The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-04
A REVIEW
OF the Case.The Actions and Tactics or
the Assassin.

An occasional correspondent writes to q
New York paper OF the Guiteau trial thus.
The writer has made it point during a
number Of visits to the court room to watch
closely the effect Of Guiteau's explosions,
and OF judgements Of experts as to them
upon the faces of the jury. The twelve
seem fully as intelligent us any twelve men
one would pass casually on the street, and
it is to be remarked that those among them
who have had the least stadgantage OF educa-
ton have paid the closest attention to the
testimony, to the arguments Of counsel and
Guiteau's outbreaks. The juryman with a
strongly marked Irish face, who sits in the
front row, leans eagerly forward during the
entire session, his eyes following every mo.
ton OF the witness, lawyers and Guiteau, as
they alternately occupy the attention OF
the Court. That j1ryman has made up
his mind already that Guiteau is simply a
selfish blackguard, and will vote to hang
him. There is no doubt Of it and there Is
scarcely less doubt that the votes of the
other eleven, il taken to-day, would be not
less decided as to the prisoners entire ac-
countability and guilt. When Guiteau
first wildly addressed the Court, exhibiting
every indication Of intense excitement.
when he abused the witness without rea-
son and apparently without an apprecia-
tlon OF his peril, our condition then was
plainly confused doubt with the jury
box that was not removed until disgust
displaced doubt. Looking him in the face,
however, observing his manner, noting
the furtive glance and hardly disguised
chuckle over the effect of his outbreaks
upon the audience, the conclusion
has been forced upon every one
within the bar that tho assas.
sins violence and abuse have been part OF
a preconceived, il ill.judged, plan. 1t did
not need that experts should point this
out, although they have thrown the broad
light OF experience upon each OF the details
OF his scheme rs he has carried it out.
When DR.. Macdonald first carefully named
his reasons for believing that Guiteau was
Stimulating insanity in all this, there was a
very marked expression OF assent pervad.
ing the jury-bOx. 1t could not be referred
to any particular individual in the Jury; il
was general but undoubted manifestation
Of approval. Index No. ]. Who that has OBJ.
served the jury during the last few weeks
OF this trial has doubted that their minds
are made up? Nor is it likely
now that any evidence in rebut.
tai can change that conclusion.
1t is as certain as thing Of tho future can
be, Judge Cox will charge the jury against
the accused. have yet to meet a lawyer
who has been within the bar who enter.
tains doubt Of Guiteau's accountability,
or that Judge Cox will fail to make that
fact plain. I doubt whether either Mr..
Scoville or Mr.. Reed hope to-day for a
favorable verdict. They give an observer
the impression that they are simply fighting
us best they can to the last-Mr. Scoville
from q sense ofunselfish duty that has appa-
rently governed him from the first; Mr..
Reed for professional reputation.
1t is to the last degree unlikely that q
new trial will be ordered, but It is very
likely that within three weeks the iury
will bring in verdict OF guilty Of murder
in the first degree; that Judge Cox will
have pronounced sentence, and that Gui.
teau will be lying in cell, his morale all
gone, in condition OF utter cowardly, un-
pitied prostHtion. After he h given up
hope there will be no more doubt outside
the courtroom OF his absolute accounta.
bility than there is to-day with every one
who has faced dths,miserable wretch during
the daily manifestations OF ungoyernable
malice, brutal cgotism, depFavity and
blaCkguardism. The assassination OF Gar
field was the outcome OF all these traits,
encouraged and developed by a long career
Of successful violations OF decency and OF
law. His nature was diseased as is the
nature Of any other vulgar criminal. He
is shrewd and cunning when confronted
with the possible consequences Of his act,
and even he may have persuaded himself
that his cunning will save him from all
punishment beyond few years confne-
ment in an asylum, meanwhile having se-
cured the notoriety which he Graves with
all the force OF his debased soul. To one
who watches him in the Court room this
thirst for notoriety seems sufficient in IL
self to account for the murder OF the Presi.
dent. His egotism and the immunity he
has managed to secure during a long series
Of petty offenses probably induced the be-
lief that he would escape serious punish
ment for this last crime: He had, unhap.
PLY, many instances in the rcords Of crimi.
nal trials to base theory on that tempo
rary insanity would furnish him an ayaila-
BILE excuse. His abnormal vanity aud the
testimony Of the experts prompted his pres.
ent claim that his insanity disappeared
after fhn nrt WAS accommodated