St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-11-25

special dispatch telegraphed to the
Washington Post from Chicago, of the
discovery of a conspiracy of which Gui-
teau was a member, was entirely false.
"There is not word of truth in it," he
exclaimed, and he added, 81 come here
as the agent of the Deity in this bust
ness, not ON my hands and knees.
| That's the view | desire your honor to
take of that subject, and is one l sup
posed you did take" Judge Cox was
plainly annoyed and perplexed, but al
lowed the assassin to have his say out
and subside.
THE OPENING SPEECH.
District Attorney Corkhill opened
for the prosecution by IA brief argu-
ment. After graphically detailing the
events of the murder and of the prison
er's careful preparations for weeks in
advance, the district attorney contin-
ued: Crime is never natural. The
man who attempts to violate the laws
of God and society goes counter to the
ordinary course of human action. He
is against society, against organization,
and of necessity his action can never
be measured by the rules governing
men in the everyday transactions OF
life. No criminal ever violated the
laws who did not leave the traces OF
his crime distinct and clear, when once
discovered. So in this case we can
only add to the enOrmity of this Offense
by showing you its origin, its cOncep-
ton and the plans adopted for its exc
cution.
Mr.. Corkhill then read several let
tiers written to Secretaries Evarts and
Blaine, in which the prisoner urges his
claims to an appointment. He fire.
quently called upon Mr.. Blaine to press
his suit, and the secretary, becoming
wearied with his opportunities, order
ed him never to mention the subject to
him again. He thereupOn wrote to the
president, informing him of Mr.. Blaine's
statement, and saying he was satisfied
Mr.. Blaine was endeavOring to run the
state depart ment in the interest of hi:
own candidacy for the presidency il
1884, and appealing to the president
direct for an immediate order for his
appointment. During this time he
continued to visit the executive man
sion, and urged and insisted on an OPP
pOrtunity to see the president. Finally
1T became necessary, to avoid his pre-
sumptive intrusion, to prohibit his en-
trance into the White House. SOureC
and indignant at this treatment, disap
pointed and enraged, on the Odd o
May he wrote President Garfield a let
ter i'll which, in the light of the fearful
tragedy that followed, it needs no dis
corning eye to detect the threat of muir,
der. This is the first premOnitiOn o.
the conception of this crime. Thai
letter was the first indication that dis
appointment had turned his heart t.
malice, and that he had determined in
revenge to commit the crime will
which he stands charged. That letter
is remarkable one, remarkable as in.
dicating the motive that prompted this
terrible crime, remarkable as giving al
insight into the reasons that impelleC
this man to nerve himself up to a con.
dition to commit this deed.
Here the letter was read, demanding
Mr.. Blaine's removal because he was q
wicked, vindictive man. Then the at
torney went on to say Among the pa
pers left by this man for publication is
found one dated the 10th of June, 1881
in which he uses this significant Ian
guage: 81 conceived the idea of remOv.
ing the President four weeks ago" Sc
that the time he wrote that letter he
in effect said: 81 want my office. Mr.
Blaine stands in my way. | demand
his removal. If it is not done, ruin fol
you and your party will be the result
1t will be for you to consider whether
this was not as near threat of his de
termination to do this crime as he then
dared to make, with his knowledge OF
the law and the danger of exposure.
While the district attorney was
speaking, the prisoner assumed an all
of apparent Indifference and devoted
himself to the morning papers, sean.
ming them hurriedly. The argument
was delivered by Col. COrkhill very eff.
fectively, tears filling the eyes of many
i'll the audience, but the cOuntenance OF
the prisoner remained unchanged
Toward the close of the argument
however, he laid his newspaper aside
and leaned back in his chair, covering
his eyes with his hand, evidently en-.
deavoring to conceal the emotion
which he undoubtedly felt. He theI
drew package of manuscript from hi:
pocket and began writing in hurried
and nervous manner. The prisoner
constantly shook his head i'll approva
or disapproval of the statements made
in the arguments of Col. COrkhill. The
prisoners sister cried bitterly during
the argument. AS Mr.. COrkhill con
cluded there was long and continued
applause.
THE TESTIMONY BEGUN.
Secretary Blaine was called as thu
first witness, and was asked to give 1
narrative account of the shooting. He
spoke slowly, calmly and with mucl
gravity of manner, and his statement
clothed in graphic language, was lis
tened to in silence, which was Oppres
sive in its intensity. His testimony
contained nothing that has not beer
published. Corkhill then read Gui
teau's campaign speech and cores
pOndence.
The first step in the testimony is, o
course, to establish the fact of the HON
icide as matter of legal record. Tn,
defense do not try to contest this point
but direct inquiries with a view t,
shed light on the prisoners behavior
whether natural or strange. 1t wa
Mr.. ScOville's purpose, evidently, il
cross-examining Mr.. Blaine to SHOW
that intense political excitement pre-
vailed which unbalanced a mind natu
rally weak. He showed his inexperi
ence, however, in the task and did no
make the point as clearly as he intend
ed.
Senior COmachO, Charge d. Affairs from
| Venezuela took the stand waving hi
diplomatic privilege under instruction
from his government, and told hi
story of the shooting as he witnessed it