Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-01-05
THE ASSASSINATION TRIAL.

to learn the unfortunate negro's name.
THE ASSASSINATION TRIAL.
The trial of Guiteau is still dragging it's
slow length along in the Criminal Court at
Washington, the defense being aided by Mr..
Charles H. Reed, who on the 23rd ultimo, was,
OH motion of Mr.. Scoville, permitted by the
Court to assume the active duties of associate
counsel in the case. An interruption in the
was caused for few days by the
death Of the wife of one of the jurors, and
since the case was resumed the proceedings
have been confined entirely to taking testi-
mony of medical experts, introduced by the
prosecution, all going to show that Guiteau is
sane and morally responsible for his acts.
Guiteau has kept up his Interruptions and i'm
promptu harangues with the same pertinacity
that marked the first days the trial, and un-
til his conduct became so insufferable that
Judge Porter of counsel for the prosecution
insisted that he should be placed in the pris-
oner's dock. On Tuesday the 26th ultimo,
which opened. the seventh week of the trial,
Judge Cox admonished the prisoner that if he
did not conduct himself with more propriety
the suggestion of Judge Porter, which had
already been considered by the Court, would
be adopted. The warning had but little effect,
for on the following day, during lengthy ex-
animation of DR.. A. E. Mcdonald, Medical
Superintendent of the New York City Asylum
for the Insane, (whose testimony was very
damaging to the prisoner) Guiteau became so
boisterous that Judge Porter renewed his mo-
tion that the prisoner be placed in the dock.
The proceedings at this point, the most in
teresting in the progress of the case, as show
ing the embarrassing position in which Judge
Cox has been placed, and his own vindication
of his course, are thus reported:
Judge Porter-I must insist, your honor, on
behalf Of the Government and to yindicate it,
dock. .... g..
The prisoner-You had better mind your
own business, Porter. .e
My motion is in abeyance, and on the question
with it from the first day until now.
The prsoner-No blasphemy it is the truth.
Mr.. Porter, continuing-It should be heard
coming from the counsel table. There is not
that man at the American bar who would not
have been disgraced and silenced by coercion,
if he had uttered what this man, under tie
false pretense of being counsel in this case,
has uttered from time to time to your honor.
The prisoner (excitedly).-The American
people are with me more and more, and that Is
the reason you are mad about it. appear as
my own counsel and his honor has no discre-
tion in this matter. ... -.
Mr.. Scoville Ito Mr.. Porter. This case is
not on trial before the American people.
Mr.. Porter-Then why do you and your eli
ent, with your advice, address them?
Mr.. Reed-That is not true Mr.. Porter, and
you know it is not true. ..
Mr.. Porter-I only answer that it is true.
The Court called the counsel to order, and
asked whether it is desired that the proceed
ings should be suspended for action on Mr..
Porter's motion.
The prsoner-It is not worth your honor's
notice. That is the eanswer to this kind Of talk
from Porter.
The District -Attorney-We are ready to en-
ter on that question, yourhonor. Mr.. Davidge
views of the prosecution, which he did in a
long speech. ...-..
Mr.. Reed then proceeded to argue that un-
der modern practice everywhere the prisoner
was allowed to sit behind his counsel, and in
stanced that such was the case in New York,
where Mr.. Porter practiced. r'
The prisoner Violently American
people will have something to say if you put
me in that dock and get shot, and God AL
mighty will curse you, Corkhill, you wretch,
and any other man who attempts to do me vi
olence.
Mr. Scoville rose and in indignant and ex-
cited tones said-I make no objection to the
motion but when hear the prosecuting at
torney stand up and give notice beforehand
that the prisoner is to be placed, by authority,
in place where he can be shot and virtually
invites assassins to step into this courtroom
and shoot him, T disdain further concurrence
in the motion. Isupposed that if the prisoner
were to be placed in the dock he would be
protected by the officers of the law. There is
not one man or woman within hearing OF Mr..
Corkhll's voice but understood it to be an in
vitation for an assassin to step up and shoot
that man when put in the dock.
Mr.. Porter characterized MIR. Scovllle's I'M
putation" against the District-Attolney as
vile and obscene as any the prisoner had made.
From the beginning to tile end OF the trial Mr:
Corkhll had observed spirit OF fairness, OF
honor, of clemency and forbearance towards
the prisoner. The prisoner, with an audacity
and effrontry which spare neither man nor
God, has chosen to put himself in the position
of controlling his own trial, defying that au-
thority to which he will soon learn to submit.
In regard to the position taken by Mr. Cork
hill, entirely concur with him whatever the
to the prisoner. If he had in his
hand that bulldog pistol from which he sent
the bullet which assasSinated the President,
when your Honor prOnOunces your decision,
his practice at the river would enable hlm to
aim at your heart and you would be in the ag-
onies of death.
The prisoner-Y ou don't know but the LORD
will do it.
''It may be in the province of God" return
ed Mr. Porter, solemnly, "but not in the prov
nce of Guiteau. The assassin OF the Presl-
lent will assassinate no more forever, and the
voice which is not silenced now will be as
lumb as that of his victim when the end OF
;he law is reached.' (Applause). No man,
sane or insane, is permitted to say that the
lrm of the law in his presence is nerveless.
nave approved, l say, in view of the condem-
lation Of the American people rs represented
~ their papers, because they did not under
stand the situation as we did. have approved
md vindicated your Honor's course down to
;he time that this prisoner proclaimed with
;he acquiesence Of his counsel, that he
lad been sane from an hour after he executed
his foul, diabolical and infamous murder
When made this motion felt that the time
lad come when it was due to the majesty Of
he law, to the vindication of the American
Government, and above all to the vindication
If the Judiciary, that the step should be taken
Which 1 now indicate. You suspended your
lecsion in the hope that you might be able to
xtend to this sane criminal and homicide still
l,rtb clamannu Rnt If ii he extended 1t |