.
Secretary Blaine Placed Upon the
Witness Stand.
The Prisoner OVERRIDING the Insanity
Dodge.

Dookc-
Washington, Nov 17.-By $50 this
morning the criminal court room was
well filled, and with a noticeable in
crease Of ladies. Every days proceed
ings appear to increase public interest.
The doors were thrown open at 10
O'Clock. This was the signal for gen.
eral stampede for seats.
Mrs. Scoville entered the court room
ct 10 O'Clock accompanied by her little
daughter, about Eve years of age.
A story was published in morning
paper purporting to give the details Of
the arrest Of an accomplice of Guiteau
ut Kingsington, Ohio. yesterday, and
stating that telegraphic correspondence
had occurred on the subject between
the authorities of that place and Dis
trict Attorney Corkhill. The latter
officer denies that be has had any such
correspondence, and knows nothing Of
the story, and If he did he should no.
feel at liberty to talk about it, for
publication.
After the court opened. counsel Sco-
vile arose to make personal explana-
tion, in which he said there had been
no disagreement between himself and
Robinson, as would appear from certain
publications. Robinson would render
all the aid possible in the case, and
they would work in harmony.
At this point Guiteau arose and OBJ
jected to Robinson taking part in his
defense. He said he would manage his
own case; he would not trust Robinson
with anything, as he had no brains.
He wished the court to understand him
on this point. and il counsel were
forced upon him he would make notice
about it to the country. He repre-
sented the Deity In this case and. wished
the court to understand 1t. Two or
three blunderbuss lawyers would lose
the case for him, and he did not propose
to submit to anything Of the kind.
The court informed the prisoner that
II he did not remain quiet be would be
removed from the room.
After few minutes the prisoner
burst out afresh with the remark,
"there's not word Of truth in the
Chicago dispatch published in the Post
this morning. 1t is lie from begin
ming to end.o sE
This is the dispatch referred to above
regarding the arrest Of a supposed
accomplice Of Guiteau. For some time
after this last remark the prisoner con-
versed In very excited manner with
his counsel and brother, at intervals
using his clinched first upon the desk
before him in an exceedingly demon
strative manner.
At 1890 Secretary Blaine, accom-
panied by Assistant Secretary Walker
and Chief Clerk Brown entered the
court room and were ushered to seats
Immediately In the rear Of counsel for
the government. A few minutes later
the following opening statement was
made by U. s. District Attorney Cork
hill:
May it please the court, gentlemen OF
the jury, the prisoner at the bar stands
before you charged with the murder of
James A. Garfield. Under any circum-
stances there rests grave and respon-
sible obligations upon every man called
upon in the discharge of his duty under
the law, 10 render q decision upon
which depends the life Of a fellow
creature; and while it is true the Of
fense charged in the present case is no
greater in legal gravity and conse-
quence to the prisoner than If by his
act he had taken the life of the humb-
lest and most obscure citizen Of the
republic, 1t is idle to overlook the fact
Of the eminent character whose life was
taken; his official position, and the
startling commission Of the crime rem
ders the case Of unusual and unparal.
leled Importance. 1t is the second time
in our history that citizen chosen by
the people Of the United States to dis
charge the high and responsible duties
of president, has fallen a victim to q
lawless assassin. But in the former
case we were just emerging from the
shadows Of long and bloody war; the
country had been racked by commo-
tion and stirred by civil feuds; through
out the length and breadth Of the land
nearly every household mourned the
loss Of relatives and friends, slain on
the hotly contested battlenelds Of the
republic. It was . danger thoughtful
men had anticipated; it was calamity
that patriots feared, and when 1t came
with all its dread consequences it was
accepted as one Of the results Of the
then disordered and discordant condi-
tions of public affairs. But we had
passed from the arena OF war; the sword
had been beaten into plowsharea andthe
spear into pruning hooks; the country
was united peace reigned at home and
abroad; there were no local dissentions;
no intense strifes; seed time and har-
vest had come and gone;the battlefelds,
redeemed from the sconrge and havoc
OF their bloody contests, were blossom
Ing with the fruits Of peaceful labor.
Suddenly the startling fact was pro
claimed throughout the land and
around tho world, that the president Of
tne United States had fallen victim
% the assassin's bullet in the capital Of
tne nation. Murder under all circum-
stances and upon all occasions Il shock.
Ing. Life. OF which va knou N ttttle