Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-01-26
THE ASSASSIN GUITEAU.
The Speech Which the Assassin Wanted to
Make to the Jury.

The Speech Which the Assassin Wanted to
Make 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 request that it be "sent
broadcast to the American people" 1t is
mainly rehash of former assertions made by
him since the assassination and during his
trial. Those re ,ders who have curiosity to
see this production can form a correct idea OF
its purport from the following, telegraphed to
the Western Associated Press:
UNITED STATES JAIL,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 10, 1852.
If the Court please, gentlemen of the jury
am patriot to-day. Isuffer in bonds as pa
triot. Washington was patriot; Grant was
patriot. Washington led the armies of the Rev
olution through eight years of bloody war to
victsory 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 1S3l-I suffer in bonds as
a patriot because 1 had the inspiration and
nerve to unite great Republican party. to the
end that the Nation might be saved from an
other devastating war. To-day I 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
confirm my original inspiration. I am well
satisfied with the Deitys conduct with this
case thus far, and I 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 I
foresaw civil war. The Lord wanted to pre-
vent repetition of this desolation, and in
spired me to execute His WILL Why did He
inspire me in preference to some one else?
Because 1 had brains and nerve to do the
work. The Lord does not 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-
toll 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
SOOu us HTeu tue SQOC the lISpiTdlIOu WAS
worked off, and felt immensely relieved. 1
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
madman could have done it. There are moro
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. Had Jefferson Davis and a
dozen or two Of his cotrai tors been shot dead
never would have been.
General Arthur as President is doing splen-
didly; no man can do better. 1 am especially
l wished him to do-viz.: unite the factions of
may be happy and prosperous. In short,
everybody. politically, is happy, save few
cranks, and they will probably be happy soon;
have always been lover of the Lord, and
whether live one year or thirty am His AS
President. Some people think I am as good
man as the President. General Arthur is Il good
man every way; happen to know W9r him d We'll:
the canvass. So with General Grant, Conkling,
and the rest of these men. They have not
taken an active part in my defense, because is
would not be proper
witness s who have been guilty of rank per-
jury, and it has excited my wrath, and | have
denounced them in plain language. hate
the mean, deceptive way of the prosecution.
The mob crucified the Savior of mankind.
ana Paul, HIS great Apostle, went TO an lgHO-
minious death. All inspired men must do
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-
derng down the ages.
Had stuck to my law business there in New
York and in Chicago should have been a rich
man to-day; bnt had other work TO do My
book, 1.-The TRUTH contains my theology. 1t
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
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
was no money in theology, and knew it when
went into it.
To-day I suffer in bonds because / had the
Inspiration and nerve to remove the President
that the Nation might live. But expect you,
gentlemen OF the Jury. viii l, remoye these
vindicated man. That is what you are here
for, and I ask you to liberate me. Tell the
1t is the opinion of some of the ablest MEM
bers of the bar that this court has no jurisdic-
ton to Try this case This point 20 will be
But | expect you, gentlemen of the jury, to
justify the act. You are here to vindicate my
aer nhe mad aone it %
prevent it. Ny free ,a agency yo, was entirely
any one under duress is not responsible
for his act. On this ground ask you to ao-
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; tina
Deity knows it. had to do my duty to tho
Deity and to the American people, regardless
of the consequences to myself No one wants
to shoot or hang me now save a few cranka.
who are 50 ignorant they can hardly read -
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 railroad accident, or slipped
on an orange-peel and broke his neck.
The interview with Brooks consider a spe-
cial providence in my favor. 1 talked with
him freely about the Deity, my Inspiration
and the political situation, which showed the
condition of my mind on July when was
precipitated on to the President. vast deal
of rubbish has got into this case on both sides.
The issue here is: Who fired that shot-the
Deity or me? Had l fired it on my own per-
sonal account, no punishment would be too
quick too severe for me, and this is why I
protected myself by going. to Jail and having
the National troops ordered out.
would humbly suggest that the jury be
charged as follows: That if they believed that