Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-26
from heaven; it's disgrace upon court

from heaven it's Disgrace upon court {
Justice,
oner, and succeeded in drawing his sttentio
from the dispute of counsel and turning hi
abuse on themselves. 1t seemed for
moment more than probable that his viciou
demonstrations might provoke some of tb
officers beyond the point of endurance, an
perhaps to the point OF assuming the funC
tions of the Court in administering som
wholesome and much-needed discipline.
Judge Cox called for the reading from tn
stenographer's notes of the passage whic
had caused the dispute, and promptly decide
against Scoville's demand that counsel b
stopped.
Passing TO the testimony of DIR. Spitzks
Judge Porter said: al wonder if Lucille
were on trial would DIR. Spitzka pronounc
him q moral imbecile, moral monstrosity
| Satan fell from his high estate. This was
! to Spitzka, there never could have been
change. He was from the start moral i'm
beetle, former OF morbid projects, says DIR
Spitzka. Why are most OF mankind poor
Because of morbid projects, Yet do we pro
nounce the majority Of mankind insane
What does he say Of the prisoners sanity or
| the I'd Of July? Probably insane, probably
insane. Do you propose, gentlemen of the
| jury, to bring in a verdict that he was prob
the question. What does he say of the pris-
oner as a lawyer? He calls him third-rate
shyster in a criminal court. / suppose Sco-
vile can tell you what that means, can
not" said Judge Porter.
well, some of you clients can tell you
what it is. +" retorted the prisoner.
Referring to the reference by Reed to
Charlotte Corday, Judge Porter said it was
left to Reed to make the discovery, and to
announce to this court and TO the world that
Charlotte Corday was insane. Rehearsing
the circumstances of Charlotte Cordayis life
and death, Judge Porter contrasted her act
of patriotism with Guiteau's foul murder in
the most eloquent and stirring sentences.
The prisoner was aroused almost to frenzy,
and beloved like an infuriated beast. at
times completely drowning the speakers
voice, "God Almighty will curse you, Porter,
you miserable whelp, you. You can't make
the American people believe I'm not a
patriot. To-day suffer in bonds as a
patriot and God will curse yen if a hair of
my head is injured"
Pausing a moment, Judge Porter said:
Contrast the conduct of this vindict-
i've, cowardly wretch with Charlotte Cor
day, who walked peacefully to the scaffold
with her hands folded over crosses upon
her breast and serene smile that denoted her
willingness to suffer death for her country,
and patriotism, which instigated her act.
al amt afraid to die either"
shouted the prisoner. "You may put
can, but tell you this nation will go down
in blood ii you harm a hair on my head"
Next, Judge Porter compared the prisoner
to Wilkes Booth, and showed the latter to be
almost a patriot compared with that coward
ly assassin now on trial, "for Booth was" he
said, "actuated by mistaken motive of pa
triotism, and was a man of manhood and
manliness, but this sneaking cowardly wretch,
who could plan for his victims death and his
own safety at the same time, and murder
his man for revenge and notoriety."
Guiteau-I shot my man in broad day
light, and don't you forget it, Porter.
Pressing the assertion that Guiteau was &C
tuated by revenge, and desire for notoriety,
Judge Porter compared him to a noted Grim
inal in Europe. II don't recall his NAME"
said Judge Porter, but he said, 81 am the
ugliest man in Europe"
well, you wasn't there" interrupted Gui-
teau; you'll be the ugliest man in history,
though" re
Continued Judge Porter: 81 would rather |
be the ugliest man in Europe, and have no.
toriety, than remain in the ranks of medioc- |
rity." e<1
For the next half hour there was one con- |
tinual stream of Interruptions from the pris- |
oner. A score of times he denounced Judge |
adjcctives suggested themselves. His vim
iictive disposition showed itself as never be-
lore, and for once his cunning was merged |
in his angry spite, and as Judge Porter piled 7
up the Ossa OF invective upon the Pelion of |
the prisoner unwittingly en- |
phasizsd and corroborated the diagnosis of |
iepravity and wicked heartlessness which |
counsel was with such telling effect pro-
upon him. "You know that is all !
an absolute, desperate, wicked, devilish lie,"
inally shouted Guiteau, stammering with |
-sge and nervousness. Recess.