Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-30
"a CHARLOTrE CORDAY IN PANTA-
LOOMS,
Precedents WHIT In Gufteau Il Supposed
to Have Studied.

LOOMS,
Precedenss Which Gufteau Il Supposed
TO Have Studied.
SOME INTERESTING EXTRACTS FROM THE TRIAL PRO-
CEEDINGs-B0OTH AND GUTTKAU COMPARED.
It seems evident from what transpired at the
trial that Guiteau studied presidents his crime.
His conduct was SO like that OF William Lawrence,
who was tried for attempting to kill President
jackson In 1885, that at the beginning OF the trial
the resemblance was generally remarked upon.
Guiteau, according TO Mr. Porter. went farther
than that in his studies There were some things
said at the trial regarding Charlotte Corday and
Wilkes Booth which are worthy OF reproduction
now; In his address to the jury. Mr. Charles H.
Reed, counsel for the accused. said: 4" You all re-
member having read in history the sad, pitiful
story OF
THE FAIR FRENCH GIRL,
who in 1873, by stratagem, by lying, by artifce,
gained entrance to the bath OF Marat, who was
then the chief man in the French nation. She
we mt into his bath while he was there and ran a
dagger into his heart Her name was Charlotte
Corday. II you have not-as you probably all
have-I ask you, after you close your labors to go
to the Corcoran Art Gallery and there look at the
picture OF the sweet, sad face, the trembling
hands clinging to the bars of her prison, looking
into posterity-fnsane. Yet in that land, within
either four or seven days she was guillotined and
the name OF the French nation dsgraced. II the
painter has represented her correctly, and, tudg-
Ing from history, he must have done so, / ask
you TO look at that face and tell me IL you do not
say me poor girl was insane Yet they used the
gul0tine In four or seven days. Let not Americas
name be stained In the same way. 1t will not
be-"
When Mr.. Porter came to sum I'D the case he did
not forget Mr.. Reeds remark The following is
taken from the record of the case. Mr.. Porter
WThn xror,a h "a ,,x-oa .,,,. A.. 49, ...S. p.,.
revolution in profound ignorance OF the fact that
the beautiful and brilliant
CHARLOTTE CoRDAY WAS INSANE.
1t was left for Mr.. Reed to announce the fact to
this jury ana this court, for the first time in the
worlds history, that this splendid girl was insane
She cannot turn in her grave, but there are some
OF US yet alive who know the bloody but radiant
history OF that extraordinary peasant girl, who,
In her youth and beauty, consummated an assas-
slnation which was more than just"
The Prisoner.-You would have hung her II you
had been there
Mr. Porter.-Never! She was one OF the noolesse
created by the God whose name this prisoner
Dlasphemes She was no cringing coward She
ieLt Cne humble house in which she was reared to
lberate France; to stay the hand Of revolutionary
slaugnter; TO lay her own head, as cheerful anG
Joyous Offering beneath the guiilotne in order to
save the ehusion OF blood among those who were
pound 10 her by the hottest ties because she most
heartily believed it her duty to the France she
loved She made her way, with calm and DELHI
eTate preparation, sane in mind and devoted in
she succeeded in finding access to the cold blocded
and criminal ruler OF the hour who held in his
Ilgnt hand the lives OF millions OF Frenchmen and
A MARK OF BLOOD
opposite the name OF any Frenchman or French
woman, could hurl his victim into that dismal
dungeon, from which there was no escape, except
through the iron jaws OF the guillotine. She
devoted herself to this holy work, caring nothing
looking TO no reward from her countrymen. 1t
was an act Of patriotic self-devotion, which will
warm all hearts through all after-time. 1t was no
precedent for the cowardly and cold-blooded as
saSSinatlOn. She Laid down her life as cheerfully
IoF her country as Stonewall Jackson laid down
his. Both acted upon an honest, even though it
were a mistaken conviction of duty. Such men,
sucn women, we all honor; but fiippant lawyer
taking the word of murderous liar, is really
convinced by his client, as you may fairly infer in
and visiting the Corcoran Gallery-ror he was
studying presidents, the Lawrence case, the
carrier t; cases OF murder, the case in New York.
Corday ana detected In her beautiful face the
evidences OF insanity. Clearly the assassin or
nus ms, counsel, made the discovery that the Char
lotte COTday. who will live Immortality in history
as one ready to give her own life for her bleeding
country, was really insane. Mr. Reed processes to
brings forth this murderer and places him by the
SIDE OF that pure and beautiful GIRL who gave her
m1phf, w a1u
to you TO look at this
CHARLOTTE CoRDAY IN PANTALooSs,
and pity hina,as ne were, like hera female martyr
to sense Of patriotic duty. Gentlemen, do you
think that Charlotte Corday played the part
which In this man has SO disguised us all? When
In rising that morning, she walked out CALMLY
with the crucifx on her breast, to the place OF
execution, the world knew that hers, though a
bloody, was patriotic homicide. You remember
the gusto with which the prisoner dwelt on the
case OF Wilkes Booth. I confess, though know
IT Will not accord with the general sentiment of
tne country, have, notwithstanding my clear con-
feeling In respect OF him; not that he was RIGHT:
not that he had any justification, even in his own
conscience, Tor that murder, but that there WERE
IN MS case, circumstances which tend to mitigate
In some degree the horror we feel for the act of
the assassin. He was man wholly devoted to
the cause which had signally failed: he looked
upon Abraham Lincoln and rightly felt that his
calmness. his WISDOM his devotion, his patriotism
had been the iron bar which had prevented the
southern states from achieving their independ-
ence: he had been a brilliant play-actor: he had
Deen IN the midst OF many temptations, and
a amGhg many svii surroundings the heat and
away; the circumstances excited him; he was
stimulated By
THE LOVE OF NoTORIETY,
which has led to SO many crimes; he mingled this
with the idea OF Wild and exalted patriotism; he
became infatuated, not insanely, but irrationally
WIN VIC iucd IHdt uo SuOulO De rendering ser.
vice to that portion OF the country with which he
had cast his fortunes II he committed the act for
which he was ready to lay down his life
The prlsoner.-That is lie, and you know #
Booth killed Lincoln from revenge, and shot Gar.
field from patriotism.
Mr: Porter <cOntinuing)-A so he bravely and
man1ully gave up his own life or course neither
you nor would justify his act 1t was defended
neither by the confederate army nor the peonle OF
the confederate states 1t was tuStif1ed nv mo
man, north or south; but cannot say that. even
now, have not some degree OF commiseration for
the brilliant life so unfortunately ended by an act
Whlcn. really believe, was in some degree Induced
by feeling Of 5a
MISGUIDED PATRIOTISM - - =
Are there any OF the mitigating circumstances
here which attach even to the memory OF the muir
derer OF Abraham Lincoln? None. When this
murderer did his bloody work, it is true he shot
from behind, but he felt that he was not putting
his life in peril, for he was not like Booth in the
midst OF a crowded audience. Booth, with the in
stincts Of manhood and believing he might be tus-
titled by his southern countrymen, leaped from the
gallery to the stage, afterwards mounted his horse
rode Tor life or death, as it might chance and as
1t CHANGED, rode to death. Within the blazing
flames OF the building in which he was penned. az
God sometimes pens murdererS, he st iii presented
the lion front OF brave man. and, although
MANNED and crippled In body, he died like hunted
stag at bay.
The prisoner shot my man In broad DAYLIGHT