The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-01-23
THE END
Of the Guiteau Trial Nearly
at Hand.
Porter Makes His Closing
Speech To-Day.
items of General Interest,"
Fires and Casualties.
CLOSING ARGUMENT.

ue of approach. Members of the press,
counsel and court officers found the great
est difficulty in forcing their way through
the immense throngs that blocked up every
passage way. Even holders of special
tickets were in many instances, unable to
get near enough to the policeman and
baliffs to secure assistance in procuring
their respective seats.
When the doors closed one thousand
opened Guitesu made the following an
nouncement 'I spent yesterday in ex-
amining my mail. / had several hundred
letters many of them from ladies and some
were very tender. desire to express my
thanks to ladies for these kind and tender
letters. One letter suggests that Gen. Ar
thur should give me Cabinet Office. Now
I want to say l would not take any Office
from President Arthur, and under circum-
stances don think it would be proper
that should accept one.
Now in regard to Judge Porter. I want
to say as he is to have the closing Of the
case, if he attempts to mislead the court
and jury and my counsel viii stop him.
He came into this case under misappre
hension on the part of General Arthur,
otherwise he would not be in the case. He
don't properly represent the government,
he only represents himself"
Judge Porter entered the court room
shortly before the prisoner had delivered
himself of this warning. After moments
delay he stepped to the open space before
the jury, and in tones that betrayed his
weakened condition, began the closing ar
gument.
Porter said: IF it please your Honor
and gentlemen of the jury in my own in
trinity, for share your fatigue, proceed
as best can to discuss my duty. The
nature of this duty is such that I should
feel that were almost an accessory after
the fact if should fail to speak such
words as can touch you in reaching a
proper conclusion. Thus faf the trial has
practically been conducted by the prisoner
and Scoville. Everyone has been denounc-
cd at their will, and even now am inform
ed will be interrupted by them both.
Judge Porter briefly recited the scenes
of disorder, the abuse and SANDER to which
everyone on the case had for two months
been subjected and yet, he said, Of three
speeches which have been made by the
defense I will do the prisoner the justice
to say that his was least Objectionable.
After sketching the circumstances lead
ing up to the crime, and pointing with
fervid language the damning wicked
ness Of its execution, Judge
Porter turned his attention to
the prisoner and proceeded to depict his
character in the following terms; "a beg
gar" q 'hypocrite, a ''robber' and a
"swiRdler, a lawyer who never wen suit,
no court no jury failed to see in him dis
honest rogue and such men cannot win
cases He has left his trail Of infamy in a
hundred directions. The man who is a
lawyer had such notions of morality that
when he had taken debts to collect and col
1scted them, by dodging the debtor he held
them. A man who was capable OF blast
ing the name of the woman with whom he
had slept for years and still recognized as
his wife. A man who when he was tired
OF this woman, pretending to be chris
tian and believer of the Bible looked into
the book and read: Thou shalt not com
init adultery" and then went out and COM
mitted adultery with street-walker. A
man who pushed himself into the fellow
ship OF christian associations as follower
OF the Savior when fresh from six year s
of fornincation In the Oneida community.
passing in review principal events of the
prisoners life.
Judge Porter showed up in all it's hid
eous dsformity, the infamous bent of bis
nature, a1uding to his dispute with his
brother, Jno. w Guiteau, in Boston, when
he struck the latter in the face. Judge
Porter said this was the first and last time
TINS coward ever struck any blow in the
1sce. Ills coward hand always struck
from behind. After showing who and
what was the murderer Judge Porter next
described his victim paying glowing tribute
to the character and services of the lament
ed President and pronouncing mos
touching eulogy as it were, upon his mem
cry. The claims of the prisoner to be q
praying man was considered and the hollow
mockery of the claims of Guiteau. Guiteau
angrily shouted, II pray every night anC
morning and before every meal; if you die
the same you would be a better man; yoJ
wouldn't be here looking for bloot
money" The prisoner says he prayed fo
six weeks. Why? He had made up hi
mind undoubtedly to murder the Presiden
On the First Of June. Said Judge Porter
did he still continue to pray down to the
very act of the murder7"
Guiteau-'I prayed to see if the LORD
wouldn't let me off from killing him.
What was he praying for" continued
Judge Porter, t'the man who claimed tc
have received Divine inspiration himself
prepares his defense in advance for an act
10 DO which, he was Divinely inspired
Inc believer in inspiration, he would him
sen after the inspired book and substitute