The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-01-26
SUMMING UP.
Conclusion of the Arguments in
the Guiteau Trial.
ScOVille's Long-Winded Effort in Behalf
Of His ReIative-Porter's
Great Speech.

WASHINGTON, January 19.-Mr. SEQ
vile continued his argument through
out the day, reviewing the testimony of
witnesses and attempting to show that
the conduct OF Guiteau before and since
the murder was clearly that of an in
sane man.
FRIDAY.
ScOville argued that the jury should
apply the maxim that "It is better that
ninety-nine guilty men should escape
than that one innocent man should
suffer. If they were not entirely con-
yinced Guiteau was not guilty, by un-
sound mind, they should give him the
benefit of the doubt. ScOville closed as
follows: "All that is required for the
faithful administration of justice in
this case is that you shall have honest
hearts, calm, cool heads, and dispOsi-
tiOn to do what is right. But above ali,
that you have that moral courage, that
stability of character and integrity of
purpose thai Notwithstanding what may
be said you will do what is just and
right between your fellow men and in
the sight of God" ScOville closed his
address at P. m, and the court ad-
jOurned. All objections to Guiteau's ad-
dressing the jury were withdrawn, and
he will speak tomorrow.
SATURDAY.
Upon entering the court room this
morning Guiteau took seat in the wit
ness box, remarking, as he laid out his
papers: 81 sit down because can speak
better, not that l am afraid of being
shot, This shooting business is played
out. The prosecution pretend that am
a wicked man. Mr.. ScOville and Mr..
Reed think | am lunatiC, and | pre-
sumo you think am. l certainly was a
lunatic on July I'd when / fired on the
President, and the American people
generally and presume you think
was. Can you imagine anything more
insane than my going to that depot and
shooting the President of the United
States? You are here to say whether
was sane or insane at the moment
!. fired that shot. You have nothing to do
with my condition before or since that
shot was fired. You must say by your
verdict whether | was sane or insane at
the moment the shot was fired. If you
have any doubt of my sanity at that
moment, you must give me the benefit
of that doubt and acquit. That is, if
you have any doubt whether l fired that
shot myself or as an agent of the Deity.
If fired it on my own account, | was
sane. If fired it supposing myself the
agent of the Deity, | was insane, and
you must acquit. This is the law as
given in a recent decision of the New
York Court of Appeals. 1t revolution
ICES the old rules and is grand step
forward in the law of insanity. 1t is
worthy this age of railroads, electricity
and telephones, and 1T well GENES from
the progressive State of New York. l
have no hesitation in saying that it is
special Providence in my favor, and L
ask this court and jury SO to consider it.
,sSome of the best people in America
. think me the greatest man of the age,
and this feeling is growing. They be-
b lteve in my inspiration and that PTOvi-
dence and | have really saved the nation
another war. My speech setting forth
in detail my defense was telegraphed
on Sunday to all the leading papers and
published on Monday morning, and now
| am permitted by his Honor to deliver
it TO you" After thanking his counsel
and paying very high compliment to
the zeal and ability which Mr.. ScOville
had displayed whom he proposed soon
to reward with a very liberal fee, he ex
tended his grateful Acknowledgements
to the court, the jury, the officers and
bailiffs, and last, but not least, the
American press.
With this introduction the prisoner
took up newspaper and proceeded to
read to the jury his published speech.
His manner to the casual observer seemed
6Cll-pObo6OOGuJ dS USUAL Oub
behind the OstentatiOuS affectatiOn of
cOmpOsure was feeling which he only
held in control through undOubted
strength of will. His excitement was
betrayed byaA slight hectic spot high up
upon each cheek of his usually cOlOrleSs
face, and by the unusual deliberation
with which he began, and for some time
continued to speak.
Whatever the origin or character of the
feeling. it finally gained ascendancy
over mis- powers of control, and as he
reached that point in the speech, 81 have
always served the Lord and whether l
live or die" he broke down completely,
stopped, and tried to choke down the
rising lump in his throat, but found it
impossible to keep back genuine sob.
Taking out his handkerchief he buried
his face in it few seconds, wiped his
eyes and with determined effort
started on again. He seemed to recover
his cOmpOsure so quickly that some be-
lieved the whole effort was manufac-
tured. His sister, Mrs. Scoville, how
ever, apparently thought otherwise She
was deeply affected and wept and sObbed
bitterly for some minutes. After this
incident Guiteau continued to read, oc-
casionally adding brief comments upon
the text.
His description of the taking off of the
President was with striking effect. At
times he closed his eyes and turned
/ them heavenward, moved his body back
aartd forth, sank his voice to whisper,
%s&atsed it to high treble. AT times
the intensity of the utterances seemed
to react upon himself, but the effect was
but transitOry, and with the exception
of the one instance noted there was no
other indication of breaking down. At
frequent intervals he paused to en-
phasiZe some sentence OF sentiment by
repeating it, or commenting upon it. At
one time, pausing, he leaned towards
the jury and emphasizing with his head
and hands, said, with an attempt at great
sOlemnity of utterance: 81 tell you,
gentlemen, just as sure as there is a
God in heaven. if harm hair of my
head, this nation will go down in blood.
You can put my body in the grave, but
there Will be day of reckoning"
In the most natural manner imagin-
able, Guiteau explained again that the
reason he did not take Garfield away
two weeks before he did," was because
he had no authority to remove MIs. Gar
field. When the time did come, he