Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-02-02
The Last Day of the Most Remarl
able Trial Recorded in History.

able Trial Recorded in History.
The Jury Unanimous for Conviction
Upon the First Ballot.
From Cincinnati Enquirer Special Dispatches
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. So.
The final scene in the Guiteau trial
took place at dusk, just as the shades OF
night were gloomily gathering. The
court room wss lighted by the ftful
glare of few candles, which gave a
CHASTITY solemnity to the whole proceed
ing. The spectators dispersed with Gui-
teau's curse upon the jury ringing in
their ears. He was taken back to his
cell in the Jail convicted murderer,
having been branded sane by the twelve
men who have been imprisoned fol Y
DAYS, involuntary sufferers for Guiteaus
crime. Judge Porter finished his argu-
ment to-day at quarter past 3 o'clock.
Judge Cox at once began his charge to
the jury, which occupied nearly an hour
and three-quarters in the delivery. The
jury retired at 20 minutes to o'clock,
and, returning to the court room at half
past five, pronounced their verdict of
Guilty as charged"
The jurymen left their cozy place of
confinement at the National Hotel, as
subsequent events proved, to take their
last walk together. Forming in pro-
cession, they marched in solemn step
through the snow to the court house,
where they found the court room al
ready filled. There was the usual rus
tie about the room when they entered.
They stamped the snow from their feet
| in the ante-room outside, and, when they
had filed into the box, spent some min
utes in removing theirwraps and wrap
pers and arranging themselves for the
day. Scoville and Reed were at the
counsel table before the jury entered.
Scoville was silent and uncommunica-
tive, and as he looked over his copy of
the record chewed his imaginary quid,
for he always keeps his jaw in motion,
with an air Of determination to stand by
his colors to the last. Scoville's health
has been impaired by this long, severe
and thankless task. None whe have at
tended the trial have treasured any feel
ing except good will toward Scopilles
notwithstanding the impudent utteran-
ces he has made.
John ". Guiteau was among the early
arrivals in the court room. He never
gave up hoping for verdict of acquit-
tai or disagreement of the jury until
the last mement, and seemed quite as
cheerful to-day as at any time during
the trial. Judge Porter, during his ad-
dress, paid a touching tribute to the
honesty of John Guiteau, who, despite
all the influences against him, was i'm
PEELED to tell the truth. Johns evil
dence, as much as that Of any one man,
contributed to defeat Scoville's theory of
insanity, and to give the color of reality
to the picture of the assassin drawn by
the prosecutions man given over to
his own passions, and yeritable fiend
in human shape.
Mrs Scoyille, who was most devoted
friend the wretched criminal ever had,
and whose eyes were blinded by sisterly
affection to all the deformities of his
moral nature, was happily spared the
terrible pain she must have experienced
if she had been in the court room. AL
most the last words uttered before leav-
ing for her home in Chicpgo were an ex-
preston of her confidence that the jury
would acquit her brother. She fondly
dreamed that the jury viewed the case
just as she did.
Judge Porter arrived in the court
room just before Judge Cox stepped
upon the bench. His looks betokened a
great improvement in his health. When
Judge Cox came in he carried in his
hand little portfolio, which the sharp
eyed reporters at once su:mised contain
i.l 8 h. oh fsN hn
jury. Judge Cox has composed a great
part of the charge to the court during
the past few days. His pen has been
busy most of the time, and sheet after
sheet of legal cap paper has GENE out
| from under his hand. He is an old
stenographer, and all of his notes of the
argument, as we'll as his first draft of
clauses to be included in his charge, have
been jotted down in the mystic circles
and hooks of the short hand writer's art.
PERHAPS 1T WAS INSPIRATIoN.
There seemed to be a general impress
sion in the Court room, even before
Judge Cox appeared with his significant
portfolio, that the case would be given
to the jury, and the fate of the prisoner
decided before the Court adjourned. By
some mysterious means-or else by con-
lecture inspirational in its veracity y-it
was whispered around that the jury
would not be out but half an hour before
rendering a verdict. The jurymen had
decided, it was said, that it would be best
TO stay out for that length of time, in
order to appear to give some considera-
tion to the Judges charge. Even those
who have all along predicted disagree
ment of the jury seemed to have been
converted this morning, for there was
something in the air that foreboded sca-
lamity to the prisoner. Guiteau him.
self must have felt it, for he showed
more excitement under Judge Porter's
wishsring irony than on any day since
the argument opened. When the criel
had raped the Court to order-and ht
always performs this ceremony by ham
mering with his jack-knife on the side
of the Judges desk-Guiteau was the
first to break the silence. 1t was an an
nouncement that his sister had beer
-doing some silly talking in Chicago
She means we'll" he said, with an air o
pity for his sister, "but then she is NJ
| lawyer"
Judge Porter then took his stand il
, the space before the jury, and entered
upon the third day of his argument. II,
began, as is his custom, in low voice
which hardly any one in the room ex
cept the jurymen upon whom he looket
down, and the official stenographer a
his elbow, could hesr. He observed tina
he was admonished by the falling snow
and the changing seasons that it wa
time for this case to come to an end, an
P engaged to so condense his review of th
: testimony that the verdict of the jur
4 might be recorded before sundown. II
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