The Ottawa free trader., 1881-11-19
WASHINGTON ITEMS.


President Garfield, commenced before Judg
Dodge of the District Court on Monday. Th
principal prosecutor is Elihu Root, of New
York, selected for the purpose by the Presi
dent assisted by Judge j. X. Porter, w. D
Davidge, and district attorney Corkhill. Mr.
Scoville, for the defense, is assisted by Gen
Henkle and Mr.. Robinson, of Washington
Mr. Scoville has obtained orders for and sum
moned seventy five witnesses at the govern
ment expense, through whom of course his
main object will be to prove the prisoners in.
sanity. The bearing of Guiteau, whether
natural or put on, has thus far been strongly
to favor the hypothesis Of insanity, being rest.
less, noisy, insisting on addressing the court
when there is no call for it, and insisting on
the right to dismiss his attorneys and conduct
his own defense. This last gives the judge no
little trouble, for If Guiteau Is not insane, his
right to defend himself is clear and indispu,a.
BILE; and if he is insane, of course he is not
guilty and there is no need of trying him.
Thus far the proceedings of the court have
been mainly taken up IN securing jury, two
panels of seventy.flve each having been ex.
hausted before the necessary twelve could be
obtained. These, however were found by Wed
nesday evening, and on Thursday the case was
opened for the prosecution in all impressive
speech by district attorney Corkhill, after
which the rest of the day, as well as part Of
yesterday, was taken up by hearing the testi-
mony of Secretary Blaine, who narrated the
incidents surrounding the assassination, and
was cross-questioned by the defense as to the
political excitement created by the resignation
OF Conkling and Plat
In spite OF the check met by the govern
ment in the prosecution of the star route cases,
by the quashing of the information filed in
the case, 1t has been decided, by consultation
between Postmaster General James, Col. w.
A. Cook and Hon. Geo. Bliss, to go on with the
prosecutions. Itwas agreed that quashing the
information was of little consequence except
to settle the point that all grave offenses must
be acted upon by the grand jury and the
cases will be pushed forward, Notwithstanding
the vacancy in the attorney generalship. BY
the way, the attempt of the star reuters to
blame McVeagh for the failure of the gov
ernments first effort to prosecute them, looks
ridiculous enough. AT the outset they blus.
tered boldly about their innocence, and de-
nanded only an opportunity to vindlcste
themselves When Mcveagh, however, by
fling the information, gave them that oppor-
tunity, instead of joyfully accepting it, they
virtually confessed their guilt by strenuously
working to have the information quashed,
that that would end the case
McVeagh has finally succeeded in getting
the president to accept his resignation as attor-
ney general, and has gone home. The depart
ment will remain in charge of Solicitor Gen
eral Phillips until new appointment Is made
1t Is said that no less than five prominent
republican representatives have opened gro.
ceres" or headquarters at Washington and
entered upon canvass for the speakership.
The indications, however, are strong that there
will be deadlock IN the house, both sides |
being so evenly divided that everything will
be at the mercy of the petty greenback faction
Or the grasplng readjuster members.