The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-12-03
WASHINGTON.
[FnoM OUR REGULAR CoRREsroxDESr. |


Public interest here at the Capital, and
throughout the country, IS much taken
up with the Guiteau trial now in prog
ross. In every respect it is one of the
worlds celebrated criminal trials and as
such it attracts universal attention Not
that anything new or startling is likely
to be developed in it, but the circum.
stances of the case render it one Of nation
al importance and the public look for
full reports Of every detail. 1t is expect
ed that the trial will last fully two, and
perhaps three months. There have been
no dramatic scenes as yet, though the
opening addre IS of the District Attorney
and the testimony of Secretary Blaine,
both narra!ing tho facts of the great trag.
edy which recently sadlened all hsarts,
brought the painful events of the sum
mer fresh to mind. The author of that
terrible calamity, now on trial for his
crime, has still further excited public
feeling against him by bis outrageous
conduct in coGrt. In spite of the forts
Of bis counsel and the court TO restrain
him, the miserable wretch contiuues daily
to interrupt the proceedings aud to ex-
hibit himself as a.cr.ature i'll whom con-
ceit and insolence predoll.rate in about
equal paris.
To most people within and without the
court room his conduct, so far, conveys
the impression that he is really acting a
part; that, as old Polonius said of Han
let, Though this be madness, yet there's
method in it, and that, underneath the
the outer disguise of ''crank, he only
conceals the real character OF an assassin.
1t Is hard for people to restrain them
selves in the face of this mans insolent
conduct and his loud Boosting in the
court room that if any "disreputable
characters" undertook to ipjrre him they
would be shot dead By his "body guard"
the police. There is much complaint that
the scoupdrel is shown too much consid-
GRAFTON by tho court and authorities, and
many good people actually express regret
that the man who attempted to shoot him
the other night had not taken better aim.
1t would at leas. have brought the whole
business 10 n close and set at rest all
fears of possible escape from justice
nl, n b., & n |. nm.
court room is crowded daily. many law.
yers and goodly number OF ladies being
among the spectators. The prisoners
sister, Mrs. Scoville, and his brother,
John Guiteau, of Boston, show plainly
how deeply they feel, and the sister fire.
quently bursts into tears.
Generui Butler is expected by Mr.. SEQ
vile to shortly come to his assistance in
Guiteau's defense, The General is now
here and it is said expects to spend
good part of the winter at the CAPITAL,
taking possession of lis fine house at
present occupied by Senator Jones and
President Arthur He is gooa liver and
the heartiest OF eaters, devouring an
enormous quantity Of meat, vegetables,
milk, coffee aud salads, at his four meals
a day. A chicken disappears before him
like nice tender partridge before a
Methodist preacher, He keeps a fine stock
of wines in his cellar for company, but
drinks only about tumblsr full of sher
ry at dinner. When he really wants
stimulating he takes glass Of
Jamaica rum, or the stattsmans drink,
brandy. He smokes cigars that are strong
enough to knock II marine over. Yet he
prides himself upon his temperate life, to
which he traces much of his prosperity
At table gathering recently where he
was host the conversation turned upon
good feeling as a basis for intellectual
work, and pending the brief drawn argu-
meuts passing 70 and fro q curious smile
curved over Buffers face, his deep ele-
phantine eyelids trembled with motion
enough to show gleam from the enig-
matical eyes beneath, and leaning back
from heavy meal, which seemed to dis
tend his whole body. he recited with most
comical effect. in view of his astonishing
appetite, the following:
al cannot cot but little meat,
My stomach is not good
But sure think that | can driak,
With him that wears a hood
Though 60 bare, take We no care,
nothing am a-eoid;
| stuff my skin so full within
Ofjolly good ale aud old"
There has been no time in years when
SO many changes in the higher grades of
Government offices seemed to be 10 pros
pect. Besides the entire Cabinet several
Of the bureau heads and other important
officials are likely to be changed. Com
missioner OF Patents Marble has already |
resigned. Commissioner Price will prob. !