Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-12-08
THE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.

owing to the antics OF the prisoner, who IS
permitted by the court to indulge to the full
est extent of his inclination the vagaries of
mdaman or one who similates insanity with
the adroitness of an expert, and by his unpar-
ralleled egotism in the ''dual capacity of coun-
sci and prisoner, he seems to have captured the
whole court and is master of the situation
saying whatever he chooses, and answering
questions of counsel or not, as the notion suits
him.
The following is an outline of his direct
examination on Wednesday of last week:
lie was questioned as to the religious
tenetS of the Oneida Community and said he
had the same belief us was entertained at the
community, and also stated what was the be-
lief of the community. He then gave his eX-
periences of the past four years, howhe tramp
ed around trying to lecture and sell his book.
lie also gave account of his visits to the
White House and the State Department in
search of a consulship, and related how he re-
ceived the inspiration to remove the President
On being quest toned by Mr.. Scoville as to his
experience with special providenceS, he said ::
| have always believed most decidedly in
special prOvidences. There are four distinct
times in my life when l claim special inspi-
ration: First, when l went to the Oneida
community; second, when left the cOmmu-
nifty to go to New York to establish I; Theo-
cratic paper to be the organ of the Deity in
this world third, when left good law bust
ness in Chicago to go out lecturing and work
ing for the Lord. The fourth claim special
Divine authority when ! attempted to remove
the President. These are four distinct times
when claim inspiration. had abundant eV-
idence of the Lords protection all the time
was on theology lecturing around the country.
Two or three times l came near meeting Sc
rious accidents, but the Lord sparedme. Since
have been in Jail have been shot at three
times and missed.
Q. What special occasion before you were
arrested were you protected by special Provi-
dence.
A. l think the preservation of my life at
Newark was one when 1 jumped from the
train which was going thirty-tive miles an
hour. Another when was on the St0nangton,
when we were all in momentary expectation
of going down. l want to say right here that
my idea is this : The first thing is that the
Deity will protect me. My idea is that He is
using these men, soldiers, jury, experts, coun-
sci and court, to serve Him and protect me.
That is my idea about Divine protection. The
Lord is no fool, and when lie has anything to
do He uses the best means he can to carry out
His purpose During all this speech the pris-
oner showed much excitement and pounded
| the rail of the witness stand vigorously with
his hand while he spoke with great rapidity OF
utterance.)
Q. Had you any ill-feeling against the Pres.
ident ?
A. Decidedly not l considered him as my
political and personal friend. never had the
slightest ill-will toward Gen. Garfield in any
shape. simply executed what 1 considered
the Divine will for the good of the American
people, to unite the two factions of the Repub-
lican party and prevent another war.
My opinion, he continued, has never changed
as to the necessity of the act. undertake to
say that the people of this country, when they
know that another war has been prevented,
instead of saying, 'Guiteau, the assassin, y
will some of these days say, "Gulteau, the pa
| triot.''
| G. What was your idea as to the removal OF
| the President ?
A. 1t was established in my mind about the
| 1St of June, and I never doubted from that
moment to this about the divinity of the act
and the necessity of it.
Q. Were you in your right mind
A. was under a great pressure, and that is
why looked gaunt and thin. 1 could not eat
well. l was ground and ground, and pressed
and pressed, and 1 could get no relief until it
was actually done. felt greatly relieved when
felt so happy for weeks as L did when I was
in the cell on the I'd of July, and 1 thanked
God that it was all over.
The witness was asked why he expected aid
from Bennett, of the New York Herald He
replied that it was purely on moral cOnsidera-
tiOns. He had no legal claim on the Herald,
and would not press it if he had.
Had you political reasons for not pressing
your suit against the Herald
Yes, but they are rather remote. have had
an idea in my head for twenty years that l
should he President of the United States. l
suppose people think that am badly cranked
about that. l had that idea in the Oneida
community. l went to Boston with the dis
tinct feeling that l was on the way to the
White House, and I shall make it yet.
A laugh spread through the audience at this
prediction. Tojudge from the prisoners man
nerand tone he was decidedly in earnest in his
belief
If am ever President, continued the wit
ness, it will be by the act of God. I shall get
the nomination as Lincoln and Garfield did,
and shall be elected as they were. I antici-
pate decided change of public opinion in re-
gard to me.
The direct examination of the prisoner closed
and the croSS-eXaminatiOn was commenced by
Mr.. Porter, who put his questions to the pris-
oner with great solemnity of manner. After
being asked about his life with the Oneida
Community he was cross examined in regard
to his business as lawyer in Chicago and New
York His answers were not important or
striking.
On Thursday the cross examination of Gui-
teau was commenced by Judge Porter Of New
sc fo,. +l,n
began rapid fire of interrogatories, eliciting
from the prisoner that he was PHI ysically a
coward, and always kept away from personal
danger. Morally he was brave as Il lion.
when he thought the Deity was back of him.
The Deity influenced him to remove the PreSi-
dent. In his opinion the doctors killed the
President, not he. 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 impatience
and eXcitability, and striking his open hand
upon the desk, emphasized every sentence ut
tered when pressed for answers. He finally
became obstinate and shouted to Judge Porter,
IL know you well and | know bigger men
than you are. I've seen you shake your finger
at witnesses in New York, but you can't scare
me )" and shortly after, when asked if he be-
licved in the Ten Commandments to which lie
responded in the affirmative, and he believed
that commandment ''Thou shall not KILL"
ought to read in his case "Thou shalt kill"
he became exceedingly violent and refused to
discuss that matter at all There was, lie
said, no murder in his case and no killing.
1t was simply for the jury to determine wheth-
er OF not his act in removing the President
was inspired by the Deity or not. 1t was all
nonsense to split hairs any longer over that
word. 1t must be distinctly understood that
the removal of the President was the act OF