Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-24
JUDGE PORTER.
A Magnificent Argument In Behalf
of the Government.
An Immense Jam-Guiteau's Screed-A
Beggar, Hypocrite, Robber, aSwind-
Ter, Adulterer and Calculating,
-Blo0ded Murderer.
ScATHING RESUME OF GuITEAU'S LIFE.


at least were besieging every avenue OF
approach Members of the press counsel
and court officers, found the greatest
difficulty in forcing their way through the
immense throngs that blocked up every
passage way. Even holders of special
tickets were, in many instances, unable
to get near enough to the policemen and
bailiffs to show them. When the doors
closed, one thousand people were left cut
side.
As soon as the court opened Guiteau
made the following announcement: |
spent-yesterday examining my mail. l
had several hundred letters, many of them
from ladies, and some were very tender. l
desire TO express my thanks to the ladies'
for these kind and tender letters. One
letter suggests that General Arthur give
me
Now, want to say / would not take any
office from President Arthur, and, under
the circumstances, don't think 1t would
be proper that should accept one. Now,
in regard to Judge Porter, want to say as
to his closing OF the case, if he attempts TO
mislead the court or jury, and my coun-
sci will stop him. He came in to this case
under O misapprebension on the part of
General Arthur; otherwise he would not be
in the case. He don't properly represent
the government, he only represents him.
self.
Judge Porter entered the Court room
shortly before the prisoner had delivered
himself of this warning, and after q mo-
ment's delay he stepped to the open space
before the Jury, and in tones which clearly
betrayed his weakened condition, began
The Closing Argument.
Said Judge Porter: If it please your
of m
own infirmity, for ! share your fatigue,
proceed, as best ! can, to discharge my
duty. The nature of this duty is such that
| should feel that | were almost accessory
after the fact, if should fail TO speak such
words as | can to aid you in reaching
proper conclusion. Thus far the trial has
practically been conducted by the prisoner
and Scovillc. Every one has been de-
nounced ut their will, and even now ] am
informed | will be interrupted by them
both. =.
disorder, the abuse and SANDER To which
every one upon the case had for two months
been subjected, and yet he said Of the three
speecbes which had been made by the de-
fence, will do the prisoner the justice to
saw that his was least Objectionable.
After sketching the circumstances lead
ing up to the crime, and painting with
feryid language The
banning wickedness
of its execution, Judge Porter turned his
attention to the prisoner, and proceeded TO
| depict his character in the following terms:
A beggar, a hypocrite. a robber and swim
| dler. A lawyer who never won case. No
court no jury failed to see in him dls-
| honest rogue, and such men can't win
causes. He has left his trail of infamy in
WI "a
| LAWYER, had such notions of morality that
when he had taken debts to collect, and
| collected them by dogging the debtor, he
| held them agalust his client--a man who
| was capable Of biHsting tire uJme OF q
| woman with whom he had slept for years,
| and still recognized as his wife-a man
| who, when he tired of this woman, pre-
| tending TO be christian and believer OF
| the bible, looked in the book and read,
sIhou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
| and then went out and deliberately conf
| mitted adultery with n street-waker-a
| man who pushed himself into the fellow
| ship Of christian association rs follower
| of the Savior when fresh frnm six years Of
fornication in the Oneida Community.
Guiteau-That lie ought to choke you.
AS Porter proceeded with resiStless tor.
rent Of denunciation and inycctiye, the
| prisoner OCCdslOHulil 'IilVu pu'' na' 30 !"
| lie, That's absolutely false or That IS
not So"
Public justice demanded thai the assassin
should never leave the dock save in the
| shackles OF q sentenced ielcn. He who
| SHARED no one should not be spared. He
spared not the good Garfield; lie spared not
| tie loving wife who had once saved her
| husbands life; he spared not the loving
mother upon whose lips had rested on the
| 4th of March last the kissing lips which
| had Just before rested on the book OF God.
This Vile Wretch
| had he been free and urshacklel, had he
| thought insanity plea that would save
him, had he had a bull iog in his hand, he
would have shot ballet through Judge Cox
when he refused. To permit him to speak,
would have put bullet through Dayidge
when he was denouncing him as n murder
er. He wanted to Know whether 'on the
day Juror Hobbs lost his wife, when his
home..was darkencd with shadow Of death,
he would not. had il served his purpose,
have shot Hobbs then and there, not from
i'll to him, but from good will 10 himself.
Had he not, on one occasion, Threatened
one of the jury with removal by that God
who he claimed rs partner?
Passing in review the principa! events OF
| the prisoners life, Judge Porter showed
up, in all its
Hideous Deformity,
| the infamous bent Ot his nature. Allud-
| ing to the dispute with his brother, John
| W. Guiteau in Boston, when he struck the
| latter in the face, Judge Porter said this
vas.the first and last time this coward ever
| struck any blow in the face. His coward
| ly hand always struck from behind. After
| showing who and what was the murderer,
| Judge Porter next described his victim,
paying glowing tribute 10 the character
and services Of the lamented President,
| and pronouncing most touching euiogy,
as il were, upon his memory. The claims
| OF the prisoner 10 be praying man, were
then considered, and the
Hollow Mockery
! Of the claim shown.
Guiteau angrily shouted-1 pray every
night and morning, and before every meal
\ II you did thessame you would be better
man. You wouldn't be here looking for
| blood money.
'The prisoner says he prayed for six
weeks. Why, il he had made up his mind
unalterabIy To murder the President on
the first OF June" said Judge Porter, did
he still continue 10 pray down to the very
| act of the MURDER
| Guiteau-l prayed 10 see II the LORD
| wou!dnt let me Off from killing him.
What Vas he praying for, continued Por-
| ter. The man who.claimed TO have receiy-
| ed divine inspiration, himself prepares his
| defence in advance for an act, to do which
he was
Diyineiy Inspired.
| The believer in inspiration, he wound him
| self alter the inspired book and substitute
| for it book OF his own. That he did not
| shoot the President on the first occasion, "
| said Judge Porter. was due TO his coward
heart. Had he done il on that occasion he
would have been torn TO pieces, and. he
knew it. On this occasion the President
was surrounded by his Cabinet and his
| friends. His son, not yet strong, but who
would have been urged at such a time with
| God-given strength tO defend his father,
was also by his side, and the assassin's
Craven Heart RaiIed Hin,
| he said not yet; some other time. With
graphic posturing Judge Porter related the
dcgging of the Presidents footsteps to the
| little church; the incidents or accidents on
each occasion which baffied him. President
Garfelds visit to Secretary Blaine's house,
dogged by the assassin. was yiyidly por-
trayed. 'It was night, said the speak