Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-02-02
AN AsSAsSIN'S APPEAL.
Guiteau Issues Another Address to
the American People.

The following are extracts from the
appeal which Guiteau sent out to the
press the day following his conviction;
To the American People:
Twelve men say | wickedly murdered
J. A. Garfield. They did it on a false
notion that am a disappointed office
seeker. Ny speech, they say, made nc
impression on them. l am not surprised
at their verdict, considering their class.
They do not pretend to be Christian men,
and therefore did not appreciate the
idea of inspiration. They are men of
the world, and of moderate intelligence,
and therefore not capable OF apprecia-
ting the character 1f my defense. Ac-
cording to one of them, I'VE had grog at
each meal and cigar afterward." which
showed their style and habits. Men of
this kind cannot represent the great
Christian Nation of America. Had they
been high-toned Christian gentlemen,
the verdict would have been Not
guilty." | want to employ two or three
first-class lnvyers to take charge OF my
case. The principal point will be to
show the jurisdiction of this court
to try this indictment, because the Pres
dent died in New Jersey. Authorities
on this point are conflicting, but some of
the best lawyers in America say the
predominance of authorities are against
the jurisdiction of this court. l desire
the court in banc to pass upon this qaes-
tion. There are many people in Ameri-
ca that believe in God and in my inspi-
ration, that l am patriot. To you,
men and women of America, l appeal. l
ask you, in the name of justice, to come
speedily to my relief. Come in person
or by letter. If you send money, send a
postal order OF a check to my order.
With competent legal help, l can get out
of this with the Lords help, and l am
sure of that. But good lawyers do not
work for nothing. | want to employ
two or three irst-class lawyers to do my
work before the court in banc. Ii l had
had competent counsel, l should not
have talked so much in court. make
special appeal to the ladies of America
to come to my rescue. Some of them
have written me delightful letters, and
1 ask each and every one of them to re-
spond to the extent of their means, and
see me in person if possible. return
my sincere thanks for their letters and
sympathies. You, ladies, believe in God
and in my inspiration, and that l have
really saved the Nation great trouble
and great expense to avert another war.
l am Gods man in this matter, just as
truly as the despised Galilean was Gods
man. They said he was blasphemer,
a gluttonsetc., and it seemed small
thing for his acquaintances to kill, but
his death stirred the wrath OF the AL
mighty, and he got even with them for
ty years later at the destruction of Je-
rusalem A. d. 10; and he will get even
with the American people if hair of
my head is harmed God will vindicate
me,even if the nation rolls in blood. Mere
physical death is nothing to me. Under
the law, can't be executed in any event
till July l may die in Jail before then.
l have no trouble about that. l shall
not 60 before my time. l had rather be
hung, 50 far as physical death is con-
cerned. than to die from painful illness
or meet with painful railway or
steamboat accident 1 hardly think 1
am destined to be hanged; therefore l
give myself no thought on that, but l
am anxious to have my character and
inspiration vindicated. To that end /
need help, as herein mentioned. Ny
friends need not be ashamed of me.
Some people think me the greatest man
of the age, and that my name will go
down in history as patriot by the side
of Washington and Grant
CHAs. J. GUITEAU.
U. 8. Jail, Washington, D. O. Jan. 26, 1882.