The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-30
THE PRISONER As A WITNESS.
ne IN Reluctant 60 Testify for Fear OF
His Defence Being Developed by
Cross-Examination.
lie FINALLY BEGINS HIS STORY.
Curious Revelations Of Cncckcrcd
Lifc-Many OF Guiteau's let
tcrs Read in Evidence.

, O'Clock this morning far surpassed in
numbers that OF any previous day. The
doors were beSieged, and the policemen
had great difficulty in preventing q forcibe
ingresS into the courtroom, which was
already filed 10 its utmost capacity. The
regulations which have formerly been so
successful in admitting without difficulty
those persons who have business in the
courtroom were this morning of no utility,
and the Judge. counsel, and experts had 20
fight their way through.
The following is from the Stars report
OF the trial:
The prisoner was brought i'm and spent
the time consumed by the opening formali-
ties talking with his brother and sister.
Mr.. Scoyille, rising, SAID he wanted to
OH up blank in the evidence of yesterday
by showing the record OF the death OF
Francis W. Guiteau at the Bloomingdale
Asylum. DIR. Nichols, he said, had forgot
ten TO bring the record, but john W. Gui-
teau had n copy Of it. He asked John
Guiteau to stand up. Mr.. Guiteau stood
up in his place 10y The defcncc-table and
produced the record, which he had copied
ut the asylum. After some discussion as TO
the admissibiity Of this copied record, the
District Attorney said there would be no
dispute rs to the death OF Francis Guiteau
in the insane asylum and his insanity. The
matter was then dropped.
GUITEAU on THE WITNESS STAND.
Mr.. Scoville then said: "Thc prisoner
will take the Stand.' This was an an
nounccment waited for with great interest.
and when made il created q little ripple OF
excitement. The prisoner was conducted
10 the stand, where he sat down, resting on
his elbows on the edge OF the box. There
WAS a strong guard, making complete
wall, posted behind him. When the pIi-
soner had become composed in his new
place, in which he seemed TO be considers
bly, agitated. Mr.. ScOyille, standing up
near the table of the prosecution, said
"You may state your earliest recollections
Of your mother"
HE OBJECTS TO GIVING HIS TESTIMONY AT THIS
TINE.
The prisoner hesitatcd moment, look
ing first at Judge Cox and then al Mr.. SEQ
vile.
"Do understand" he said, " that am
TO 20 on the stand as 4 regular witness
now? | understood that | was only to
identity some papers. ! do not care to 70
on rs regular witness TO be croSs-eXam-
ined at this stage OF the case. There are
other witnesses TO be examined"
Mr.. Scovile explained TO the Court that
the prisoner was not very well.
Il think probably in the course OF
week or two" said the prisoner, "that |
will feel better and can go on the stand.'
Mr.. Scovile insisted that he must go ON
with the examination.
"You ought to have notified me-" said
the prisoner rather emphatically; "when
| 90 on the stand / want TO 20 over this
whole business carefully and scientin-
cally."
Mir. ScoviIle said he would make the eX-
animation easy, and ask only few ques-
tons.
GUITEAU WILLING TO TESTIFY II HE WAS NOT
TO BE CROSS-EXAMINED.
81 am willing TO answer, providing the
prosecution do not take advantage OF my
nosition TO cross-eXaminc me and bring out
my whole defence
Judge Porter said that whenever the
prisoner was examined that the prOsecu-
tion OF course would claim the right to
croSs-cXamine. lie suggested that Mr..
Scoyille might avoid any dilemma at pre-
sent bv reading the letters which were
identified by the prisoner last evening.
Mr.. ScOyile said il the prisoner became
exhausted he would suspend and read the
letters.
81 don't want to be forced on the stand
to state my defence just at this Time" pro-
tested the prisoner
The Court said, in reply TO a question OF
the prosecution, that the eXaIDlnation OF
the witness could not be interrupted in the
midst OF continuous narrative without
consent OF the prosecution.
~ want the. Court TO state" SAID the
prisoner, turning to Judge Cox, "whether
/ am to be forced to go on and state my
whole defence now. j want your llonor's
ruling on that"
The Court said again that unless the
prosecution assented TO il the examination
Of the witness could not be interrupted.
and the only way to escape eross-eXamlna-
ton was TO suspend the entire examination.
u desire to have it suspended" said the
prisoner. u don't feel very well, and
haven't for several days."
THE PRISONER HAS HIS WAY.
Mr.. Scoville then put an end 10 the col
loquy by saying, II will read the letters,
then"
u don't think" said the prisoner, 81
should be forced on the stand at all at TINS
time"
"You are not obliged TO testify at ALL"
said Judge Cox; "but il you do testify
you must, OF course, submit to cross-eX-
animation
TUE PRISONER OBJECTS TO BEING TOO CON
sPICUOUS.
Mr.. Scoyille, taking the bundle OF letters
identified by the prisoner yesterday,
walked through the crowd to the witness
stand. Having adjusted his spectacles, he
began TO arrange the letters. The prisoner
meanwhile became restless. He evidently
did not like his conspicuous place in the
courtroom. "lf the Court please" he
said. 81 would like TO retire to my old
seat. IL will take him mOtioning to Mr..
scoyille) an hour or two"
THE READING OF GUITEAU's LETTERS.
The prisoner was then escorted back to
his seat at the table, and for convenience OF
facing the jury Mr.. Scov'lle stepped mo
fbe witness stand. He spread the letters
ont ON the ledge OF the box in front of him.
The first few letters read were dated at
Chicago in the fall and winter OF 1891 ana
the early months OF 1858. They were adj
dressed TO the prisoners father, aud there
was nothing especially noticeable in them
os indicating any ecccntricity OF mind.
Gufeau was then boarding with his sister,
Mrs. Scoville, and attending business col
lege in Chicago. \ great part OF his let
fers was taken up with detailed statements
Of his expenses. An item which appeared
I'm nearly every letter was underclothlnS.
The prisoner at that time seemed 10 have
an infatuation for undertaking.
THE PRISONER COMMENTS on THE LETTERS
During the reading OF the letters the
prisoner made few explanatory remarks.