Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-15
TRIAL or cUlTEAU
8 No Crowd or Excitement.
Guiteau's Appearance--A Rough
Audience.
Five Jurymen Chosen and the Panel
Exhausted.
The Prisoners Attempt to Read a
Speech.
Declares He is. Trying His Own
Case.

supreme court rooIn- To-Day, Wien the tIiai VI
Charles J. Guitear began, there was hardly
any excitement outside, and no very great
pressure to gain admission. As soon as the
public door was opened, the spectators seats
were Immediately filed, for the most part
| with crowd of young men, including many
| who would come under the designation OF
roughs. tramps and cranks. Some half dozen
ladies we're among the crowd. District At
torney Corkhill, Mr.. Potter of New York,
and Dayidge of Washington. for the prosecu-
ton. Scoville and Leigh Robinson for the de-
! fence were present Smith was present to
represent the Attorney General. Mrs. ScO-
vile, a matronly lady attired in black, &C.
cupes seat close to her husband, having
her brother, John w. Guiteau, on one side
| of her and on the other side was vacant
chair reserved for her other brother, the
prisoner.
| Judge Cox entered, the court was declared
formally opened. Immediately thereafter
the prisoner, Guiteau, was brought into the
court room by the marshal and his deputies.
| He looked in much better condition, phys
icalIv and otherwise, than when he last ap-
peared to plead to the indictment; still he
had the same. restless. furtive expression as
| haunted wolf, which characterized him be-
| fore. He was at once relieved of his hand
cuffs and took his seat behind his sister. One
| of his first movements was to thrust one OF
his hands into his pocket and half take out
roll of paper. Scovlle. however. in dumb
play ordered him to put it back. He did so.
| Then the District Attorney rose and declared
| the readiness of the prosecution to proceed
with the case. Robinson then rose to make
| his plea for still more time to prepare for the
defence which appeared not to meet the ap-
prevail of Guiteau. All the time Robinson
was speaking Guiteau was carrying on what
appeared to be a reEonstrance with ScOvllle,
| who was apparently trying to quiet and sup
press him.
| Corkhil, as soon as the court was called to
order, stated that the government was ready
to proceed with the trial. Robinson
rose and said that when he had been assigned
to this case neither of the eminent counsel
now assisting in the prosecution had been re-
tanned by the government. In the time re-
ferred to, also gentleman in Chicago had
been expected to assist the defence.
Shortly afterwards it had been stated that
he would not be able to be present.
The presence of able counsel whose SER
vices the government had been able to COM
| mand. whatever other advantages it might
possess, did not make him, Robinson, feel
more satisfied with the condition of the de-
| fence. 1t would be truly remarkable if he
| were not very sensible of the great disparity
of force which had been created by the addi-
| ton to the prosecution. A few days ago,
His Honor had been kind enough to express
| his regrets that he had not been at liberty to
| accede to his request for an extension Of
| time. and had suggested that he could as
sign the defence additional witnesses. As
soon as it had been in his power, he had
sought aid of such additional counsel. He
concluded with further statements and ar
\ IN NJ pOsfpOunmpuf Owing
to the opposition of Scoville and the prison.
er to the application of Robinson for the ex.
tension of the time. the Court stated that for
the present case he should proceed far at
least as swearing of the jury was concerned,
that then he would consider the question of
| the extension.
| About eleven, the work of obtaining jury
begun, the three who first presented them
selves being disqualified, two on the ground
| that they had formed fixed opinions on the
| case, and the other on the ground that he
had conscientious scruples on the subject of
capital punishment In examining jurors,
Scoville went over a large range of ques-
tons, inquring as to their religious aud po-
litical belief Up to twelve, the defence
peremptorily challenged one juryman, and
two were sworn in.
At one O'Clock, five jurors were obtained
and sworn. Their names and occupations
are as follows: John p. Harlin, restaurant
keeper; !. Fred NJ. Brandenberg, cigar maker !;
Charles G. Stewart, -four and feed dealer (;
Henry J. Bright, retired from business, and
Chas. II. Lonely grocer. The panel was
exhausted after five jurors were obtained,
and at the suggestion of the District Attor-
ney, an order was issued for drawing IS adj
ditional names from the box. The prisoner
at this point arose and informed the Court
hat ha 10 b.
row forenoon, but he was ordered by the
Court to take his seat.
He then passed the manuscript of his
speech to a newspaper reporter, but before
the latter could leave the court room SEQ
vile called him back and compelled him to
return it. This raised the anger of the pris
oner, who excitedly declared that he not
under the control of his counsel that he was
a lawyer and knew the law himself. and that
when he wanted help he would ask for it, and
that he desired his speech to be published
for the purpose Of influencing the public. He
was again sienced by the court, and it
having been agreed that the sttings should
be from 10 to daily, allowing half an hour
for a recess, the court at TO- 80 adjourned At
the conclusion of Mr.. Robinsons remarks,
Guiteau rose excitedly and demanded to be
heard in his owl defense. Robinson tried tn
stop him, but his client angrily waved him
away, saying keep still, l am trying this
case myself" and he then attempted to read
his speech, but the Judge said this was not
the time. Col. Corkhill then rose and op-
posed the motion for delay. Guiteau wa.
very restless and during Robinson's tenn
porary absence leaned over to Scoville and
banging his clenched fists together said this
sort of thing had got to stop. l only want a
lawyer for technical points. l am managing
this thing myself. and told Robinson did
not want him to make such a speech. Scoville
said nothing. Guiteau subsequently held an
excited colloquy with Robinson. Mr.. SEQ
vile rose and said he should oppose the
motion, he didn't favor delay, and remark
ed that Robinson's course was extraordinary.
He had not been consulted, and protested
against the delay. Guiteau rose excitedlv
and said. 81 endorse every word of that. I
told Robinson that if he didn't do this thing
as wanted it done, he could get of the case =
As Robinson was about to rise. Guiteau said
Il don't want to hear any more speeches
from Robinson in the matter, until he gets
authority from me to talk The Deputy
Marshal hear seized Guiteau from behind
and forced him into his chair Guiteau hastily
said. You let alone. Please mind your bu-
siness- The Judge intimated that he might
be willing to postpone the case one week,
L. lN.~-a