The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-12-08

tnat unoersbooo. Delty dld 1t all, and |
he did not want to discuss the point
any further. Question "Did you con-
template his removal otherwise than BY
murder?" Answer-"No sir (petulently), !
do not like the word murder 7 do not recol-
lect the actual facts in that matter (e1citedly) |
If I had shot the President of the United |
States on my own personal account no punish
ment would be too severe nor too quick for me,
but acting as the agent of the Deity, that puts |
an entirely different construction on the act, |
jury, and to opposing counsel. I say that the |
removal of the President was an act of |
necessity from the situation and for the good
OF the American people. That is the idea I |
want you to entertain. and not to settle down |
on the cold blooded idea of murder, because |
never had the first conception of murder in the |
matter" When asked il he did not know the |
act was contrary to human law, he repeated |
that he was blank on the idea of murder, and |
he expected the Lord to protect him.
I
duiteau resumed his testimony on the if. |
teenth day and gave indubitable evidence Of |
his sanity. Three medical experts, who had |
been called by the defense to prove the eprisoner
insane, have announced that his testimony has
changed their opinions, and that their former
opinion had been based upon false information,
and that they saw no evidence of insanity
which would justify them in declaring him not
responsible. The only medical men who will
testify to his insanity are class Of specialists
who are advocates of what Is known as "moral
insanity" which is not given much weight in
the courts, and is repudiated by the leading
medical men in this country and Europe.
Judge Porter, conducting the cross-examina-
ton, elected from, Guiteau the statement that
hysically he was coward, and always kept
away from personal danger morally he was as
brave as lion, when he thought the Deity
WAS back of him: In his opinion the doctors
killed the President. The acts Of Jones and
Mason, in attempting to kill him, were wrong,
and they ought to be punished unless they can
show that they were inspired by the Deity.
The witness soon showed signs of impa-
thence and excitability, and striking his
open hand upon the desk, empha-
sized every sentence uttered. When pressed
for answers he finally became obstinate, and
shouted To Judsa Portori- knotx you we'll
and know bigger men than You are. I've seen
yott shake your finger at witnesses In New York,
but you can't scarf met" and shortly after,
when asked if he believed In the Ten COM
mandments, to which he responded in the af-
firmative, and if he believed that the COM
mandment 'Thou shall not kill" ought to read
in his case sThou shall kill, he became e1-
ceedingly violent, and refused to discuss that
matter at all. There was no murder in his case,
and killing; it was simply for the jury to
determine whether or not his act in femov-
ing the President was inspired BY the
split hairs any longer over that word.
1t must be distinctly understood that the
removal of the President was the act of the
Deity. The witness proved decidedly obstinate,
and after fatty contradicting the testimony OF
General Logan, Colonel Reed and several other
witnesses, he positively refused to answer
several questions, his inSariabls response be.
ing 81 decline to discuss that point with you"
The witness admitted that he had said he pur-
chased ivory handle pistol because it would
look better when preserved in the State Depart
ment. Guiteau became very indignant at
Judge Porter's use of the word "murder,
and shouted fiercely "You seem to delight in
the use of the words skill and murder
There is no use of your whining in that way.
The outward fact of howl removed the Presi-
dent has nothing whatever to do with this case"
Guiteau stated that he would not have accepted
the Paris Counselship after the first of June
(tho time that he became inspired to remove
the President) had IL been offered to him.
| Judge Porter exasperated him until he fairly
squirmed in his seat, by his method of cross
| questioning. The prisoner was asked about the
| inspiration "of his suggestion to Garfield that
| he would succeed himself in 1884," To which
he replied: 81 decline to discuss this matter
| any further. You have gone over It two or
three times, and refuse to discuss 1t further"
| Counsel asked the prisoner the necessity Of re-
| questing Gen. Sherman to send troops to the
| Jail to protect him for having obeyed the
| Deity? Answer-''f would have been shot and
hung hundred times if it had not been for
| the troops at the jail Question" Any harm
| in that?" Answer-That is matter for
| will not have any more conversation
| with you on this sacred subject. You are
| making light of serious matter, and will not
talk about IT." Going back to the the
the prisoner stated that Gar6eld's nominal
/ ton, election and "removal2" were acts of
| God, and then asked, "Who nominated him ?"
Answer-"The Chicago Conventions" Ques-
| tion-"Was that inspiredY" The prisoner
hesitated, and seemed about to dodge the .ques-
ton, when Porter stopped him with an impa-
| tient, SHOW, now, now" Answer-(mock-
| ingly)-"Now, now, now. l thought Grant
or Blaine would be nominated, but when Gar
field was nominated on the thirty-sixth ballot
| it was the act of God. The facts surrounding
| his election would sustain the position that IL
| was the act of God, and the facts surrounding
| his removal would sustain the same position" !"
The prisoner complained Of being fatgued,
| saying he was not used to speaking i've hours
at time, and the Court adjourned.
uThe cross-examlnatlon or Gutteau was con-
cluded on the sixteenth day of the proceedings,
and Judge Porter's mastery way of handling
the witnesses excited the admiration Of the
bar. Judge Porter clearly showed that the
plot to murder the President was premeditated
and deliberate, and that it was the result OF
malice and revenge. When the terrible question
was asked him by Judge Porter, "Do you think
that you are insanep' Guiteau hesitated, cast
bis eye to the ground, and said his relatives
thought SO, but finally would only say, Here
are the experts, ask them" He never once
resented the imputation of insanity, or scorned
the idea that the Deity should employ an in
sane agent for such lofty purposes. Before the
process Of testifying was begun, Guiteau said
"I desire, Judge Porter, to state to you and
the Honorable Court that decline to answer
nj AZ
we have already been over" Guiteau ac-
knowledged that one of his purposes for Gre
moving the President WAS to create . demand
for his book, which was to preach the gospel.
He said the Lord never selected fools to 90 n bus
work and he Cwitness) was no fool. "The
Lord has taken care of me" he added. 81
have neither been shot nor hung" "And you
did not expect to be-" querried Judge Porter,
to which Guiteau replied, al decline to
discuss that matter With you. I had nc
thought on the snbject, leaving it all to Diety. "
The witness repeatedly refused to answer
questions and finally appealed to the Court
for protection. Judge Porter said: ~ have
not attempted to force reply from you, MIR.
Guiteau. II you will allow the jury to under
stand that you refuse to answer, it will suit my
purpose Just as we'll" Guiteau then said
"Well, what was your question, Judge?" K
which Judge Porter asked if his entrance and
departure from the Oneida Community wer'
inspirations. Guiteau said he would not dis
cuss the matter. Judge Porter then produced
Guiteau's. book "Truth, and comparing par
agraph after paragraph, with book written b.
John F. Noyes, of the Oneida Community
showed that the ideas were similar throughout
and Guiteau struggled desperately to explain
away his palpable plagiarism. letter ad
dressed by Guiteau to the Oneida Communit,
was then read, in which the writer confesse'
his love for, and subsection to, John F. Noye
and the Oneida Community. Several othe
letters written by Guiteau about the time b
left the Oneida Community were then place
in evidence, identified by Guiteau, ant
read. One Of them addressed to the com
munity sets forth the writer's repentance TO
, his characterization, and contained . confes
sion that he had acted "under the influence o
his own self-willed, conceited, and fanatics
disposition" Guiteau insisted, in spite o
warnings, In making his explanations as tn
reading progressed. 81 was elbowing my Wa
, out of the community then," said the witness