The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-02-01
GUITEAU GUILTY !
The Jury Come to This Conclusion in Six
Minutes.
Closing Scenes Of the Great Trial-The Con
clusion Of Judge Porter's Scathing
address

WASHINGTON, January 25.-As usual,
Guiteau Opened the proceedings Of the
Court by announcing: MY sister has been
doing come silly talk at Chicago. She means
well, but she is no lawyer
Judge Porter Immediately resumed his ar
pument. Admonished by the falling snow
and the severity Of the weather, from which
he had suffered, and from which doubtless
the Jury had also suffered, he felt it neces-
sary to vary from his original intention, and
to trust to the intelligence and honor of the
Jury to supply his defence. He would not,
therefor, linger over the dry details of evil
dence, feeling it imperatively necessary that
the case should be brought to a conclusion as
soon as possible. He would simply touch
upon a few of the salient points of the evi-
dence.
"John w. Guiteau," said Porter, 81 be-
lieye to be an honorable man. He came here
ready to contribute his means, his evidence
and his services to save his brothers life,
and he is an honor to his fathers name, and
vet the truth comes from his lips and must
impress upon every one of you the convict
ion that on the second day of July this pris-
oner was as sane as you or ], or the Judge
upon this bench"
Reading from the evidence of John W.
Guiteau, and commenting upon it, Judge
Porter said "He has two faces"
Gu:.esu-How many have you got, Judge
Porter
Judge Porter-He has two faces the one
showing the sancity of a Parsee, and the
other the hideous grin of the fend that pos
sesses him.
AS he continued to read from the evidence
of John w. Guiteau's testimony relative to
his last interview with the prisoner. Gulteau
continued interupting with such comments
as s'What I say is always true, Judge Por-
ter - .sWhat you say is generally false. "
81 never said so,'' and ''That is absolutely
false"
Proceeding, Judge Porter contrasted the
life. conduct and deceitful practice OF the
prisoner with the Apostle Paul, in the light
of the prisoners assumption that he, like
Paul, was honestly engaged in doing the
Lords work. Paul never palmed off brass
watches for gold"
Neither did l." shouted Guiteau.
Judge Porter-Paul never swlndled bis
creditors out Of their just dues.
sob. your q blood man," retaliated the
prisoner s'you belong to the Judas tribe"
The picture drawn by Judge Porter was
ANYTHING but a lovely che, and provoked the
prisoner to the most abusive retorts. az ''You
are a liar and you know it, and | tell you SO
to your face, Judge Porter"
This man" said Judge Porter, ''who pro-
claims that he never deceived any persons y
s'That's a fact . piped the prisoner, ''put
that in frequently"
Judge Perter-This man who says ne new
er deceived any one, said in one OF his hand
bills, Lecture by the Honorable Charles
Guiteau !" He never deceived any one
Where did he get this title of honorable 7?
Guiteau-Thats the way my letters come
addressed, sir.
ssThis is the Little Giant of the West,
continued Judge Porter, "the Lord murdered
Garfield ?"
Guiteau-Yes, and he'll murder you before
long.
Judge Porter--The Lord defrauded the
printers and the boarding houses, and every
night and morning the Christian prisoner
thanks the Lord for His work
Guiteau continued desperately shouting
ssYour a liar and you know it you haven
brains enough to tell a saint from a devil
A saint from heaven couldn't stand the abuse
from this. man Porter, and l won't Stand it.
He's a liar, and I call him so !"
Porter said he was simply reading from the
sworn testimony of Guiteau's brother.
Guiteau-He's no brother of mine | wan
that understood. My sister sympathizef
with me
The first interruption from counsel came
when Reed strenuously objected to Porter
quoting from English authorities.
Judge Cox said there was no cause for Oh
lection. Though 1t was not very relevant.
it was not Objectionable.
Guiteau's remarks about the Jews called
from Porter a remark that he had yet to
know that a man need be ashamed to spring
from the same race as the Savior.
The clamor and din made by Guiteau, re-
inforced from counsel, resembled a small