The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-02-02
Guiteau Found Guilty.

tne Judge nnlsuou his auureSe, tne speecneS
were over, and there only remained Judge
Cox's charge to the jury. At this time the
courtroom was densely packed, and the audi
ence had evidently come prepared to remain
there until the jury should bring in its verdict.
Judge Cox had evidently prepared bis
charge with great deal OF care. He spoke in
quiet, clear, judicial manuer, and he had no
moro earnest and attentive listener than Gui-
teau himself who bent forward over the. rail-
ings on the dock with his face resting in the
palms Of his hands and his elbows supported
by the railing, making noteworthy picture in
the dim twilight of the room. Judge Cox's
charge swept away all the cobwebs which the
LAWYERS on each side had constructed. It was
a concise, clear and positive statement Of tho
legal definition of insanity, of the
gauge which the jury must apply
to the evidence sustaining both the
sanity and the in anity claims. It left no sort
of doubt in tho minds OF the jury as to pre-
cisely what was insanity as contemplated by
tie law, and gave them no opportunity for any
other discussion among themselves, excepting
the single one as to VIII ther the evidence in
troduced met the legal requirements. The
charge was one to which, even the counsel for
the defense said little or no exception could
be taken, and no exception at all was possible
upon his statement of the law. Nevertheless
it sounded to the audience, and, as since
learned, was accepted by the jury like the
death sentence of Guiteal. The prisoner was
given the benefit of all that he could posi-
bly,, under The evidence, ask for, and yet
Judge Cox's statement of the case was 90 ter
riblY powerful against him that many people
believed that the jury would be out but few
moments. Once or twice Guteau offered some
trivial comments, but they wore unnoticed by
the Judge and almost unheard by the people in
the courtroom. 1t did not escape notice of
members of tho bar who heard the charge that
in some respects Judge Cox had been fairer
toward the prisoner even than his counsel had
asked him to be, viii on the other hand he
had brushed away as insignificant and of no
consequences some of the points which the
prosecution had dwelt upon with seemingly the
greatest confidence.
Soon after o'clock, and while dusk was be-
coming darkness in the court -room the jury
took the case into its own hands. A grim-vis-
aged bailifi making his way through the dense
throng that stood between tho jury and the
door bockonei to thom to follow him. A col
ored shorf, gathering up some of the docu-
mentary evidence prepared to follow, and one
by one, thus escorted, the jury made it's way
from the courtroom into the consultation
room overhead. Judge Cox, after they hal
gone, leaned ovor the bar and conversed oui-
city with one or two lawyers. Mr.. Scovile and
Mr.. Reed, the prisoners counsel chatted with
one or two Of the audience. Judge Porter sat
silent, while Corkhill made the only exhibition
by gathering together the documents and pa
pers with which the tables were strewn.
Guitesu sat in the dock for five or six min
utes, like statue, after the jury had gone. 1t
was too dark to see his features but those who
stood near him said he was muttering some
thing to himself. He finally looked up toward
the judge and tried to get up, but he seemed to
have lost his strength, and the officers who
guarded him thought he was going to break
down. AT last he said in n weak voice, unlike
that he has used to interrupt the proceedings,
ha would lilo talspr, ont NJ
into the marshals Office, and Judge Cox con-
sented. Two bailiffs took him one by each
arm and he was led through the
throng, his head bent over, his eyes
upon the door, shutting along until he got
out of the courtroom. In the marsGal's Office
he was seated in n chair in the corner, and
when one OF the deputies spoke to him, asking
him how he felt, he replied in tremulous
voice that he was anxious to have it over, it
wore on his nerves very much waiting for the
jury to come in. He would not say what he
thought of Judge Cox charge. Fifteen min
utos, perhaps, after t.-- jury went out Judge
Cox decided to give recess for half an hour.
As soon as the crier announced this the audi
enco began to converse in loud tones. Women
held dainty sandwiches in their fingers, and
there was the fragrance of freshly-cut
apples. The whispering became murmuring
and the murmuring chatting. Everybody
who had q eeat kept it no one would give ur
Ills pltCC. OOIhlllll, llt ui5bllCG dIlpIIGy, WA
a picture in pantomime. His round head
bobbed back and forth as he whispered to this
or that man, and he threw off some of the off
cial dignity which routine has rendered heavy
for his shoulders. Mr.. Scoville stood like q
statue with his arms folded, while Mr.. Reed
who was talking with lawyer, sadly shook his
head, as il in anticipation of verdict.
Within ten minutes after the recess had been
taken the jury called to the bailif in waiting
that they were ready with their verdict. They
were informed that a recess had been taken
and that Judge Cox had lett the court
room, so they remained in their room until the
court reassembled. The rumor that the jury
had agreed was quickly spread from one tC
another, and an excited crowd surged back
into the courtroom.
Suddenly single shout from the court criel
brought perfect silence. The door from the
marshal's Office opened. They were bringing
in the prisoner.
As he passed point where the light strucl
his face, it gave his features a ghastly look
His jaw was firmly get, however, and ht
seemed to have recovered his selt-possession
He glanced at the jury box, and then sat il
the dock, his back to the audience.
ininUte l>teI tlasra was oornmotion upon
the other side of the room. A baiiiG wills
pered to the .udge CorkLill straightened NJ
and looked very stern, Porter did not move
muscle, and Scoville still stood there with his
arms folded.
"Tne jury is coming" ran in whisper
Though the courtroom.
The door opened and the shadowy forms OF
:" Give persons were seen filing into their place.
NO one could SEQ enough of their faces to catch
any expression if there was one but, had they
shouted their verdict as they entered, they
rou not have more fully convinced the people
what it was than they did by the silent process
SION to the place whence they would pro-
nounce it.
After so short an absence Guiteau sat in his
place like block of stone, his figure being
Just revealed by the dim light. The youthful
clerk stood up in his place facing the jury The
silence in the courtroom was painful.
"Gentlemen of the jury," said the clerk in q
cold, perfunctory tone of official duty, "have
you agreed upon your verdict2''
We have" responded tho foreman, in a low
and almost indislinct tone.
What say You =? Is the prisoner at the bar
guilty or not guilty2"
Guilty as indicted" responded the fore
man.
Then the pent up feelings of the crowd
OF applause and approval.
"Order order p shouted the bailh.
hr. Scovil and counsel for the prosecution
were simultaneously upon their feet. Mr.. SEQ
vile attemp ed to address the court but the
district attorney shouted:
" Wait until you have the verdict complete
an i'll due form of law"
Order was at length restored, and the clerk,
aSaln addressing the jury, said:
So say you all ?"
eve do" they all responded.
, Another demonstration of approval followed
his announcement, but not so prolonged as the
Mr.. Scoville, still upon his feet, demanded
poll OF the jury, which was granted, and each
voice promptly responded: Guilty"
AS the last name was called the prisoner
screamed: