The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-12-01
Witnesses for dEae Defense

WASHINGTON, Noyenl ber 25.-The Grim
inal court was crowded. Scoville stated
| that Guiteau desired to make statement,
and Guiteau read from manuscript as fol-
| lows: 4 propose to have all facts bearing
on this case go to the court and jury and
to do this I have been forced to interrupt
counsel and witnesses who were mistaken
as % supposed facts. I meant no discour-
tesy TO them er Hny one. Any fact In my
case or bearing Oh the question who fired
that shot, the Deity or myself, is Of vital
Importance IN this case and propose it to
go to the jury. Thence my personal, po-
litical and theological record may be de-
yeloped. | am glad that your Honor and
the opposing counsel are disposed to give
. historical review Of my life and ask
the press and the public to do likewise
Last spring certain newspapers in New
York and Washington were bitterly de-
nouncing the President for breaking up the
Republican party by improper. appoint-
ments. | would like these newspapers to
reprint those editorials. IN removing the
President only did what the papers said
ought to be done, ] never would have
shot him Of my own vOlition. I5 has been
published that ] am in fear Of death. It
is false. [ have always been religious
man and an active worker for God. Some
people think / am murderer, but the
Lord does not, for he inspired me to act as
in the case Of Abraham and a score of
other eases in the Bible. T desire this
court and jury to dispose OF this case on
facts and law.
scoville called John A. Logan for the
defense. The witness did not respond.
Gtliteau, who seemed greatly excited, here
broke in again and shouted chat there was
another matter that he wanted to speak
about: s understand that my divorced
wife is to be brought here Us q witness
against me. If that is so, there will be
trouble. She was a poor, unfortunate
thing and ( never should have married
her. If she comes here to testify against
me and do me any harm | II rip up her
whole record. She was seduced il Phila-
delphia and had a child before I married
her,
Charles H. Reed, OF Chicago, de.ailed
several incidents in Gui,eau's career as a
lawyer at Chicago. lie always regarded
him as an earnest, sincere man but unbal-
anced, and always deemed him 4 harmless
man until recently.
Witness resumed, when Gtiteau broke
in again, directly contradieting him. He
was cautioned to keep quiet, and retorted:
: We want facts, Judge, TO 90 before the
jury, and nothing else. I claim that my
act was inspired By the Deity. state my
case on that position, and LII take my
chances on the restlt.' The prisoner con-
1inued to interrupt, making rambling aud
irrelevant remarks, until Judge Cox qulte
sharply threatened to gag him If he diln't
keep quiet. Guite;u continued TO inter-
pose his objections, however, but ii Il less
manner, and gradually sub
sided altogether.
A THREATENING LETTER.
Marshal Henry yesterday received the
WESTERN RESERVE.
Deer SIR
Our last attempt on our friend Guiteau
failed. Our eonlratIe missed his calcula-
ton a little. Ny effort comes next and it
can't fail. NY object IN writing is this:
We don't want 70 hurt any one but the
miserable assassin and don't want to hurtI
= hair Of any one else, but Mr. Edeline and /
others must not display 50 much zeal III
5he future, or they will get. hurt. I had
great difficulty III keeping my squad from
shooting Edeline and the driver las. Sat
arday as they were pursuing the =comrade.
Had theF=sl1ot him, neither 1adeline nor.
he driver nor one. Of the crowd would
have reached the jail alive. Little less
zeal on their part will ne better FOR them.
ourfriend,
IND OHIo AYENGER IEAa aUH.
INSTRUCTION 70 BE ASKED ~ zPRosEeu-
TON.
Counsel for the Government vii ask the
Judge % charge the Jury, among other
lhings, that the law IL to.tIla defense OF in
sanity ii criminal trials Is Is follows:
Y hen the prisoner, at the time Of commits
siElgg the otkense, was ii such state Of