Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-13

set speech, but expressed simple desire to
render the jury what aid he could in their
present and solemn duty. The time had now
come in this trial when the jury became fac
tors. Whatever disorder or levity might have
characterized the trial, there was but one SEN
timent in respect of the conduct of the jury.
All commended their dignifsd department
and close and patient attention to the evil
dence. He could not doubt, as they had re-
ceived the commentator of all in the past,
they would continue to deserve it in the flu
ture by the decision of the question before
them.
As Davidge traced the process of reasoning
by which the prisoner gradually reached the
conviction that but one life interposed be-
tween himself and possibly great benefits,
Guiteau became restless, and for the first time
since the opening of court, indicated by his
nervous twisting about. the usual preliminar-
les to Interruptions, which in this instance
quickly followed. ''Not often,'' said Davidge,
Gin the record OF hideous crime, do we have
such plain and pointed evidence as to the first
conception of crime as in this case. The sug-
gestion came to the wretch in the night as he
was lying in his bed"
sit came to me when the Lord got ready to
have it," snarled the prisoner.
Davidge continued: "This thought, or sug-
gestion, came to him On the 18th of May.
Still thinking that he might obtain office,
he sought to keep his hands clear,
he made another effort on the 28th of May to
induce the president"
Guiteau called out from the dock, "Iwonld
not have taken foreign mission after the
first of June if 1t had been offered to me.''
Davidge, apparently not needing hinton
the 2Sth of May"
Guiteau-"I am talking about the first of
June.''
Davidge, pausing moment-"Just listen
to him."
Guiteau, sneeringly- "They would listen to
you, but your talk is too weak; it is hardly
worth listening tor
For several minutes Guiteau continued to
interject his comments, with the evident in
tention of annoying Davidge, but finding he
could not effect this, he gradually subsidized
into complete silence.
, In the beginning, said Davidge, it was
sought to show the prisoner was OIL his bal
ance. Now the court tells you to look for
that degree of insanity that disables q man
from knowing that what he was doing was
wrong. This Is the test you are to apply upon
the question of inspiration. Think will be
able to show to your satisfaction how little
there is in this claim. The only question he
HUI wa tudG VI luSdultJ. LIZ tLCA OCu
that the prisoner had that degree
of intelligence, legal knowledge and
moral sense, which rendered him responsible
for his acts. In telling passage he showed
that the prisoner himself had the wit to see
the fatal weakness of Scoville's line of defence,
and repudiated it, arguing in his own behalf,
that he was no imbecile, but a sane man,
whose intellect and will had been dominated
over during a specified period of time, render
s,,n. HI, fa, VII Law
crime.
He then reviewed the circumstances of the
crime. His analysis of Guiteau's character
was graphic and effective. IF, he exclaimed,
81 were to sum up the moral and Intellectual
qualities of this man, 1 should say that he had
the daring of q yulture, combined with the
heart of a WOLF" 1t rested, he added, with
the jury to show the world whether Guiteau's
opinion was we'll founded. If he had feared
head and chief would be alive to-day.
At this point recess was taken. When
the court reassembled Davidge took up in order
the case of each member of the Guiteau fami-
ly, upon whose mental condition evidence had
been offered by the defence, and recited in con-
nected counter evidence of the prosecution,
summing up the force of this evidence with
the remark, "But the unanswerable testimony
of the experts settles the question. How
4 eueCG ILLS COlldUcTdl luSdulOy COulu utNC
upon the mental condition of the prisoner. 1t
is but the nerest mockery to discuss this
question in view of the undoubted ability Of
this man to distinguish between right and
wrong.
Guiteau interrupted once and shouted: 81
have always been q christian man and for
six years have been strictly virtuous, don't
forget that either"
Davidge continued: "There is not a single
fact, or single jot or title, to show that this
prisoner was not perfectly responsible for his
act on the I'd of July. The jury will find that
the defense have carefully picked out and held
up to view everything in the entire career of
this man which may be considered odd or pc
culiar, and it is for you to consider how much
value can be attached to this evidence, when
you come to consider whether this man did
not know, on the I'd of July, that it was wrong
for him to kill the chief magistrate of the
nation"
Davidge then took up the Oneida commu-
nifty subject, and spoke of Guiteau wallowing
there for six years.
Guiteau shouted: 81 say it is false. did
not wallOw. Pm as pure as you are, and a
good deal purer. 1 went thare to save my
soul, not from lust. Put that down and don"
forget it,"
Davidge discussed the evidence vs.Chas Reed,
who conversed with the prisoner Tuesday be-
|
peared "little Off his balance,'' and this.
mark you, said Dayidge, is the extent of his
evidence as to that '4y. He was never asked
if he thought he al unable to distinguish
between right and wrong. Is it SO very
strange, gentlemen, that this prisoner should
have appeared queer when at that very time
he was carrying in his breast this monstrous
crime. This witness Reed"
Guiteau. interrupting: "You'd better let
Reed alone, Davidge, he's bad man for you
to tackle"
again saw the prisoner at jail, as he says, at
the instance of Scoville, and his evidence as to
that occasion is manufactured evidence"
Guiteau again interrupted, shouting in
braggadocio tones: you'd better look out,
Reed is going to speak tomorrow. He may
tear you to pieces. He's had lots of expert.
ence in Chicago handing such fellows as you
are, and he sent sore of them to state prison. :"
Continuing, Dayidge explained that he
s'never reflected on Reed, but it was an easy
thing for the prisoner after the act to strike
the wall and feign insanity for the benefit Of
gentleman who would shortly appear as a
witness for the Defence
Guiteau-"I never feigned insanity. Inever
claimed to be insane after the second of July.
Pm as sane as you are, Davidge, and a better
man too.'
Davidge-"Do you hear that, gentlemen
Contrast that with what you have seen day
after day in this roorn.''
Guiteau occasionally interrupted, and once
called out sarcastically: "Yo.i don't believe a
word of that, Davidge. You're just talking
that stuff for money
Davidge continued 10 discuss the evidence
which he had arraoged chronologically, and
caused ripple of amusement as he described
Grifaa11s caroor in Rostnn ttTharn ha