Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1882-01-11
TRIAL OF The assassin.
Judge Porter's Argument-Guiteau
Nervous-Judge Cox's Decision
on Law Points-Gulteau Satisfied
With Il.

WASHINGTON. January 10. - When
Guiteau came into Court this morning,
and as he passed his brother. he whis-
psred TO him: "Come vsr to the dock,
I want to sec You about something Of
great importance" On taking his seat
the prisoner laid down o large bundle Of
papers. and spreading out o manuscript
busted himself in looking II over. Mr..
Porter began his argument shortly after
10 o'clock, and at ono fixed the atten-
ton OF every one in the room. Guiteau
pretended to be e%ngrossed in his manu-.
script, but soon laid Il aside and listened
with wrapt attention.
Nothing like it has been seen or heard
during the past nine weeks in the Gui.
teau trial, as Mr.. Porter reviewed the
conduct OF the prisoner and the conduct
OF part OF his counsel. The crime In all
It's hidsous ugliness was held up to the
dstestation OF his hearers. The silence
became very oppressive and the presence
Of avenging justice in the near future
was suggested with Q force OF conviction
that swept from the courtroom every
vestiee OF that levity which has SO long
danced attendance upon every utterancs
OF the prisoner, and like q vail obscured
FROM the consciousness Of the spectators
the horrors Of the crime and what
should bs the ~solsmnity Of its Judicial
atonement. The prisoner WINGED and
nervously twisted in his place. and for
several minutes was unable to say any.
thing that IN any sense could approach
10 IN interruption. Gradually the pris.
oner regainsa his usual assurance and
resumed his daily habit Of interruptipg
with contradictions and denials. For
once, however. the insufferable impu.
dence OF the prisoner was completely
overawed. Neither his noise or abuse
could interrupt the avalanche Of con.
demnation that swept from the lips Of
the eloquent counsel. "The prisoner is
mistaken. Your Honor" said Mr.. Por-
ter, iii he believes that by his uuseemly
brawling he can prevent my voice from
being heard by the jury. The puppet
cannot be moved in such good time o.
when he sat by his counsel. and BY his
outbursts now he Is fast tightening the
hangman's moose about his neck"
With o nervous tvitchinR Of the
mouth Guitsau muttered: Wen see
about that" The heretofore audacious
and wholly unabsshed prisoner seemed
i'll at ease and OF o loss to understand
why his would.be sallies Of wit or impu.
dencs entirely failed with the audience.
while the moro severe became the do.
nu~nciations Of counsel the more fire..
quent and marked were the denonstra.
tons OF approval. At last, like Q wild
beast brought to bay, Guiteau yelled
out; 81 staked my lie on the issue, and
I'm willing to 70 TO the gallows tomor-
row IL it's the Lords will. I'm sick Of
this bosb, Judge Porter. / wish you
would get your $4,000 and 90 home"
Judge Porter began his address with
q reference to the disorder which bad
characterized the proceedings Of the dc.
tense. and then spoke OF Reeds srgu.
ment as l~awyer.like and based on the
only law points. which. with any plausi.
biliiy, could DO adduced by the defense.
OF Scovills's argument, be said II could
only have been delivered by one OF the
family Of Guiteau, who, as he had him.
self boosted. had learned his Law In po-
lice courts and acquired his manners
among hooting owls In the woods Of
Western Ohio. Porter reviewed the Or.
gumsnt Of Davidge pointing out its
strong points on malice. Mr.. Davidge
had rightly said It was . presumption OF
law and q question for the Judge and not
the jury. Should the Judge decide as
the defense desired, that malice was q
question OF fact for the jury, BIO would
oyerturn the law and he would create q
precedent In this famous case which
would inevitably DO condemned through
all time to come. Mr.. Seville had OBJ.
jeeted that . decision in support OF the
prosecutions p~ostulates would DO % q
tiquated IS bis (Portsr's) style Of ora.
tory. 81 never" said Porter. initiated
any man, nor commented on any ones
oratory. never" said Porter. ''sat ct
the feet Of that Gamalisl. q Guiteau
did. Whether my manners or morals
would have been improved 10 for others
to say. Judging from the disciple vhs
10 before you, he would scarcely seem
to be an appropriate instructor for
He proceeded to expound law
ON the 'subject Of malice, reading from