Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-05
Storrs Testifes to the Damage OF
the Prisoners Case.
Rumor that the President and Other
Prominent Men Have Been Sum-
moned.
Senator Davis on the Stand.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.

the court room that the defence had SUD-
penaed President Arthur, Vice President
Davis, ex-Speaker Randall and Senator Bay
ard to appear in court this forenoon, and the
interest in today's proceeding was immense
ly increased The court was opened at 1905,
and Scoyille began at once by calling Col. j.
o.. p. Burnside, disbursing officer of the
Postoffice Department. The witness formerly
lived in Freeport, and knew the prisoners's
family Mrs. Guiteau was an invalid and he
seldom saw her. Chas. c. Allen, OF Mis-
souri,, lived in Freeport, ILL.,, in 1889 and
1910 and knew the Guiteau family. Mrs.
Guiteau was in feeble health, and before the
birth Of the prisoner was some time confined
to her bed. Emery A. Storrs, OF Chicago,
knew Guiteau in that city by sight as young
lawyer: he met him on Broadway, New
York, five or six years ago. The prisoner
overlook the witness and handed him his bus
mess card; did not speak with him above
three minutes. The witness saw Guiteau
perhaps dozen times at the National Re-
publican Committee rooms during the late
presidential canvass. The prisoner came up
to him gleefully. and patting him on the
shoulder, said, ''YOu are on the right track.
The witness never saw Guiteau doing any
thing at the committee rooms other than
reading papers he seemed to have no es-
pecial employment. The witness arrived in
Washington in April.
Guiteau called upon him the next forenoon
at the Riggs House. He appeared the same
as usual, in good spirits, perhaps in state
of exaltation tf spirits. He (the prisoner)
said he was going to have the Austrian mis-
sion. The witness told him the place was an
important one, and in Baine's line and that
he (Blaine) was known politician. The
prisoner replied that he was ''solid' with
-, no ,,,.e aIl aA l,a ,a1
COMPLEMENTARY much as you or l would ap-
pear if confident of getting something we
might very much desire to have. The wit
ness thought the conversation was leading up
to a request for him (witness) to visit Blaine
in Guiteau's interest, and fOrestalled it by
saying his relations with Blaine were such
that he could not possibly aid hin, (the pris-
oner)
The witness saw Guiteau repeatedly after
that, but had no conversation with him. He
appeared discouraged and seedy altogether
The witness had formed an opinion as to his
mental size, but could not express an opinion
as to his sanity or insanity. His impression
that ''Guiteau had an lily balanced mind in
common parlance," meant that he didn't have
good common sense. Witness was asked in
relation to the political status just prior to
the shooting of the President, and was asked
III IucTc WcTc uOt tlcHcutS VI ulScOTu I'll the
republican party which threatened disruption
The reply was: 81 think the republican
party a pretty difficult one to disrupt, and
while there were elements of discord, nv
belief is that the good sense of the rank and
file is such that think it would have held to-
gether."
Upon cross-examnatiOn, the witness said :
81 never saw anything in Guteau to indicate
that he could not distinguish between right
and wrong; never saw anything in the con-
duct of the prisoner that would indicate that
he did not know the difference between guilt
and innocence. l never saw anything to in
dictate that he would not be responsible for
crime"
Mr.. Scoville noted several exceptions to
the rulings of Judge Cox in favor of the ad-
mission of these replies. The evidence Gre
ated quite stir in the court room and
seemed to stagger those about the defence
table. The sister of the prisoner was par
ticularly excited, and in tones distinctly
caught by the reporters, said: ale has
perjured himself; that is all there is about
it,"
Edward A. Daniels of Virginia, had met
Guiteau at the Young Mems Christian As
sociation rooms in this city; thought his
movements and conversation somewhat De-
cular.
Senator David Davis was called but did
not respond.
A court officer announced: "Mr. Bayard
is not in the city and we are hunting for Mr..
Randall
Pending the arrival of witnesses, Scoville
proceeded to read newspaper slips, taken
from Guiteau at the time of his arrest. Dur
ing the reading Guiteau leaned back in his
chair and apparently paid the strictest at
al ba do
nation, but quickly and without causing any
interruption.
Senator Davis having arrived, the reading
was suspended and Davis took the stand
Witness was asked if he had devoted his at
tention to the political movement and public
feeling about the time of the shooting of Pres
ident Garfield. He replied that in common
with ordinary people he had paid some at
tention to politics, but was not a member of
either political party and took no part in the
last campaign. Witness was then asked if
he was aware of the state of feeling in the
republican party and between the two fac
tions last spring. and said in reply he had no
personal knowledge, as he did not go into
their caucuses.
WAS their not such breach in the party
that it bid fair to disrupt it?''
The republican party has not been des-
troyed, though it has had a good many
breaches in it. The republican party is an
extraordinary organization. I don't believe
it will die until the democratic party does.
Scoville-From your knowledge of the
parties, do you not think the success of the
democratic party would endanger the re-
public?
Davis-I don't think the success of any DO
litical party would endanger the republic
The prosecution had no questions to ask,
and Senator Davis, with an air of blank
wonderment, said, "Can l be excused?
told the officer who came for me that never
saw the prisoner and know nothing about
him except what have read. couldn't for
the lite of me see why l should be sum-
moned."
Scoville-You will leave the reason. Sem
ator, from arguments.
Edward A. Bailey, stenographer, was
called and closely questioned in regard to
shorthand notes he had taken of Guiteau's
conversations in Jail, and his disposition of
them.
Guiteau made quite noisy demonstration
and accused the witness of deceiving him in
pretending to be Herald representative.
The witness pronounced Guiteau's state
ment of the matter absolutely false.
Guiteau, excitedly. II told you so. I'm
ALWAYS right: though I wxs only oues.;n1