Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-01-11
From our regular correspondents
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WahhInaIOlI, IAn. Z, Xxx.

MINDS Ol Close pDTcTNcTH IIlN wv Nle'''
Guiteau has been weaving his owl
rope. The people Of Washington and
of the country, have been justly IN
ccascd ut the disgracciul scene aud out
ragcous conduct of tho prisoner in
court during the progress OF the trial,
but the one mitigating fact In connec-
ton with il Is that all this has simply
had the effect TO make justice surcr. IL
has obltcratcd every vcstNgc Of SYM
patty which At the beginning some felt
for the miserable creature has given
the experts and Court IN opportunity
to study his mind and character, aud
gone far to enforce conviction upon the
minds Of the jury. No one who has
observed the jury during the Inst two
weeks expresses the least doubt that
their minds are made up beyond the
slightest probability OF change. 1t is
likely that within one week from this
time the verdict Of guilty will have
been returned. sentence of death pro-
nounccd, and Guitcau will be lying in
cell, his bravado all gone, in condi-
ton Of utter, cowardly, unpiiicd pros
tration. After he has given up hope
there will be no more doubt outside the
courtroom of his absolute accountable
ity than there is with those who have
witnessed his daily manifestations Of
ungovernablc malice, brutal cgotism,
depravity and blackguardism. He is
shrewd and cunning when confronted
with the possible consequences OF his
act, and has expected by his conduct to
save himself from all punishment be-
yond few years in an asylum, mean
while having secured the notoriety he
so much covets.
TO one who watches him in the
courtroom this thirst for notoriety
seems sufficient in itself to account for
the murder of the President. His ego
tism, and the immunity he has man
aged to secure during long series Of
party offences, probably induced a be-
lief that he would escape serious pun
ishment for this last crime. He had,
unhappiy, many instances in the rec
ords of criminal trials to base theory
upon that temporary insanity would
furnish him an available excuse. There
is not rcdeeming trait in this wretched
creature, least of all the excuse Of I'M
accountability. He seems able to rec
ognize no motives except such as ami
mate himself. He imputes to Witness
es only the most vulgar impulses. His
rejoinders to counsel for the Govern
ment are the snarls of kicked cur.
His vituperative treatment Of his sister
and the lawyer who so patiently has
conducted his case far better than even
a more skllful, but paid counsel would
have done; his base threats against the
woman who had once been his wife
his references to the father who bore
with him so long, to his dead mother,
to the brother who can gain no benefit
from his attendance on this trial, are
developments Of the most astounding
evil character that has perhaps ever
itself to the world. In MAX
ing up its judgment of Guiteau the
country cannot compare him with its
experience of other criminals. He is
I have been told by ex-
perts and others who have had intimate
with convicts, that so bad
a man, with wickedness so mirrored in
his face, they have never seen. He has
excessive brutality without courage,
vulgar assertion without self-confidence
when fairly confronted, abnormal NAL
ice without the capacity Of strong
hatred. Instances of his cowardice are
known to his jailors which have not,
and cannot, be told in print. He is
bestial wretch and capable of any
crime, but as responsible Of his acts as
any such human brute can be. I want
simply to add that, in the light of re-
cent developments, the injustice of the
criticism of Judge Cox is fully appar.
ent. He has had a hard case to deal
with and has shown patience and wis.,
dom through it all.
Congress has assembled again, but
nothing of consequence will be done for
'ome days. The holiday recess has
,aen an exceptionally dull one in this
ocality. New Years day, however,
vas stirring time, and the reception
It the White House was very largely
attended. The impression has gone out