The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-01-19
THE STALWARTS
Responsible for the Death of
President Garfield.
So Says SGOVilIe-He Takes Arthur,
Grant and COnkIing to Task-The
Speech Guiteau Had Prepared.
THURSDAY.


prosecution. Davidge said there was
but single point for discussion, and
that was the subject of insanity. The
law did not contemplate that any man
should cOldly, deliberately and treach-
eTOusly slay another, and then say he
had no malice. 1t was laid down
plainly that man shall not be pro-
tected against punishment if he knew
what he was doing, and that it was CON
trary TO law, unless knowledge of the
illegality and WTOngfulness of the act
was Obliterated by mental disease. A
| man might be what is called "crank, ,"
or even partially insane, and still
abundantly responsible for crime. If
the jury should agree on these PROPOSE
tlOns of law, and acquit on the ground
OF mental delusiOn, then every crack
Drained, Unbalanced man, with or with
out motive, could slay for party purpo-
ses, or for no purpose Davidge pro-
nOunced Spitzka's testimony misera-
bly, mOnstrOus effort to build up a
wretched rotten case.
FRIDAY.
Davidge concluded his argument to-
day.
SATURDAY.
Judge Cox said he was 10th to decide
not to hear Guiteau's speech, but he was
persuaded the speech would be but a re-
iteration of his testimony. "NOw Just
read 1t, your honor" said Guiteau. The
Court thought that if Guiteau got
wound up it would be impossible to re-
strain him, at any rate the Court
wouldn't make the experiment. 81
take exception on that ruling" cried
Guiteau, land 1 want the record to
show that | appeared here as my own
| counsel, and that the Court would not
| allow me to speak in my own behalf. 1t
| is an outrage on American jurispTu-
| dence. This opinion will be shared by
the American people when my speech is
i'll print | have got an encOmium upon
your honor, and hope that shall not
have to withdraw it. If | have done so,
future ages, and | tell you so to your
face.
Mr.. Reed then rose to address the jury
on behalf of the prisoner. He com
menced bp paying compliments to the
jury for the seriousness, solemnity and
care which had characterized it during
this long trial, trial unparalleled in
the history of criminal Jurisprudence.
President Garfield was the speakers
friend and he knew him well. Could
his spirit appear before them to-day it
would say in language glowing and ell
Oquent, because it would be from
heaven, 'Iet him free; he could not
have been sane; he could not have de-
sired to kill me; never wrOnged him; |
never harmed him; give him his free
DOM" And the bereaved widow, when
she kneels before God morning and
evening asking him to alleviate her
sorrows, no doubt prays him to guide
that jury in Washington-guide them
so that they shall say that "the creature
who shot my husband is lunatic." "It
needs no expert" cried Reed, "tO see
that the prisoner is insane and is a poor
wandering lunatic. | predict that if
he were put in an insane asylum, with
in twenty-fOur months he will be a
miserable, dTiveling idiot. 1t cannot be
otherwise. He is total mental wreck
on every other subject but that he is an
agent of God Reference to that is like
touching match to a powder maga-
zine. This explains his keenness and
smaTtness." Guiteau, at all this,
turned his face to the window and
laughed immOderately. Mr.. Reed next
called attention to the varying inaccu-
Tacies of the official bulletins issued by
the doctors, supposed to be the best in
the country, who attended President
Garfield, and to the fact that the au-
tOpsy showed that not one of them had
any correct idea of what the real ma
ture of the wound was. He clinched
this by saying that it would be an
atrOcity to send to the gallOws any man
on the mere opinions of medical eX-
perts, however eminent they were.
81 adjure you" said Reed, in closing,
''tO keep your Oaths. Falter not in the
performance of the duty that shall save
you and the fair land from disgrace. |
assert that the condemnation of this
man to the gallOws will be infamy be-
yOnd description. 1t will be an indeli-
BILE stain on American jurisprudence.
Think of the scene; for if you condemn
him to the scaffOld, although you are
not there in body to see the horrible
sight, you can be there in mind. The
man is brought out from the cell with
the same sad, pale face and the same
weary, wandering eyes. The officers
gather around, him, they piniOn him so
that his muscles cannot have play, cover
him with black robe, they shut out the
light of day, lead him to the gallows,
and send him into eternity" "Well," :"
cried Guiteau, who had sQuirmed a lit
tie GCring the recital, 81 would rather
go that way than by smash-up on rail-
roads, as some poor fellows went last
night" "a lunatic," continued Reed,
whom, if our Savior, if He were born to-
udys mOulu ubdl. lu6 Is nOU
Oyerdrawn, and l leave the result to
you"
SUNDAY.
The following is the substance of the
argument which Guiteau desired to
make to the jury:
GENTLEMEN: have the honor here
with to transmit my speech. 1t is an
historical document, and desire it sent
broadcast to the American nation. /
am not certain that Judge Cox will not
allow me to deliver it, but / send it to
my eOuntrymen, and they and the Presi-
dent of the United States, if necessary.
will finally adjudicate this case. If he
does rot, his name will go into history
blackened as gag-law man. I am sure
that the able Chief Justice and his asso-
ciates, who represent the Washington
court in bane, will spit with scorn upon
the position of Judge Cox, and am sure
that the high-tOned men of the nation
will do likewise, because 1 am my own
counsel and if ia infamOuc IL on, NOT