Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-03


People.
WASHINGTON, December 2.-Guiteau ar
rived at the court house about nine o'clock
and ate hearty breakfast. He seemed to
be feeling In good spirits. His remarkable
self esteem and egotism never for one in
slant fail him, and bis perfect confidence in
verdict favorable to himself is appar emily
unshaken. at 1905 O'Clock, after the usual
appeal from Marshal Henry for order in the
court room, court was opened, and The
prisoner was placed IL the witness box.
Guiteau maneged at his papers for q mo-
ment and then said: 81 desire, Judge For-
ter, to state to Ecp sud tie ccuKt. thst de-
cline TO answer any more questions that are
mere repetitions OF what We have already
been oyer.n
Judge Porter Immediately refumed his
cross examination with the question: "Was
one OF your purposes In removing the
President TO create q demand for your
book 81
ayes sir; with the modification that is
was to preach the Gospel" The witness
regarded his book as collateral for the Cos
pel-in other words, the Gospel brought
down TO the present time. The witness
soon became excited, and gesticulating
wildly insisted on his inspiration and that
the Lord has selected him TO do the work.
He was no fool. The Lord never selected
fools to do His work. He had inspired him
to remove GaTfeld-and left him (witness)
to use his own judgment in selecting the
means.
Several letters written by Guiteau were
read, and the witness interrupted reading
several times to make explanations. His
cross-examination was resumed, and in an
swer to the question, 'Are you insane at
all?n Guiteau replied, "I'm not an expert.
Let the experts and the jury de-
eide that" Being pressed for his
opinion the witness declined to an
sWer, and he was then subjected to a
rapid series OF questions and began to ex-
hibit great irritabilitY and anger. On being
asked If he laid in wait for the President in
an alley by night he said: "Now that you
are on that I'll give you little news. IIl
tell you what occurred that evening, July
1st.m He then detailed his movements
dent and Mr.. Blaine emerge from
the house OF the latter and walk down
Fifteenth street. He became furiously ex-
cited, and plunged into q wild hsrangue,
denouncing Mr.. Blaine as a bold, wicked,
designing man, who wanted to ruin the Re-
publican party IN revenge for being
slaughtered bY the political conventions,
and, striking the desk with considerable
violence, he shouted: "Yes, sir, and in my
opinion Blaine is morally responsible for
the death of Garfield '
A recess was taken for one hour.
After recess, Judge Porter put some Ques-
tions as to the occurrences of the 18th OF
June, when the prisoner RETAINED from
shooting the President on account Of Mrs.
Garfeld's presence, and finally asked:
''It Mrs. Garfield had been with the Presi-
dent on the 2d Of July, would you have shot
him ?"
"No; should not have shot him in her
presence. l did not know what the effect
might be on her."
"Then it depended entirely on your
will ?"
opportunity"
Judge Porter then inquired why he would
not have shot in Mrs. Garfeld's presence.
Prsoner-If your head is so thick that
you can't get an idea In 1t, won't try to
pound it in. Don't ask your questions in a
mean, sickly sort of a way.
Judge Porter pressed his question, where
upon the prisoner quietly took up a paper
and, adjusting his eyeglasses, began to
read, paying no attention whatever to
counsel.
Porter-What are you reading?
Prisoner without raising his eye)-I am
glancing over the New York Herald.
Porter-Don't you think that the time OF
the court and jury Is OF some value?
PIisoner-Not In the way you are fnterro-
eating on this matter. Il has been dis
cussed and repeated over and over again:
The prisoner settled himself back in his
chair to have quiet read.
Scoville here interposed In support of
Guiteau's objection to repetition. After
some discussion between counsel the cross
examination was resumed and directed to
the events of the morning of July ID. The
prisoner after he was started on this sub
ject went ahead, and when Judge Porter
attempted to ask q question he was told to
keep quiet. The prisoner then proceeded
with his story as follows: Blaine and the
President drove upin single hor; e carriage,
and not in the White House carriage, which
showed how much the President was under
Blaine's influence. Blaine was blowing and
blowing, and the President was listening.
They were on the most intimate relations.
Blaine got out of one side of the carriage
and Garfield out Of the other. They walked
into the depot, and passed within a few
feet of the prisoner, who drew his weapon
and fred twice and hit him once.
Olestion-You shot him in the back
Answer did not FIRE at sny particular
place.
Q Did you not fire for the hollow of his
back.
Any intention was to shoot him in the
back.
Odd you think thst II be got two balls
in his back it would remove him?
Al thought SO.
Q-And you intended to put them there ?
Al did.
Q. Gn solemn manner)-And from that
hour to this you have never felt regret or
remorse?
Al regret giving pain or trouble to any
one, but have no doubt as to the necessity
Of the act or the divinity of the act.
Q-You have never limited at any re-
morse?
Any mind is perfect blank on that
subject
Q-Do you feel any more remorse about
rendering his wife widow and his children
fatherless than about breaking the leg OF
Al have on conception Of it as murder
or killing.
Q.-And you feel no remorse?
A. Qa low and almost inaudibie tone)
# course feel a remorse so far as my
personal feelings are concerned. / feel re.
morse as much as any man, and regret
the necessity OF the act, but (raising his
voice..
Judge Porter-The cross examination is
closed.
HBut." continued the prisoner excitedly,
s'my duty to the Lord and the American
people overcame my personal feelings. IL
the Lord had not inspired that act 1t would
not have been done"
Mr.. Scoville then proceeded with the re-
direct examination, apparently seeking to
remove the impression created by the con-
clusion of the cross examination. Guiteau
then left the stand and the other witnesses
were called, most of whom did not respond.
The court then adjourned.
weather Indications.
OFFICE CHIEF SIGNAL OBSERVER, WASH
rreroE, d. G., December 2.-Indicattons
for Saturday: