The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-01-05

missed by you You are doing irst-rate o.
your theory but your theory is too small
your brain is too limited
The District Attorney The time has com
when we feel it our duty to demand of thi
Court prompt, decisive, and open action in re
! gard to this criminal.
The Prisoner (solemnly)-I am no criminal
Mr., Scoville-lt is not the proper thing t,
continually throw out that appellation, tina
form of reproach
The Prisoner shaking his finger at the pros
ecution)You men just understand that
am here as my own counsel have not beer
convicted of any offense. / am not here as
criminal
AN EXTRAORDINARY CRIMINAL.
Mr.. Dayidge-We think him most extra
ordinary criminal.
The Prisoner-More than you can manage
evidently. That is the reason you are so ex
cited about it. You see you have no case
The Distric; Attorney-The time has come
for action in the interest of and the vindica
ton of justice itself There has beenGlom
public criticism with regard to the disgrace
full conduct of the man here on trial, because
his conduct was an affront to the dignity OF
the court, offensive to good order and against
decency Your Honor has borne with it very
quietly and | am here now to say | think
very judiciously
The Prisoner-So do l.
ktta A..
this trial we were met with but one issue, as
to whether the man was Sane or insane
There has been brought here by the Govern
ment the most eminent men in their profes-
sion for no other purpose than to honestly
determine whether the man was in his right
mind or not One of the points in settling
this matter was the conduct of the prisoner
in Court 1t was desired that the man should
be allowed the free use Of any conduct he
might be pleased to exhibit. so, on the first
days of the trial, when Interruptions were
abusive to myself
The Prisoner (interrupting)-Yo deserved
every one of them. The members of the bar
SAID didn't give it strong enough.
The District Attorney {continuing)-It was
not proper then to state publicly what l do
now, that the course of your Honor has been
the best in determining the facts that could
possibly have been adopted But there has
come time when justice has been indicated
This man has unquestionably murdered the
President of the United States
The Prisoner-That is false The doctors
finished the work.
The District Attorney-He is entitled to the
same rights privileges and projections that
would be guaranteed to the humblest citizen
of the Republic. But your Homer has thrown
around him additional guards. 1t is not sup
posed that we can quiet interruption. He may
abuse me and these distinguished gentlemen
but these utterances must come hereafter from
the dock
The Prisoner (laughinglyl-I will give you
worse than | give you now, ii Y GU put me in
the dock, which you cannot do.
The District Attorney-He has around him
policemen who do not belong to the official
pointed marshal, and the law imposes on
him the safety and care of the prisoner. l want
the marshal to take him and sit him in the
dock and take care of him. | want him to
stand here on trial as any other man would
stand.
HE FEARS HE WILL BE SHOT.
the Prisoner (violently)-Yo cannot con
vict me and you want to shoot me. This is
the confession of weakness. You want me to
be shot; but l don't believe the Lord will al
low it.
The District Attorney-Hereafter the re-
Lponsiblhty ofhs conduct must be with him
and him alone. We are not responsible for
what may occur or happen to him. He shall
not with our concurrence with any other
treatment / want the marshal to. take
the man to the dock. He is responsible
if he escapes Let the other officers, who
are responsible for the protection of private
citizens return to their BEATS | am tired OF
this. The time has come when we must have
action. We want no admoniton to keep him
quiet. Your Honor may not keep him quiet,
but he can, under the order of your Honor,
march to that dock and sit there until
jury of his countrymen declare him guilty or
not guilty.
The Prisoner (violently)-The American
people will have something to say if you put
me in that dock and get shot, and God AL
mighty will curse you, Corkhill, you wretch,
and any other man who attempts to do me
violence.
Mr.. Scoville rose and, in an indignant and
excited tone, said 81 made no objection to
the motion; but when / heard the prosecuting
attorney stand up and give notice beforehand
that the prisoner is to be placed by authority
in place where he can be shot, and virtually
invites assassins to step INTO this courtroom
and shoot him, disdain further concurrence
in the notion suppose that if the prisoner
were to be placed in the dock that he would
be protected by the officers OF the law. There
is not one man or woman within hearing of
Mr. Corkhill's voice but understood it to be an
invitation for an assassin to step up and shoot
that man when put in the dock"
Mr.. Porter Qaying his hand dramatically on
Mr. Corkhill's shoulder and speaking in
slow tone)-That imputation against this gen
tleman is just as vile as the obscene charges OF
the prisoners call for vindcation. From
the beginning OF this trial the District Attor-
ney has observed spirit of fairness, of honor,
of clemency, of forbearance toward the prison
er unexampled in any state trial reported in
Christian history. He has shown fidelity to
his public duties the fruits of which will come
when Your Honor shall deliver your charge.
and the American people, as represented by
that jury, shall have All opportunity TO render
o verdict
JUDGE PoRTERs ELoQUENCE.
The prisoner-You and the American peo-
pie don't agree on that Porter.
Mr.. Porter-The prisoner, With an audacity
and effrontery which spares neither man nor
God has chosen to put himself in the position
of controlling his own trial. defying the au
thority, and defying that authority to which
he will soon learn to submit. In regard to
the position taken by Mr.. Corkhill entirely
concur with him, whatever the consequences
to the prisoner. If he had in his hand that
bulldog pistol from which he sent the bullet
which assassinated the President when Your