Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-26
Guilty a. Indicted.

tn" trial 0f the iSSin Gut EAU has tarmin tied
- Ia common sense judgment Of the people anti
cipae,l. in verdict Of '.ui!ty Indicted, Lnd Il
3 safe II say that a verdict never met with more
general approval The trial lasted over ten weeks
aa1 cnn~uned ever flfty-three days. As 4 matter
nf cuU~s' TIE end OF legal OcCelina has hot get
been reached. but the worst is probably over. The
tlfeGrr VII, un i0ubtnTy. exhaust every means ~
nave ih' assassin from the galiOwS, bat il is not
likely that their efforts will accomplish more tan
that delay which viii be necessary to a
fair hearing OF the points they raise.
Nobody believes that new trial viii
he granted. Indeed, there Is sutst antially
nothing. ~ base the application for one upon.
The court went to the extreme of leniency with
the prisoner, apparently with the purpose ~ aY2li
ing even a reasonable prptext the setting aside
OF the trial The verdict OF the jury has had The
effect OF satisfying doubling minds as Gutean'S
sanity, and the defence rested their case upon this
one point. The cold bI9Olrd murder of the
President was admitted. That the act was pre-
meditated and cooy planned was admitted, and
the entire defence based upon the alleged UnsOund
ne>o of the aS>is~in's mind. The jury had no side
issues or legal technicaias and constructions to
embarrtsS them in the consideration OF the case.
Their minds had but to BE- fixed from the first
upon this one single issue. The assassin was before
them daily, giving them opportunity To study hi5
character paruli iriteS etCentrcit-S if hc nOS-
srs>ed any, and, above Ill, his mental condition
In the light OF the evidence and the record OF his
past life. presented. The defence and the priS-
oner Acknowledged, on numerous occasion, The
Intelligence, capacity and attention OF the jury.
During the closing arguments the court manifest
Ell inc same ,crupulOuS regard for the prisoners
right, which had been exhibited In hearing the
evidence. The judges charge 10 the jury was
clear, comprehensive and eminently fair 10 the
prisoner He defined the crime Of murder to be
'-whefr person of sound memory aud discretion
INIa holm
malice aforethought," and added that It must be
proved that the death caused by the act OF
the accused He declared that the jury must find
TIRE prisoner guilty OF murder or acquit him.
"irresp"nSfby insane could not commit muir
der JUICE Cox also made clear To the Jury the
weight OF responsibility resting upon each side Of
The ease with regard TO the proof to the condi
ton OF the prisoners mind. He charged that In
law every man Is proven to be innocent until
proErn guilty. thus putting the burden OF proving
the crime upon The prosecutions; but in CON
ne-tOn with this presumption was another,
arising in this case. As ms unity Is the excep-
ton to the rule. every man IS presumed 10 be
and responsible for his acts until the contrary
was shown. and that the burden OF oyerthrowins
this presumption devolved upon the defense.
The case thus went to the jury, as it had been
nifir by the defense cleared OF everything that
could emharrass or confuse, and the verdict is
entirely Ia accordance with that already rem
dered by the American public. Aside from the
feeiings OF consideration for the distinguished
victim and OF Indignation at his cowardly murder
there was feeling that failure to convict would
Establish Il most dangerous precedent for the
Insanity plea. For d man to escape the full
penalty Of his crime by Sinking It's responsibility
upon the Deity would have the appearance OF a
blaNphemou5 mockery, trayeSty upon justice.
vi course, had the evidence tended 10 sustain the
plea OF insanity, the claim OF Inspiration would
simply have been cllSSe1 as amone, the absurd
decisions OF diseased mint; but the evidence
dill not tend in That direction Tried by all the
recognized tests GUiteau is sane man. IIis re-
nukdbe exhibition OF memory In detailing his
past life day after day without any lapse OF recol-
fertion, his correct Interpretation OF law points
applicable 10 his case, and mis- accurate judgment
Is 10 the effect OF Judge Porters speech indicl ted
sound mind ana quick perception, and tne jury
say That their verdict was based partly upon a
Ssuty OF the prisoner well as upon the evidence
The news of the wholesome verdict of the Gui
teiu jury. nrst given 70 the public through STAR
EXTRA Was received with almost universal express
s'oEs Of satisfaction; AMI was especially gratifying
10 those who hid apprchcnded thtt there might
be something In the claim vi the defense that the
jury would disagree.
The Nr's York HerGls says the charge OF Judge
Cox was 'eminentiy impartial, thorough and
sound The StU says the charge was excellent
fNe ffsb.'lie says II was vigorous lucid aud ex-
crilenL" The Times declares it satisfactory to
ali conservative and Iu'iicious thinkers"
THIS Kind OF weather, one would think should
haze thc effect of inducing Congress to f.yorably
ton OF ittTer Carriers