Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-04
Guiteau Once More in Court,
Looking Fearful and Ema-
ciated.
Scoville Argues the Motion for a
New Trial.
The Government Concusively Shows
that Sentence Should be Pro-
nounced.


When Judge Cox entered the court room
at 10 o'clock this forenoon, seats within the
bar were all filled, while the space in the rear
OF the room was occupied BY crowd of men
and bows, vino stood closely packed. The
prisoner was Immediately brought in and
placed in the dock.
Before taking his seat, Guiteau looked
over to his counsel and said in a quiet and
rather pleading tone Can | sit at the table,
if your your Honor please?
Judge Cox-If there is no objection from
the counsel.
Guiteau-iIave you any objection, Col.
Corkhilll
No. sir.
The prisoner then took q seat at the table
by the side of Scovil- and taking out of his
coat pocket roll of manuscript. addressed
the court in the apparent belief and with the
air of principal counsel in the case.
IT the court please, before this motion ia
made, | desire to correct few errors that
have crept in.
At this point he was stopped by the court
Corkhill objected to any remarks from the
prisoner. At this stage Scovile also object
ed and thought ANYTHING of the kind had
better be postponed until the business
before the court was disposed of If your
honor please have contemplated that some
additional time should be given for this mo-
ton. also have assurances from promi-
nent member of this bar that he will assist
me next week
Corkhll asked. Who is this gentleman?
Scoville declined to give his name at pres
ent, except in confidence to the court. SEQ
vile then desired to make a new motion rel
alive tn the additional grounds that he had
discovered for asking a new trial. These
grounds were unauthorized conversations
with the jury by outside parties, and subse-
qurnt admissions of an expert that he thought
Guiteau insane, but didn't dare to say for
fear 1t would injure him in business in public
estimation.
Scovile read an affidavit sworn and sub
ssribed to by hms self setting forth in details
the grounds stated and added | have not
yet proposed formal motion based upon this
affidavit, but presume it will be sufficient if
do so at any time during the dav.
Corkill-May it please your honor the
time for filing such motions and affidavits
has expired.
Judge Cox-well. we will postpone any
consideration of this matter until the motion
now before the court is disposed of
Scovile then proceeded to read affidavits
and other papers filed BY him with his motion
for new trial.
Judge Cox will withhold his decision upon
the motion until tomorrow morning. The
counsel will submit their legal authorities to-
day, for the consideration of the court.
+. ii. Snyder, maker of the affidavit upon
| which Scoville relies mainly to sustain his
motion, sat in the rear of Scovile.
The intervening DAYS since the verdict of
guilty as indicted was rendered. have I'M
doubtedly been DAYS of anxiety to the prison.
er. and have left their impress upon his
sallow countenance. The cheek bones are
more prominent. the lines about the mouth
are deeper and the features have hard and
piuched appearance, such as usually beto-
kens late hours and overwork.
During the reading of the affidavits by
Scovile. Guiteau listened attentively, once
only commenting with, That's doubtless
true"
After reading Snyder's affidavit, Scoville
defended the applicant and himself from criti-
cism which he learned had been made by the
prosecution.
Corkbill. in reply, said; Neither Snyder
nor Scoville are now on trial; when thev are
on trial in this court will attend to them
At present, the subject under discussion il.
whether a new trial shall be granted to the
convicted murderer OF James A. Garfield
have stated that the signatures upon the pa
per which forms the basis of Snyders affda-
Wit are base forgeries, and I expect to prove
them so. to the satisfaction of the court and
| country. l have never accused Scoville of
the forgery, and never supposed him to be
| guilty of it,
| Corkhill then read the afidavits Of each
member of the jury, in which they most posi-
lively denied ever having seen or read a copy
of the Critic or any other paper during the
time they served as jurors upon the trial of
Guiteau.
| Following these Was read the affidavit of
Norman Wizard. to the effect that he had
known Snyder for fifteen years. and to his
know ledge said Snyder is thief, forger and
blackm.iler. and that he (wiard) would not
believe him under oath. Corkhill also read
sffidavits of John L. Sargent, formerly de-
tective in Washington. and detective Nc
Elftesh, who arrested Snyder several years
since on . charge Of grand larceny. also the
affidavit Of George c. Curtis, bailiff in charge
of the room from which Snyder alleges TO
have taken a copy of the CRITIC with the
jurors name upon it, The affidavit saws he
did not purchase the Critic during the
trial, or leave one in his room. that the only
person that attracted the suspicion of the
bali6s or Jury vas f. T. Snyder, Scoville and
J. H. Hayden. These parties passed the
IRONS on several occasions without having
any ostensible business. and were objects Of
suspicion to both bailiffs and jurymen. The
anlant further swears that ct the hour when
Snyder swore that be found the "Critic'' in
the baiihs' room. b (Curtis) was there and