Daily Republican., 1881-11-18
GUTTEAU'S TRIAL.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY COR X.
HILLS OPENING ADDRESs.

Tho Assassin creates Another
seene-Boeretary Blaine On the
witness sssand-The eXslama.
tion Of the Murdered
President - ''Ay Cod
what II This 2"
WASHINGTON, d. G. Nov. l7.-rhers
was q noticeable increase Of interest in
the proceedings Of this, the fourth day
of the Guiteau trial, and much larger
number of ladies were present. Mrs.
George B. Corkhill and two lady friends
occupied sea ts Immediately in the rear
Of her husbands s desk. The doors were
opened TO the public shortly before ten
o'clock, and general rush for positions
took place.
Immediately after the Court opened,
Counsel Scoville rose to personal ex-
plasation, and stated that there had
been no disagreement between himself
aud Mr.. Robinson, and that tho latter
gentleman would render all possible
aid sndwork in harmony with.him. Gui-
teau here interfersd and objected to
Mr.. Robinson's taking part in the case.
He stated that he would manage his
own case, and II counsel was forced
upon him he would make noise about
it to the country. After being rebuked
| by the Court he remained quiet for a
time, but broke out again at intervals,
and in the meantime Conve versed in An OK
cited manner with his counsel and his
brother At half-past ten o'clock SEC
retary Of State Blaine entered the court
room and was given seat between
Messrs Davidge and Porter. He was
accompanied by his son, Walker Blaine,
and Chief Clerk Brown, OF the State
Department.
Immediately after, District Attorney
Corkhill opened the case for the Gov
srnment in the following eloquent
speech
MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT AND GEN
TLBMEN OF THE JURY.
The prisoner At the bar stands before
you charged with the murder Of James
"A. Garfield. Under any circumstan-
css there rests grave and RESPONSE BILE
obligation upon every man who is call
ed upon in the discharge OF his duty
under the law to render decision upon
which depends the life Of fellow crea-
ture. And while it is true that the Of
fence charged in the present case is no
greater in legal gravity and consequence
to tho prisoner than ifby his act he had
taken the life ofthe humbiest and most
obscure citizen Of the Republic, still. II
is idle to overlook the fact that the emi.
nsn, character Of the man whose life
was taken, his high official positi on,
and the startling effects Of the commits
sion of the crime, render the case Ona
of unusual and unparalleled Importance
Ii is the second time in our history thai
J the citizen chosen by the people OF the
United States to discharge the higt
! and responsible duties of President ha'
fallen q victim to lawless assa ssir
! during the period OF his inCumbency o
the office.
But in the former case we were jus
emerging froIa the shadows of long
and bloody war. The country had bsel
j racked by eommotions and stirred b.
civil feuds. Throughout the length AM
breadth of the land nearly every house
hold meurned the loss Of relatives o
friends slain on the hotly contested bat
itle fields of the republic. 1t was dan
ger that thoughtful men had anticipa
D ted 1t was a calamity that patriot
had feared. And when it came, will
: all its dread consequences, it was 3cep
, ted as one of the results OF the then dis
;, ordered and discordant condition o
0 public affairs.
Bat we had passed from the arena o
u the war, the sword had been beaten in
i to plowshare, and tho spear into
pruning hook; the country was unitett
- peace reigned at home and abroad
There were no local dissensions; ther'
: we're no intestine strifes seed time ant
J harvest time had come and gone; TIL
battle-fie redeemed from the strlt'
% and havoc of their bloody contests
y were blossoming with the fruits 0
); peaceful labor. Suddenly the start
ling fact was proclaimed throughou
J the land and over the entire world, tina
the President of the United States ha'
fallen q victim to the assasSlns OuUd
in the Capital of the nation.
l. Murder, under all CIRCUMSTANCES an
d anon all occasions, is shocking. Lift
T. of which we know so little and hold o.
so fragile a tenure is dear to US all, an
when it is brought to a close, not IL
the usual order and course of nature
but prematurely by violence, no matte
u what may be the condition Of the pei
y son, the human mind is appalled, VII
l. terror. When a man holding a pos
- ton Of eminence and power falls
II causeless victim to the murderer
stroke, VT realize still more an
O. fully the awfulness Of the crime tha
d produces this result
y During the delivery of Mr.. Corkhill
. address Guiteau appeared to De engage
y with a newspaper and to take no motto
of the District Attorneys remark III
til he said "no eye but the eye OF Go
could detect the motives OF a crimlnal,
s, at which Guiteau seemed to become II
% terested aud set himself to listen. b
is did not interrupt, however, until M
f. Corkhill was commenting on the lett
1r predicting ruin on the President ana
lr the Republican party, when he broh
i'd in with the exclamation: "Politlci
le ruin, if you please, not personal rum
It. At this Mr.. Porter, one OF the couns
Of for the prosecution, solemnly protestt
le against the distractions and the cont
is macy OF the prisoner. Judge Cox sal!
h 81 think it is within the power OF II
Court to order the removal OF the priso
er and to have the tr.al conducted
his absence"
At Guiteau interposed with 'I will n
do 1t again, your Honor. l will co
troll my feelings; but l do feel very dee
ly in this case" Judge Cox replie
lr 6You must control yourself, or will
lg removed from the courtroom.
r. Mr.. Corkhill then resumed his
es dress and concluded amid general a
es plause.
mt Mr.. Robinson then said the defen
to would reserve their opening.
10 Secretary Blaine was then called
80 the stand, and being sworn, answer
the questions of the District Attorn
in a clear, distinct voice.