The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-11-08
duITEAu,S PAPERS.
Another Application Presented 10
the Court To-day,

inc court TOsuNys
When Justice Cox got seated on the
bench in the Criminal Court this morning,
he found standing before him, at the attor-
ncy's table, Mr.. George Scovillc, Of the
counsel for Charles j. Guitcau, indicted for
the murder Of President Garfield.
He said that he did not SEQ the District
Attorney in his seat, but there was matter
that he wished to speak of and felt could
not longer be delayed lie wished TO call
the attention of the Court TO the question
of p0stponcmcnt that had recently been
brought to the notice of tho Court by his
associate in the case. He had not so much
TO say on that point as the one In connection
with the possession Of certain papers, clip
pings, &C., that had been taken from CHI
teau ut the time Of his arrest.
His Honor said that Mr.. Robinson, ycs-
tcrday, had an interview with the District
Attorney, and found, after examining the
papers, that they were not such as he
wanted, or what he had supposed them
to he.
Mr. Scovillc answered that there were
some papers he believed to be Of service to
them. They desired to possess them, that
they might consult and have the benefit Of
the prisoners explanation in connection
with them. The question Of the custody
of the papers was properly correct. They
could receipt for them, or have steno-
gmphcr make copies Of them. There were
three classes Of papers that they wanted
The clippings from newspapers made by
the prisoner five or six weeks before the
shooting occurred. What they wanted
them for was to show the condition of the
mans mind before the shooting was done
10 show what influence operated upon him
prior TO the committing Of the act, Mt least
al ILL nf q - la
tcrs addressed TO Guitcau In person, they
wanted the printed circulars addressed to
him In common with all the people of the
United States that they might see their
contents, and try and discover what inilu-
ence those papers might have had upon
him.
Second. They wanted printed book be-
longing to the defendant, and taken from
him at the time of his arrest. He had been
informed that Guitcau had madc annota-
tions weeks before the shooting, and 1t was
desired to see what was the state of his
mind when this memoranda was written
and what he was thinking about. They
wished to examine the case in all its bear
ings, and sec il these matters would be
proper for them to produce in evidence.
There was another matter he would not
speak of If it could be helped and he re-
In his seat, rs he did not desire to make q
statement in his absence, but it could not
be avoided. A few days since letter was
written ut the Jail and addressed to the
speaker The warden brought it to his
residence, and he (Mr. ScOville) not being
there, placed it in the hands of the District
Attorney, and up to that time he had been
unable to get it. He insisted that under no
color of right was the District Attorney en-
titled to keep the letter from him.
His Honor said that he should think that
he was entitled to the letter, and, in re-
gard to the other letters, he would consult
and see what arrangement could be made.
In regard to an extension of time he
could not make further postponemcnt of
the trial, except on the consent of both
counsel. Much had already been done to
proceed at the time designated, and he did
not feel that he would be justified in grant
ing postponement.
When the court recOnvened after the
recess, District Attorney Corkhill appeared
in his place, and, gaining the attention of
the Judge, said that he understood that
Mr.. Scoville had that morning in court and
in his absence renewed his application for
the possession of certain papers found on
the assassin at the time he committed this
crime and when he was arrested. lie would
not concedc the right of the papers to any
one but himself. In regard to q private
letter addressed to Mr.. Scoville and said to
be in his possession coming through the
warden of the Jail, he would say that such
was not the fact. He had never received
the letter, and knew nothing about it.
lie would further say that Mr. Robinson
was informed in regard to the character of
the papers that he held, and that gentleman
said that they were not what he wanted, oil
supposed they were.
Mr.. Scovillc worked his way through the
crowd and stated to the Court that he would
present to-his honor in the morning the af-
fidavit of Warden Croker, which would
prove what he had said to be correct.