Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-14
THE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.
PROCEEDINGS BEGUN TO-DAY.
COUNSEL FOR DEFENCE At LOGGERHEADS.
WANTS TO MAKEA SPEECH.
SELECTING THE JURY.

The trial OF Guiteau for the murder of President
James A. Garfield, at the Baltimore and Potomac
depot, on the I'd Of July last, begun to-day in the
Criminal Court, Judge Cox. The trial will be re-
garded as the most important criminal cause ever
tried in the District, both on account of the dis
tinguished position OF the victim Of the murder
and the peculiarities of the case.
Within The Criminal Court room, there were
evidences at an early hour of the important work
at hand: The platform erected last Saturday out
side OF the bar, had been provided with chairs and
benches, forming gallery from which fine
view of the whole court room could be obtained.
In front OF the clerks desk six tables were ar
ranged for the benefit OF the counsel and re-
literally on each table. Before ten O'Clock none
except those having Official business In the court
nondsDt r0G ana rfpoTteTs and newspaper cores
REMOVAL OF THE PRISONER FROM THE JAIL TO THE
COURT HOUSE.
The marshal, anticipating that there would be
crowd at the court house and, perhaps, at the
JAIL at the hour when the prisoners to be tried are
usually removed-9 O'Clock a.m.-arranged last
evening to have the prisoner ready for departure
from the Jail an hour earlIer-that is, at O'Clock
this morning. The prisoner, having had a good
n1ghts reSt arose early, eat heartily and appeared
TO De In the best OF spirits: He arrayed himself
in a suit OF black and his high-crowned SLOUGH
eompanisd by Deputy Marshal Villa Williams n' and md
Hapan doe1 dHSseph Ta in buggy appeared
had been handcuffed in the wardens Office and
was put In the van. Two policemen mounted)
Williams and Mr.. Tall following the latter in their
buggy The procession arrived at the City Hall
about :12 o'clock am, having drove very fast
Gulteau was at once taken to the marShal'S pri-
vate room (Over the witness rdbm) where he re-
mained until the court cOnvened-twO officers
being In the room and one guarding the stairway.
A reporter gained access to him, when he asked
about the crowd, remarked that he had slept
Wei and expressed the wish that ''his speech"
The prisoner at the jail, as Perry Carson was
about TO place the handouts upon him, simply re-
marked to Major Williams: ''This is all right,
suppose" Major Williams answering in the affir-
NATIVE, Guiteau quietly submitted his hands, and
with light step entered the van. AS it passed
tlh through M the Capitol grounds Bethard, the man
VINO IL Will be remembered was arrested for threat
en1ng to shoot Guteau when the latter was ar
ralgned, was walking along and looked up sharply
with pistol. as he made no demonstration There
was not the crowd about the courthouse at an
early hour that was expected. At o'clock there
were not over 200 people about the building. At
that time the baiiiTs were all On duty as well as
half dozen special officers, and a number of DO
ilcemen, some of them in citizens clothes. The
marShaPs officers wore badges of red ribbon, two
inches wide, with the words, gu. S. Deputy Mar
shal, d. c." and the specials were as follows:
Shryock, George G. Curtis and VIM. A. Morse
Ihese were stationed about the doors and hall
ways.
SCENES IN THE COURTROOM BEFORE THE PROCEED
few minutes before ten O'Clock a steady stream
of people begun to pour into the courtroom The
nrst lady who appeared was attended by two gen.
tlemen and shown in by Sam, the district attor-
ney's messenger. These three took seats In the
front row OF the gallery" or platform. Mr. Sco-
Vile, counsel for Guiteau shortly afterwards ap-
peared carrying little memorandum book in his
3 hand h, and took seat at the outer table immedi-
ateiy IN 'front.' of the judge reserved for the coun
sci for defence. District Attorney Corkhl shortly
appeared he was accompanied by his associates,
MI. waiter ID. Dav1dge and Judge j. X. Porter.
The latter gentleman attracted the most atten-
tlon, Geng the most recent addition to the counsel
IN the case He was attended by young gentle
officers Immediately took possession
OF the district attorney table, at the right of the
poeT to Writing While
aton The seats for the newspaper correspond
ents were all taken before 10 O'Clock and many had
10 nlngle with the members of the bar Among
the newspaper correspondents present were Beck,
ford. New York Tribune; Whyte, Chicago 1Iibs,ne.
nha Ses SnlHGago H M Murray Philade
New York World. N''
people outside the courtroom clamoring for ad-
mittance. few minutes afterwards the doors
were opened, and the noise was like that heard in
the gallery OF a theater during a popular engage
ment when the doors are first opened. The audi
ence was soon seated and arrayed In perfect order
before @ the court @ opened. The chairs accommo-
officers OF the court kept the aises clear. There
were four ladies in the audience. just about ten
brother, John w. Guiteau, entered the room and
TOOK seats by the side OF the chair provided for
the prisoner.
The Great Trial Begun.
At five minutes past 10 O'Clock Judge Cox came
In and took his seat on the bench The hum about
the courtroom was at once hushed by the words
OF the crier, "Ceme to order; hats off," He then
yez;" and the court was at once made ready for
business. The witnesses door, at the right hand
OF the judge, was then opened and
THE PRISONER WAS UsHERED IN
by Deputy Marshal Williams and police officer
Guiteau was led to his seat between Mrs. ScoviIle
and Mr.. Robinson, and Immediately in front OF the
judge. Here the deputy marshal stopped and
unlocked the handouts that bound the prisoners
hands Two police officers-Cu Cunningham and
seated Just behind the prisoner
During the opening proceedings Guiteau sat with
eyes cast down and hands clasped In his lap, say
ing not word and apparently paying little heed
TO what was going on.
THE GOVERNMENT READY FOR TRIAL
When the prisoner was seated, District At
torney Corkhill rising in his seat broke the i'm
pressive silence by saying: "If the court please.
! viii call the case of the United States against
Chas. j. Guiteau, for the murder OF James A. Gar
ceed to triar.
AR ROBINSON, FOR DEFENCE, APPEALS FOR MORE
TINE AND ADDITIONAL COUNSEL
Mr.. Leigh Robinson, who had just arrived, di-
vested himself OF his Overcoat and rising, spoke
slowly and with some trepidation at first He
spoke OF the eminent gentlemen who had come
into the case for the prosecution He spoke at con-
siderable length, stating that he had undertaken
10 secure additional counsel. He referred to Mr..
Scoshie, saying that his relations with the de-
iehuant dlsqualned him for rendering assistance
, ne Wished He had Just come, he said, from an In
GIsieW WIN gentleman who he knew would
@Partcipate par In the defence If so assigned by
such that he could not Voluntarily enter
the case. He desired the court tn grant him
time 10 arrange for this additional COUNSEL Also.
he said he had three witnesses to summon for the
defense, whose names were, he said, well known
known to the court. He quoted at length to show
authorities for assigning additional c0unsei at
this time. 1t was absolutely required he said in
order to make effectual what the court daSiresd-
that the accused should have fair tra,
He would give the names OF the witnesses thai
he wanted he said to the court Assurfno the
court that he had not let the grass grow under his
appealed for time and additional counsel
GurrEAU WANTS THR TRIAL TO GO ON.
Guteau, rising here and putting his thumbs In
his vest pockets, said: I" II your honor please. I
desire to address the court Twas not aware that
my counsel this morning intended to make this
application. want TO make my defense