Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-20
GUITEAU IN COURT.


On Friday last, Guiteau was arraigned in
the criminal court, at Washington. to plead
to the charge of murder. When it became
known in the court room that Guiteau would
certainly be arraigned, a very intense feeling
of curiosity and interest was manifested.
There was no unusual display of the police
force in or about the court room, although
there was large number Of detectives present
not in uniform. For over half an hour busi.
ness was suspended, awaiting the introduction
of the prisoner At a quarter past II. Mr..
Scoville, counsel for the prisoner; entered and
took seat at the lawyers table, and imme'
diately after the door of the witnesses room
opened and gave entrance to Marshal Henry
and two deputy marshals, having between
them and husting along the bowed and cow
ering figure of man, for whom they made
way to the seat reserved for him beside his
counsel. Then one of the guards unlocked
the handouts, giving the prisoner the use Of
his hands, which he continued, however, to
hold an if that was their usual position.
Guiteau looked broken in health and uncared
for in person. His hair is closely cropped,
but his cheek and chin whiskers are worn
thick, but not long. His dark clothes were
rusty and shabby, and his whole person pre-
sented miserably neglected appearance.
After the excitement attending his entrance
had subsided, District Attorney Corkhili rose,
and addressing the Judge, said: "The grand
Jury of the District of Columbia has indicted
Charles j. Guiteau for the murder of James
A. Garfield The prisoner is in Court. |
ask that he be arraigned and required to plead
to the Indictment" a2ta
The prisoner was ordered to stand up, and
in languid manner obeyed.
The Clerk-"Is your name Charles j. Gui-
teau?"
The prisoner assented with nod.
The clerk then read the indictment, the
prisoner standing up, with his head most of
the time inclined to the right shoulder. his
eyes we're half closed or wholly 80, his hands
crossed over his stomach, as if they still wore
handouts, and his general air that of sickly in.
difference. The reading occupied nearly half
an hour and during all that time Guiteau hard
ly changed his attitude or bearing and rare
ly opened his eyes. He did not manifest the
slightest degree of interest In the scene in
which he was the chief actor, and but for an oc-
casional slight movement, might be supposed
to be asleep in standing attitude. Upon the
conclusion of the reading of the indictment,
the clerk, addressing the prisoner, said:
"What say you to this indictment. guilty
or not guiltyy" The prisoner, in place of
response, fumbled in his waiscoat pocket and
drew out a soiled and crumpled scrap of pa
per. ....,.,.
The District Attorney (imperatively)-
Enter your plea of guilty or not guilty"
The Prisoner-"I enter plea of not gull
ty, if your Honor please, and desire to make
a statement"
The Court-"At some other time; it would
not be appropriate Just now. Sit down."
The prisoner thereupon took his seat.
District Atlorney-"In this case, l ask
that the trial be set for next Monday, per-
emptorily the Government is ready for trial
now"
Mr.. Scoville asked to read a statement,
and proceeded to read one by the defendant,
to the effect that he has no money and no
means, and that in his defence it is necessary
for him to have witnesses from distance al
so, QUE made by himself, to the effect that he
was not ready for trial, having been in the
case only about ten days that the defence
would be insanity of the prisoner, and that
the wound was not necessarily mortal and
was not the cause of MI. Garheld's death
also that he has failed to get the names of
certain witnesses from the prisoner, and that
he expects to show by witnesses in New York
and Chicago hereditary insanity in the fam-
lily that l.. w. Guiteau, the father Of the
accused, was monomaniac on the subject of
religion. He also expected to show that
death was the result of malpractice on the
part of The principal physician. He asked
an order for witnesses, forty-four in number.
Mr.. Scoville said, acting under instructions
of his client, he had endeavored to get him
suitable counsel, being himself not familiar
with criminal practice, and had applied to
Emory Storrs, of Chicago, who had declined,
also to r. r. Merrick, who had written to
Gen. Butler, but had not yet heard from him.
1t was important that the prisoner should be
properly defended, and he asked if Mr.. But.
Ter should decline that the prisoner be allowed
to select counsel.
Argument on the question of jurisdiction
was set down for the goth instant, and the trial
for November 7th.
After leaving the Court room, Guiteau
was taken up stairs and large crowd gath
cred about the east portico. The prison van
being drawn to the east door of the building,