Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-11-16

Charles j. iuiteau's trial for the muIdeI
Of President Garfield began before Justice
Cox in the district court in Washington,
Monday. District Attorney Corkhill is
assis ed by Mr.. Porter Of New York and
Mr.. Davidge G Washington. Guiteau's
LAWYERS are his brother.in-law, George
Scoville of Chicago and Mr. Leigh Robin
son of Washington. who was assigned BY
Judge Cox to help Scoville.
Mr.. Robinson asked for a further post.
ponement and the assignmentot additional
counsel, but Mr. Scoville said he wanted
no postponement. There appears to be nc
cordial feeling between Robinson and SEQ
vile, and the latter wanted no additional
counsel assigned unless he could be con
sulted as TO what lawyer it should be.
Guiteau looks better han when in court
Il few weeks ago. and he sat between hi,
sister. Mrs. Scovile and his older brother
John w. Guiteau of Boston. The prisoner
continually interrupted the proceedings on
Monday, denounced Robinson for his
course and said he wanted him to get ou
Of the case. that he was competent /,
direct rs to the conduct of his case and
demanded the right to do it Scoville anC
the officers had great trouble to keep Gut
eau quiet, and did not succeed with al
their forts.
The prisoner wanted to read statement
or speech. but was not allowed to do so
ne gave 1t to the reporters though, and i,
is printed in the dailies, making two
columns of matter. 1t is a rambling at
tempt at juslifying what he did.
The main points that he makes are
hown in the following extract from hi,
5 atement:
"Gen. Garfield was president of the
United States, and | am one OF the men
who made him president. HIS nomination
WAS AN accident; his election the result o
the greatest activity on the part of the
1alNarts. ami his removal special prov
nlence. Gen. Ga field was good man
ou weak politician Being president he
Was in Il position To do much harm TO tn,
republic, and he was doing it by the un
wise use of patronage, and the Lord and
ook the responsibility of removing him
| certainly never should have sought tC
remove him on my own account. WHY
should | shoot himp He never harmed
ne From him expected an importan
flee. considered him my political an.
personal friend. But my duty to the Lore
and TO the American people overcame my
personal feeling, and sought to remov,
MIN. Not beng marksman, he was no
fatally shot, but Incompetent physician
finished the work, and they and not M
are responsible for his death"
He tells about his former life, his ser
vices to he cause of religion, the two al
Temps on his life, the effort of his counse
TO show hereditary insanity and says tina
may have an important bearing on thi
case" He calls on those who have received
Office becau of his act, from Presiden
Arthur down, to help him and to forwar,
the money to his lawyer Geo Scoville.
The supreme egotism OF the man is ex
hibited at every stage of the proceeding
and Judge Folger's words " an unarrang
ed mind " seem to fit the better tn,
closer the man is watched. 1t will b.
he duty of the jury TO determine whethe
nat mind was SO unarranged as to b,
incapable of distinguishing between RICH
and wrong.
Monday five jurym, were obtained AM
yesterday tour. leaving three more neces
sary who will probably be obtained to. day
Ihe first witness will be James G Blame
There is no probability that the trial vii
ne concuded this month and it has beer
,ts'ed that it will very likely last the veal
ou'. 1t may he said in this connection tina
the North american Rev.eW for Decembe
has articles from DR.. Hammond and othe,
minent physicians who, although the,
say the medical treatment was not WHOLLY
such as they approve, claim that IT,,
wound was necessarily fatal. But Guiteau
lawyers are not going to defend on tn,
ground taken by ;he respondent that nal
practice was the cause OF death. The,
will rely wholly on the defence of insanity