The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-01-27
THE ASSASSIN GUITEAU.


Tho speech which the Assassin Wanted .
Mako to the Jury.
The prisoner Guiteau on the 18th furnished
to the New York Associated Press copy of
his lengthy speech which he desired to make
to the jury, with a request that 1t be "sent
broadcast to the American people," It 10
mainly . rehash of former assertions made by
him since the assassination and during his
trial. Those readers who have . curiosity to
| see this production can form correct idea Of
its purport from the following, telegraphed to
the Western Associated Press:
UNITED STATES JAIL.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. Ii, 1882
If the Court please, gentlemen of the jury, I
am patriot to-day. fsuffer in bonds as pa
| triot. Washington was patriot; Grant was q
patriot. Washington led the armies of the Rev
olution through eight years Of bloody war to
! victory and glory; Grant led the armies of the
Union to victory and glory, and to-day the Ma
ton is prosperous and happy.
| To-day-Christmas, 1851 suffer in bonds as
patriot because had the inspiration and
nerve to unite great Republican party, tothe
| end that the Nation might be saved from an
other devastating war. To-day suffer in
bonds as patriot. There is not the first ele-
ment of murder in this case. To constitute the
crime Of murder two elements must co-exist:
First, an actual homicide; secondly, malice in
law or malice in fact. The law presumes
malice from the fact of homicide. There is no
homicide in this case; therefore, no malice in
law. The Deity allowed the doctors to finish
my work gradually, because He wanted to pre-
pare the people for the change, and also to
copfrm my original inspiration. I am well
cofsa ID vuifk fho With
case thus far, and have no doubt He will
continue to father it to the end. Nothing
but the political situation last spring justified
the Presidents removal. The break in the
Republican party then was widening, and
f0resaw civil war. The Lord wanted to pre-
vent a repetition of this desolation, and in
spired me to execute His will. Why did He
inspire me in preference to some one else?
Because had brains and nerve to do the
work. The Lord does net employ incompe-
tent persons to serve Him. He uses the best
material he can find. I Of all the world was
the only man who had authority from the
Deity to do it. Without the Deity's pressure
never should have sought to remove the
President. This pressure destroyed my free
agency. The Deity compelled me to do the act,
just as highwayman compels man
to give him money, after placing pis-
tol at his victims head. The irresistible
pressure to remove the President was on me
for thirty days, and it never left me when
awake. 1t haunted me day and night. At
last an opportunity came. I shot him. As
soon as I fired the shot the inspiration was
worked OF, and felt immensely relieved.
would not do it again for million dollars.
Only miracle saved me from being shot or
hung then and there. 1t was the most insane
and foOlhardy act possible. and no one but a
than thirty-eight cases in the Bible where the
Deity has directed to kill for the good of the
people-that is, to save them from some far
greater trouble; III haa 9enersoh DAVIS ana a.S
inJanuary, 1861, no doubt our late rebellion
never would have been.
General Arthur as President is doing splen-
didly; no man can do better. am especially
pleased with his conciliatory spirit and wis
dom toward the opposition. 1t is exactly what
wished him to dO-viz.: unite the factions Of
may be happy and prosperous. In short,
everybody. politically, is happy, save a few
cranks, and they will probably be happy soon.
have always been a lover Of the Lord, and
whether live one year or thirty am His. As
q matter Of fact, presume shall live to be
% some people tnnk am as GOO dd
man every way. l happen to know him well.
] was with him constantly in New York during
the canvass. So with General Grant, COnkling,
taken an active part in my defense, because il
would not be proper.
The prosecution have introduced certain
witnesses who have been guilty of rank per-
jury, and it has excited my wrath, and have
denounced them in plain language. I hate
the mean. deceptive way of the prosecution.
The mob crucified the Savior of mankind,
and Paul, His great Apostle, went to an igno-
their work and leave the result with the Deity,
whatever becomes of them. The worst that
men can do is to kill you, but they cannot pre-
vent your name and work from going thun-
Had stuck to my law business there in New
York and in Chicago, should have been rich
book, ''The TRUTH" contains my theology. it
cost me trouble enough, and have no doubt
but it is official. During the three years was
on theology Incurred some small debts which
I have not yet been able to pay. A thousand
dollars would pay every debt owe. Some men
owe 100000 and are considered heightened
The prosecution have made great noise
no bearing upon this issue. Mr.. Corkhill, who
has taken it upon himself to dig up my circum-
stances, owes hundred times more than do.
l always pay when have money, but there
was no money in theology. and knew it when
! went into it.
To-day suffer in bonds because I had the
inspiration and nerve to remove the President
that the Nation might live. But expect You,
gentlemen of the jury, will remove these
bonds. to the end that go forth a free and
for, and l ask you to liberate me. Tell the
American people that you find no evil in me. |
1t is the opinion Of some of the ablest men,
bers of the bar that this court has no jurisdic-
ton to try this case. This point will be
pressed, if necessary, in arrest of Judgment |
But expect you, gentlemen of the jury, to |
justify the act You are here to vindicate my |
inspiration. But would have done it any |
time after June if I mad known was to be |
shot dead the next moment l had no power 10 |
prevent it. My free agency was entirely |
destroyed. I was under duress. In law, |
any one under duress is not responsible |
for his act. On this ground I ask you to az
quit me. How do we know you were under |
duress? My word for it; no one else can know |
the fact but the Deity and me- know it; tba |
Deity knows it. had to do my duty to tbe |
Deity and to the American people, regardless |
of the consequences to myself. No one wants |
to shoot or hang mo now save a few cranka |
who are 80 ignorant they can. hardly read a |
write. Heightened people are saying: well:
If the Lord did it, let it co.. The President did
not die before his time. If the Lord had not !
wanted him he would not have departed. |
Physical death is nothing. All men have died; |
all men will die The President might have |
been taken by a railroad accident, or sli pped |
on an orange-peel and broke his neck.
The interview with Brooks consider spe- |
cial providence in my favor. l talked with !
him freely about the Deity, my inspiration,
and the political situation, which showed the |
condition of my mind on July 2 when was |,
rv,sfn TOD 30 dnvrt ct