Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-11-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Nov. "a, 1881.


Public interest here at the Capt.
tai, and throughout the country, is
much taken up with the Guiteau
trial, now in progress. In every
respect it is one of the worlds cele-
brated criminal trials, and as such it
attracts universal attention. Not
that anything new or startling is
likely to be developed in it. but the
circumstances of the case renders it
one of national Importance and the
public look for full reports of every
detail. There have been no dramat
ic scenes as yet, though the opening
address of the District Attorney and
the testimony of Senator Blaine,
both narrating the facts of the great
tragedy which recently saddened all
hearts, brought the painful event
of the summer fresh to mind. The
author ofthat terrible calamity now
on trial for his crime, has still furth-
er excited public feeling against
him by his outrageous conduct in
court. In spite of the efforts of his
counsel and the court to restrain
him, the miserable wretch continues
daily to interrupt the proceedings,
and to exhibit himself as a creature
in whom conceit and Incidence pre-
dominate in about equal parts.
To most people within and with
out the coart room his conduct, SO
far, conveys the impression that he
is really acting a part; that as old
Polonius said of Hamlet, Though
this be madness, yet there's method
in it," and that, underneath the
outer disguise of "crank," he only
conceals the real character of an as
sassin. 1t is hard for people to re-
strain themselves in the face OF this
mans insolent conduct and his loud
boasting in the court room that if
any "disreptuable characters" un-
dertook to injure him they would be
shot dead by his "body guard"
There is much complaint that the
scoundrel is shown too much consid-
Grafton by the court and authorities,
and many good people actually ex-
press regret that the man who at
tempted to shoot him the other
night had not taken better aim. 1t
would at least have brought the en-
tire business to a close aud set at
rest all the fears of possible escape
from justice through the many
crooks of the law. The court room
is crowded daily, many lawyers and
a goodly number of ladies being
among the spectators. The prison
er's sister, Mrs. Scoville, and his
brother, John Guiteau, of Boston,
show plainly how deeply they feel,
and the sister frequently bursts into
tears.
General Butler is expected by Mr..
Scoyille to shortly come to his as
sistance in Guiteau's defense. The
General is now here, and it is said,
expects to spend a good part of the
winter at the Capital, taking pos
session of his fine house, at present
occupied by Senator Jones and
President Arthur. He is good liv-
er, and the heartiest of eaters, de-
vouring an enormous quantity of
meat, vegetables, milk, coffee, and
salads, at his four meals day. A
chicken disappears before him like a
nice tender partridge before a Meth
odist preacher. He keeps a fine
stock of wines in his cellar for COM
pany but drinks only about tumb-
Ter full of sherry at dinner. When
he really wants something stimula-
ting he takes a glass of Jamaica
rum, or the statesman's drink, bran
DIV. He smokes cigars that are
strong enough to knock a marine
over. Yet he prides himself upon
his temperate life,to which he traces
much of his prosperity. AT a table
gathering recently where he was the
host, the conversation turned upon
good feeling as basis for intellect
ual work, and pending the brief
drawn arguments passing to and fro
a curious smile curved over Buffers
face, his elephantine eyelids tremb-
led with emotion enough to show