The daily gazette., 1881-11-18
SECOND EDITION
GUITEAU'S TRIAL.
Blaine the First Witness
against Gufteau.

HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENE AT
THE SHOOTING OF THE PRESIDENT
GUITEAU's APPLICATIONS FOR OF.
FICE-THE WITNESS CROSS CUES
TONED ON POLITICAL SUBJECTS
sTALwARTs AND HALF BREEDS
THE PRISONER THREATENED WITH
REMOVAL.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Ito day eye
witnesses have gwen under oath their
narratives OF the assassination OF James
A. Garfield. The stories differed in
small details, but the main facts of the
murder were clearly set forth, and
spread before the Court, the jury, and
the world. The prisoner was identified
as the assailant, and his manner of at
tack was described as alreany known
from newspaper reports. The witnesses
agree in testifying that he fired two shots
at the late President as he was passing
through the ladies' waiting room of the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad station
in Washington; that the first shot took
effect, the victim being already in the
act of falling when the second bullet was
discharged. The somewhat curious fact
was developed that probably no one
actually saw the fatal shot fired. The
eyes OF all were resting on the President
and Secretary Blaine as they briskly
walked through the room, until the
sharp report of pistol diverted the by
standers' gaze TO the assassin few steps
in ths rear. Several saw the second shot,
but Garfield was already tottering, and
the murder had accomplished his pur-
pose. The attorneys fer the Govern
ment were careful to elicit testimony as
to the manner of his fall, and witnesses
agreed that he fell not extended, but, as
the saying is, sin heap" his legs giving
way and the body sinking heavily where
be stood. This fact will be used here
after in connection with medical testi-
mony as evidence that the wound re-
ceived was mortal. Some slight dis
crepancIes exist, as would be almost of
necessity the case, in several descrip-
somewhat removed in point of time,
which took but an instant and created
the widest excitement.
Witnesses differed IS to whether Quit
eau ran first TO one exit or another,
whether he showed fear and excitement,
and as to his precise language. Police
man Kearney and perhaps others of the
eye witnesses or persons associated with
the arrest have yet to be examined, so
the story In its fulness has not been told.
So far as appeared to-day, however, the
report which gsined such notoriety at
the time, that Guiteau had proclaimed
himself ga Stalwart of the Stalwarts,n is
not supported by evidence. The only
language used by the prisoner, SO far as
could be understood by to.day's wit
nesses, was "It's all right" several
times repeated, 81 want this letter given
to General somebody" The witness
had not caught the name.
"Gen. Shermanp shouted Guiteau
from his seat in the prisoners box.
Mr.. Poison, an eye witness, who, l
believe, has not been summoned, stated
In his Interviews with reporters imme-
diately after the shooting that he heard
Gulteau use the now historic words. It
may be that others will testify in court
to the same effect Tomorrow, and thus
settle matter on which there has ex.
listed some difference OF opinion.
The first and most important witness
called was the Secretary of State.
Quite au had been making one of his
characteristic exhibitions of vanity and
spleen during the lull before his en-
trance, and all were relieved to have
another direction given to the proceed
ings. The Secretary looked stern and
careworn. lie recognized no one, but
suffered himself to be conducted by Mr..
Corkhill to seat next Judge Potter.
His son, Walker Blaine, Chief Clerk
Brown OF the State Department., and
one or two other men accompanied him.
MIR. BLAIN AS A WITNESS.
On being sworn he stood erect and
composed, and proceeded to give In lu.
cid outline narrative of his connection
with the case from the first appearance
OF Guiteau as an office seeker till his re-
turn to his home after the tragedy at the
station. He gave a graphic and pathe-
tic description of the shooting, and full
ly identified Gniteau as the assassin
Mr.. Blaine had been SO pestered by him
for office that he had perforce become
familiar with his features, though, as he
sardonlcally said on the cross-examina-
tion, he was not acquainted with the
prisoner. He recognized him, however
at once, when he saw him in the act of
firing the second shot, and told those
whom he saw in the station and the
members of the Cabinet 1t was Guiteau
who had done the deed.
Mr.. Scoville seemed to forget that
Secretary Blaine is, perhaps, the most
dangerous man in the country to cross
question, and rushed in where expert
political debaters fear to tread.
The combat did not strengthen the
defence. Mr. Blaine had the good sense
to recognize the fact that it was no time
| or place for smart repartee or witty
quibblipg, but could not altogether sup
press his fondness for verbal duelling.-
Mr.. Scovilles design was clear. Rough
III fact, he stated IL plainly. He wished
to bring out the fact that intense bad
feeling existed in the Republican party
which might easily have affected the
mind OF man in the circumstances and
condition of his client. He asked Mr.,
Blaine, therefore, to make an epitome
OF the political situation, as II stood lust
before Gartield's injury. This was deli
| cate ground, and the Secretary OF State
was disposed to go slow. He wished TO
| understand exactly what was wanted,
ard began to cross-examine his examin-
er In way which Immediately raised
laugh, and showed how completely at
his mercy Mr.. Scoville was in contest
of this sort. Had the defence succeeded
in securing the services of Ben Butler,
this episode in the trial would no doubt
have been much more entertaining. AS
| it was the sympathies of the audience
went with Mr.. Scoville, and Mr.. Blaine
| himself was quick to perceive that BAN
| dinage was out of place. He relented,
| therefore, and contented himself wit
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