The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-11-09
GUITEAU,S LETTERS,
Mr. ScovilIc Fails TO Produce The
AnitInyit lie Promised Yesterday.


IL was expected that when tho Criminal
Court met this morning Mr.. George SEQ.
vile, of the counsel for Guiteau would
make good the declaration made yesterday
| to the judge that he would present an ani-
davit from the warden of the Jail to the
effect that he had delivered letter. nd
dressed to Mr.. Scoville, TO the District At
torncy, and which the latter had publicly
denied receiving.
This made n direct question of veracity
between the two gentlemen, and the cham :
Der held n good sprinkling of lawyers to
see the outcome of the tilt. Mr.. Scovillc
said that he had given notice to the Dis
tiict Attorney that he would present an
affidavit this morning in regard to certain
matter, and wished to say something in OK
PLANTATION ofthc course that he had pursued,
In order that there should be no doubt
about the matter. Mr.. Robinson,
on n former occasion, had stated
to the Court that since the arr,ignmcnt
Guiteau had written letter to Mr.. Scoville
and placed it in the hands of the warden.
That official being unable TO see the person
to whom the letter was addressed, placed it
in the hands of the District Attorney, who
refuses to deliver it up. When that state
mcnt was made in court by Mr.. Robinson
the District Attorney was present and did
lul utNy tHc lrulu VI ~. lHtTclOIt
he accepted it as fact. lie hid been
to the jail and seen the warden
and made an attempt TO procure the aili
davit. From some cause or other the
memory of the warden appeared to be very
defective and he could not swear TO such
statement being true. He believed that he
could express his view of the situation by
repeating saying that he learned when n
boy, You can bring horse to trough,
but you cannot make him drink" He
should let the matter rest until the time
of the trial, when witnesses on the stand
telling the truth and whole truth might
throw more light upon the matter.
District Attorney Corkhill said that he
had done all that he could, both publicly
and personally, to favor his brother Scovillc
since he has had any connection with the
case. Four or five times, and perhaps more,
had something been said about papers, es.
pecially those taken from Guitcau. lie
wished to say, as the officer of the law, that
these were evidences of the crime He was
entitled to possession of them and should
so hold. He had told Mr.. Robinson that
while they could not have the papers they
might look over them when they pleased.
He had some feeling over the statement
made by Mr.. Scovillc that he had taken
letter directed to that gentleman and
withheld it from him. Such was not the
fact. He had done nothing of the kind.
He had seen tho warden of the Jail and he
denied ever having given him such letter.
He had no letter of any kind or description
belonging to Mr. Scoville. Since the time
that gentleman had taken charge Of the de-
Tense the speaker had not seen Guiteau or
had any communication with him. Gen.
Croker was in court and he asked that the
warden be permitted to make statement
in regard to the matter.
Mr.. Scoville thought that it would be
time enough when the trial came on to
examine witnesses.
Col. Corkhill insisted that report had
been given out rejecting upon his honor,
and under which he did not propose to sit
and allow it to be taken for truth, when it
was not.
Warden Crockcr was then sworn, and
testified that he never received letter
from the prisoner addressed to Mr.. Scoville
that he delivered to the District Attorney,
or for any of the defendants counsel that
he gave to the District Attorney.
"Do you want to cross-eXamine the wit
?" inquired Col. Corkhill.
No, sir; we are not trying the Guitcau
case now" answered Mr.. ScOvillc. "The
proper time will come for taking this tcs-
timOny"