The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-11-24
THE GUlTEAU TRIAL.

Garfield, Was arraigned for trial on the charge
or murder In the Supreme Court Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, at Washington, on Monday,
Nov. II. Every seat in the courtroom was
flied. The assassin, dressed In shiny ruit Of
black broadcloth, was escorted into court by
two officers. lie took seat beside his sister,
Mr.. l,ol inson being on the other side.
The officers sat immediately be-
hind him, and one Of them, leaning
over, unfastcned the handouts from Ouitean's
wrists Tho prisoner then shook hands with
his brother aud sister, handed tho latter ,
small pspas,st t., and .,,, package, -, Of paper and
him, rather as II he had been the counsel than
tho accused. 10 appesred much more col
| lcctcd than ut lis hrralgnMcnt, and had moth.
| ing Of the frightened look that marked him at
that time. When all was quiet Mr.. Robinson
| addrc .ssd the court, asking for moro time be-
fore trial. He said he had reason to know
hat he could get needed assistance % counsel
before long, aud that he had some witnesses
who could not get thero before Dec. |. He
was willing to give the court the names Of said
| witnesses.
As Mr. Robinson sat down Guiteau arose and
said: III your Honor please, desire to ad-
| drcas the court. did not know that my coun-
81 was ready to make his speech this morning.
! desire to speak for myself. / am here on !
muFdor,ns charge and ! desire to bc beard IN
| my own defonHc."
"Th!s il not tho time to enter npon the do
fensc. sail Judge Cox, quietly. ut IL only :
question whether more time 10 necessary for
preparing the defense"
"It is not needed, said Guiteau. I'VE are
ready to 60 on with the case now."
Mr.. Robinson smiled at this and asked
| GnNcau u SIT uown.
TIE prisoner said: s.You keep stil.' But
he did ut down, muttering, as he did so: We
| are ready u 20 ahead now.
Col Coikllill said he saw no reason why the
time lhn'la be extended.
MIR. Robinson made an affidavit that the sole
ground on which he asked delay was In order
10 get tie necessary witnesses and counsel.
He said he was practically alone in the case
and needed rome one.
There was developed an evident split he
tween M.ssrs Scoville and Robinson. Mr..
| ScoTille, addressing the court, said that Mr..
| RcLinsons application was made without lis
knowledge. which was certainly strange pro-
ceetlins. fince he had not even seen the atiida-
Wit nor heard what counsel hoped to get. For
his part lac was ready to so OH with the trial.
lie knew l.e was incompetent to go ahead with
ont assistance, but ho had hoped without Mr..
hohln on'a assistance TO he able to proceed.
Even nov ie hoped to bc Of some assistance to
Mr.. Robinson, but II hc was TO 10 on IN this
WAY, lie lScavll.c) should withdraw.
Here Gullcan jumped to his feet and raid,
in an cAei'ea III anler II Indorsc every word
lie says. Roiiason came into this case without
consulting me, aud | don't like the way he
talks. order him pervnsptorily to withdraw
from the case"
Mr.. Rolinson renewed his application.
MIR. Scuyilo claimed the near relatives OF the
prisoner should at least know who WAS expect
e4 70 come for the defense.
Guitean again intorposed: 1--WE don't want
Robinson, anyway. This il pcremptory and he
must GO"
Mr Seosiile went on: III We have time
enough we could get counsel good enough and
plenty without money, but il the court il going
to give US time and at the same time assign
counsel don't agree with it.
With this uutcau jumped up again. Rap
ping the table with his knuckles, he said s.Mr.
Scossl.e il next ~ me in this case. Intend to
do this business. myself. Robinson IL not
wanted"
The officers tried to keep him quiet, Lut he
told them to mind their own business. He Was
IN the presence OF the court, and would talk
when lao felt like it.
Col. Corkhill asked tho court to try to koep
tho prisoner quiet, whercupon Guiteau sat
down. saying Lc would do whatever tho court
wished him to. After that hs was compare
lively Qniet.
Judge Cox then said he was inclined 10 Give
the defense little more time. He intends
that the prisoner shall have ct least fair trial
but he thought it would perhaps be better to
allow the Gaze to proceed so far rs the selection
Of . jury, leaving il fer counsel to arrange for
time ana . future continuance, and for addi-
tional counsel
Mr.. Scoyillc said it should be understood that
no should not even question q Juror until he
know exactly who was to be- associated with him
and MIR. Robinson IN the defense.
The court ssii no one could be assigned with
out Mr.. Scoville's consent.
Mr.. Scoville aud MIR. Robinson both ex-
pressed themselves satisfied with this arrange
Ment, and the jury panel WAS then taken mp.
Tho court explained that It was wrong iuter-
pretation Of law to demand on such Jury only
those persona who had formed no opinion. The
only absolutely disqualified persons were those
who had formed an opinion that could not Be
changed by any evidence Whatsoever.
The first four Of tho jury panel stated dis
tinctly aud finally that they had opinions which
no evidence could change, aud they were speed.
lily excused. The nth seemed ai right until
asked Il he had any scruples as to capital pun.
shment He sn led ~ he answered In the
Affirmative, aud seemed glad to get out OF il
The stxth thought 10 could give verdict in -
sordance with the evidence. though hs had 70
peatcdly said he should hang the prisoner
This man was in tho hardware business. Mr.
6coyille said the juror was not wanted.
Tho next man was . mechanic. lie
had an opinion, though not very decided
thought he could give = fair verdict. Mr..
scoviile asked as u his politics ai,i religion.
Judge Palker. OF the prosecution objected.
Mr.. Scovilla said he desired to know something
OF the Jurors conscience before knowing
whether no might exercise tho right to PER
en.ptaiy chalcnge. That was al he was driv-
ns u. lie was willing to let that question rest
INT q could present authorities. This man
aas William T. o'Donnel. and in his case the
'.ngo. The eighth was excused be-
, carsH lie hell firmly to the opinion formed
.me,'ht.l, after the shooting. The ninth
aiAn was John Han,.n, Mellknown restan-
.s'.trr o, Washington He answered all qnes-
, sas satisfactory, some A. to whether he held
No any lnilae. neief. Ha was accepted by the
l"a.ase, ami Wa dnly sworn IA the first Juror.
!, 4 " lnlnrs Lave teen oh,ainsd aud sworn
!. y. TAe1r nam. AMI occupations are as fol-
,ass; ,aa /. HAHN, restsarant- keeper
tra ". Hrandeaaer. ciSar-maler Charles q.
! : val. ;'ear and feed dealer; Henry J.
e:tt. retired from business; Thomas II.
.Sl1 III, steser.
! Tie panel was exhausted after Ave Jurors had
, been \. tsnoi. ard AT the suggestion of the
District Attorney an order wrs issued for draw
il scse.ty..ise additional names from the box.
IN " ssiaes at this point aaNly rose and
, iEioia.i iii. eonrt he wc'.ia like to make a
:; esS ~ tosala.faa morising, but lac was ordered
} 4 =, s,aat IL take his seat lie then PASSED
: th' 'ssaase.ipt OF his speech to Il newspaper
t>tsiiea. tut before the latter could leave
tin coaat rom scovillc called him back and
: csNap led llm IL return 1t. This raised the
n.S3s II: ;he PRISONER, who cxci;edly declared
|, he was mt under control of his counsel; tha,
he WAS LAWYER and knew law himself that
! whcu Le Mant,l help he would ask for il ; and
l tlGt he desired his speech to be published fol
. the purpose ot influencing public opinion IL,
Was aSsaia sienecd by the court. and it having
been greed that the sitting of tie court should
5 - 'tnm III A, III. TO } u IN. daily. allowing hall
: M l4na. for r.esss, the court adjourned.
IA the speech which Guitean had prcrarel
~. III livery The la aavA Il liz elm ryet
- Mlh Aira,iing ene Jancs A. Garfield. Eothinl
en- le mens absurd, because Gen. Garfiels
!. ,iea Of malpFast ~. Gen. GARFIELD WAS q eoos
:. man, hat we'll. politician. Beng Presiden
!. he was III n position 10 do vast harm to tn
republic, aad he was doing il by the unwis
J. uso Of patronage. and the Lord aud himsel
took tho responsibility Of removing him
Tnat his duty 10 the Lord and to tL
Aaiercan people overcame his persona
J. feelings toward Gen. Garfield, and h
: sousat to remove him. Not being nlarksman
q Gen. Garfield was not fatally shot, hut in
competent physicians finished tho work. an,