Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-15
THE ASSASSIN In COURT.
GUITEAU PLEADS NOT GUILTY.
The Court Room Paeked-HIs Line
of Defense - Emory StOrr,s Law
Partner Volunteers in His Behalf
An Ohio Crank's Prudent Bid for
NOtOFieIY.
J PLEADS NOT GUILTY.


WASHINGTON, October 14.-After the star
route cases were disposed of, 1t became
known in the court room that the arraieu-
ment OF Guitesu was actually to take place
to day. So most of the spectators remained.
and very intense feeling of curiosity and in
terest was manifested. There was no unu-
slal display Of police in or about the court
room, although there were large numbers of
detectives present not in uniform. For
over half an hour business was suspended
awaiting, the Introduction of the prisoner.
AT luarter past eleven Mr.. Scoville,
counseltor the prisoner, entered and took a
seat at iae lawyers table, and Immediately
aIter the ;oor OF the witnesses room open
ed ana gave entrance to Marshal Henry and
two depuev marshals, having between them
ana nustilne along the bowed and covering
hgure OF the nan for whom they made wav
TO the seat reserved for him beside his coun-
sci. Then one IF the guards unlocked the
handouts, giving the prisoner the use of his
nsnds, which he continued, however, to
ho4o as II that was their usual position.
Guitesu looked broken in health and un-
cared Ior In person. His hair is closely
cropped, out his cheek aud chin whiskers
are worn thick, but not long. His dark
clothes were rusty and shabby, and his
whole person presented a miserablv neg
lected sppesrance.
After the excitement attending his en-
trance had subsidized, District ATTORNEY Cork
hill rose, and addressing the Judge, said:
"The grand jury OF the District of Column
bia has indicted Chas. j. Guiteau for the
murder OF James A. Garfield. The prisoner
is in court. l ask that he be arraigned and
required TO plead to the indictment"
The prisoner,vas ordered to stand up, and
in a languid manner obeyed.
The Clerk-"Is your name Charles ].
Guiteau?"
The prisoner assented by a nod.
The cler1 then proceeded TO read the in
dietment, the'pIsoner standing up, with his
head most OF the time inclined to the right
shoulder. His eyes were half closed or
wholly so. His hands were crossed over bis
stomach az If they still wore handouts. and
his general air was that of sickiy indiffer-
ence. The reading OF the indictment Occu-
pied nearly half an hour, and during all
that time G1iteau hardly changed his atti-
tude or bearing, and rarely opened his eyes.
he did not manifest the slightest degree of
interest in tie scene in which he was the
chief actor, and, but for an occasional
slight movement, might be supposed to be
asleep In stinding attitude.
Upon the eSnclusion OF the reading of the
Indictment tie clerk, addressing the prison
er. said:
"What say Nou to this indictment, guilty
or not guiltyF
The prisone, in place of response, fun
bled In his wastcoat pocket and drew out a
soiled and cTunpled scrap OF paper.
The District Attorney OmperstivelY)-
Enter your pies OF guilty or not guilty.
The Prtsoner-I enter plea of not guilty,
IL your Honor pease, and desire to make
a statement.
The Court-At some other time. 1t would
not be appropriate just now. Sit down.
The prisonr tbereupon took his seat.
District AJOrneY-In this case ask that
the trial be vet for next Monday morning
peremptorilY The government is ready for
trial now.
Mr.. Scovill4 asked to read a statement,
and proceeded to read one by the defendant
to the effect hat he has no money or means,
and that in HI defense it is necessary for
him to have1 Witnesses from a distance.
Also one madeby himself to the effect that
be was not reaiy for trial, having been In
the case onl about ten days. That
the defense lsould be the insanity of
the prisoner, AMI that the wound was not
necessarily motal and was not the cause
of the Presidents death. Also that he has
failed to get tEe7ames of certain witnesses
from the Pris6aA-. i6j.sAhat he expects to
show by witnesses Lei New York and
gnGSg fsmiy Tsat hi 6Ss1y GnItSau IN ,atSsr fnS
of the accused, W@ a monomauiac
on the subject of religion. He also expect
ed to show that deah was the result of
malpractice on the pat of the principal
physician. He asked ftr an order for wit
nesses, forty-four in number. Mr.. Scovile
said that acting under instructions of his
client he had endeavored tOVget him suita-
BILE counsel, being hnAslf not fa-
milisr with criminal pActAce: and had
applied to Emory Stors, of Chicago,
who had declined; also tC R. T. Merrick,
who feared that he could not attend. He
had written TO Gen. Butler, but had not yet
heard from him. 1t was important that the
prisoner should be properly defended, and
be asked II Gen. Butler should Necline that
the prisoner be allowed to ,eTkct counsel.
Argument on the question 4 Jurisdiction
was set down for the Both bstN and the
trial for November 9TH. AtteA leaving the
court room Guiteau was taken upstairs, and
large crowd gathered about the east por-
tico. The prison van being to tie east door
of the building, the crowd made rush to
that point, but about 1890 Nclock the
prisoner was quietly walked through the
basement and through the ceItre of the
new building, where carriage was in wait
ing. and taken back to jail.
VIM. Stevenson johnson, of Chicago, the
law partner of Emory Storrs, has arrived in
the city for the purpose Of taking part in
the defense of Guiteau. While Guheau was
being arraigned large sized man approach
ed some of the officers OF the court and
asked for the loan of = pistol His inqui-
ries causing suspicion, he was takehto po-
lice headquarters, where he gave his
name as George Fl. Bernard and
showed the diploma of q lawyer. Issued
to him June 2s1, in Columbus, Ohio. He
said that he fought In Gsrfeld's regiment,
and showed two gunshot wounds in hii legs
and q bsyonet wound IN the side of his
head, which he said he received at the ast-
tie of Shiloh. He has been doing clerical
work for a lawyer in this city. He heard
that Guireau was to be arraigned to-
day, and he intended to get a
''bull dog" pistol and shoot hin,
at the City Hall. He took his diploma with
him to insure getting into the court room AA
i