The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-12-01
anitonn At the Bar Of lnstioe.

MT. rCOuQSel, VINO
requested the Judge TO discharge him from
further participation in the case, snying he had
ht en- treated discourteonsy by the senior coun-
sci, Mr.. Scoville. He was here interrupted by
Guiteau who broke in with "Your, honor,
want Robinson to stay in" Continuing, Mr..
Robinson requested the court 10 grant his dis
charge from the case, and positively stated
that he could not with proper self-respect re-
main in association with Mr.. Scoville. Guiteau
here interrupted with: "That's an able speech
and agree with the most part of it. If he had
only made it last Monday, there never would
have been any disturbance between us" Mr..
scoville here tried to quiet Guitesu when he
retorted upon him: keep quiet yourself. I'm
talking now, l sympathize with him in this
mattor." Mr. Scovile made a brief statement,
doploring the disagreement, after which Judge
Cox relieved NJ. Robinson from further connec-
tiOn with the defense. Mr.. Scoville began to ad-
dress the court saying: "We do not expect to be
compelled to conduct the case entirely without
assistance" Here Guiteau exclaimed: az
understood Judge Magruder was anxious to
assist in this trial; also MIR. John d. Town
send; l should liketo have them appear here
as we'll as Messrs Swett and Trude, OF Chicago"
Then adding, after short pause: Zone word
on the question of malpractice; my idea is
simply this, that by the physicians own state
ment cn the 25th of July the President was
not fatally shot. We don't want to press the
subject; only desire to have it go on the record,
so that the court iii banc may take notice otit."
After a brief pause Guiteau added. "That's all
there is TO the malpractice business, short and
to the point. | want it understood appear as
nv own codnsel here. l am the agent Of the
Deity and | expect Him to take care of me. l
think He has managed IL pretty well so far"
The district attorney then called Doctors
Woodward and Lamb, who testified to the
character of the wound, that it WAS a mortal
one They also identified the ball which was
exhibited to the jury as the one they had
taken from the body Of President Garfield.
The prosecution then rested their case, and
Guiteau was allowed permission to be heard in
the opeuing OF his defense. Guiteau, retaining
his seat began: "Your honor was not aware
that | was expected to speak this morning"
Mr. Scovile here leaned over and whispered to
him, when Gultcau retnrted sharply and with
impaueuca: az won't stand up. I'm not
afraid to- however; but l have ouly moment
20 speak, and will keep my seat. l do not
care 10 say moro than was | 'blished last Mon
day in my address to the public. / presume
the jury all saw it. l have no set speech to
make. l appear as my own counsel, and my
idea is to make corrections as we 60 along
just "a l have done the past three or four
days. l don't mean any discourtesy to any
one; only want to get at the facts If any
one says | owe them $40 and don't will
deny 1t on the spot NY idea is to take things
when they are hot: not let them get cold and
suffer iIom misrepresentation. OF course /
shall go on the stand at the proper time and be
examined and cross-eXamincl. NV idea, how
ever, Is to meet a misstatement when il is hot
instead Of waiting to let the matter get digestcd
and misunderstood. | hiuk the true way is to
interject my statements rs the case proceeds. /
have no set speech 10 make. but am much
obliged 70 vour honor and TO my counsel for the
courtesy OF his invitation Mr.. Scoville then
addressed the jury at considerable length for
the defense, but without finishing he requested
that the court would permit him 70 close on
the following day, and his request was granted.
On the eighth day Of the tria Mr.. Scovillc
continued but did not finish his opening al
dress for the defense. Mr.. ScovlIe confined
Ms speech mainly to showing that Gui;ean was
insane, and that insanity WAS hereditary in the
family. He gave an account OF the Guiteau
family and stated that several of its members
had died in insane asvlums The father
OF the assassin, he said, was wesk-mindel,
and tho prisoner himself had long been
Of unsound mind. He gave sketch
OF the prisoners life and of his per-
sonal peculiarties. Some of the state
ments made offended Guiteau's vanity, and he
promptly pronounced them false. Others OF
the statements he approved warmly. Mr. SEQ
vile revealed the fact that the prisoner had
recently attempted to carry on a love CORE
spondence, aud stated that letters written by
the prisoner had not been sent to their address
lhereupon Guiteau became furously angry and
denounced his counsel as Il liar. The 5cene DO
tween the brotLcra-in-law when GUiteau called
Scoville liar, because he had deceived him
about his matrimonial correspondence, was
very dramatic. Guieau never stands up 10
speak, but he pounded on the desk before him
vigorously, as lie shouted in the most dramatic
manner: you're a liar you're a liar bur
y0u can't fool me-" The dispatches cay that
"Mc Scoviles speech was very ingenious.
Bis is the art that conceals art and, as bis
subtle sentences flowed forth, il was difficult
m hsl l,ot 1.iy
of affairs, and had been for several decades
lawyer in active practice. He seemed some
next friend " Just in from the backwouds. lie
was 70 gentle SO Unsophisticatcd III every way,
so candid and calm that he won not only the
attention of the judge, tro imy aud tho
audience, but their sympathy, so that when he
made particularly good point and again when
he gave Dis;rict-Artorney Corkhil home
thrust, he was heartily applauded"
On the ninth day Mr.. Scoville continued and
closed his speech for the defense. He read
several letters written by the defendant years
ago in order to show that Guiteau's mind was
hiso dercd. The prisoner was more than
usually talEative during the closing part OF
Ir. Scoville's speech, continually interrupt
ing and sometimes contradicting the speak
er's assertions. For example, Mr.. SEQ
vile was criticising Guieau's speech
"Garleld against Hancock '-ridiculing the
idea of any sane man considering it a recon-
mendation for Office, when the prisoner broke
in angTily: THAT speech was q decided recon-
mendation. The point was here-tbat not only
did publish that speech on the 9th OF August
but | was actively engaged with Arthur and
Jewell during the entire canvass made sug-
gesiiOns o them, and was around with them
day and night. took hearty interest in the
canvass. hat was the ground on which l ex-
pected Office and | never doubted from that
day TO this that should have the Paris "---Mr
Scoyille (angrily)--" II the prisoner does not
keep silent shall have TO stop the opening.
The prisoner (excltedly) =" "Ihen conine
yourself to iacts.' The court
tstemly)-" Keep quief. You shall have an
opportunity TO speak when You get upon the
stand" The prisoner attempted to break in
but Was severely ordered by the court to le
silent of you will not" continued the
cIurt, 81 will have to take stronger measures
to make you." The prisoner shall keep
quiet. l only want this thing to go out
sraig t. | shall give the entire Iacts when
am on the stand" in concluding his address
Mr.. ScOville said; cit has TO be determined
here whether your fellow man, with all his
mis- nrtunes and all his shortcomings, is to end
his life on the gallows. This question will be
submitted 10 you by the evidence, with the
confidence that you will do what is right ac-
oording 10 your conscience, and what
will meet approval of your fellow countrymen
and your God' The testimony for the de-
tense WAS tben begun by H. n. Burton, Con-
gregatiOnal clergyman of Illinois, formerly a
resident OF Kalamazoo, Mich. IIo testified
that he there attended the lecture delivered
by Guiteau on the "Second Coming of Christ"
He thought that the general position of the
lecturer was peculiar. Witness could not say
that he then thought that Guiteau was
60 far insane as not to be responsible
person. The next two witnesses were Hiram
H. Davis, OF Erie, Pa, and Thompson Wilcox
son, eighiy-one years old, of Stephenson