Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-01-26

Ca, last saturday morning, commencing
about one O'Clock, which destroyed seven
large and costly buildings, including the Will
son House, in which James Wickham, of Flu
vana county, Va, was burned to death. The
total loss was about $500, 900 and the insurance
$500, 900. 80. According to the testimony OF
one of the conductors, the Spuyten Duyvil
railroad accident was mainly caused by drunk
en- members of the New York Legislature,
who were carousing on his train.
THE ASSASSINATION TRIAL.
In the trial of Guiteau, Mr.. Scoville COM
menced his argument for the defense on Mon
day of last week aid did not conclude until
last Friday His argument was confined al
most entirely to the insanity theory, which he
argued to sustain by review of all the testi-
mony introduced by the defense, as well as
much of that offered by the prosecution.
In the course of his argument, he made
general complaint of alleged unfairness on the
part of the prosecuting attorney. lie had,
from the beginning prescribed who should
visit the Jail and who should not. He had
introduced persons into the prisoners cell
under a false guise to worm out his secrets,
and when the prisoner said anything which
might nure to his benefit the prosecuting at
torney had been very careful not to let it be-
come known.
lie reviewed the life of the prisoner from
his childhood up to the day he committed the
crime, and on Wednesday he discussed statis-
tics of insane criminals, which have been in
troduced in evidence by the prosecution,
sJo,,o ~ fha
benefit to the defense. Discussing the horrors
of crime, as often shown in the acts of insane
criminals, he said there was nothing in this
act to compare with some of the insane acts
of insane criminals, whose crimes had been
instanced by the prosecution. In this con-
ncction the most remarkable branch of his
argument was developed on Wednesday, by the
following denunciation of the Stalwart polti-
clans, which, when uttered, created quite a
sensation in the courtroom. Said he:
''Gentlemen of the jury, in my opinion, if
there were not reasons, and powerful ones,
back of this prosecution, this prisoner never
would have been brought to trial. But I tell
you, gentlemen of the jury, back of this prose-
cution is al influence which | have felt, and
which you may feel, gentlemen, before this trial
is ended. There are politicians who seek to
hide their own shame behind the disgrace OF
this poor prisoner, and make him a scapegoat
for their crime. did not intend, gentlemen
of the jury, to take up this feature of the case,
but when l find the power of this Government
used against me in denying me the small pit
tance that / have asked-a fair and impartial
trial-and small facilities needed for proper
defense, l do not propose to keep quiet. l say
that such men as Grant and COnkling and
Arthur are morally and Intellectually response
BILE for this crime. Conkling shall not es-
cape-shall not shirk the responsibility of the
state of things that led to this act. lie shall
not escape the condemnation of the American
people, if 1 can help it, for his share in the
disgraceful scramble for office that led to the
conflict with the chosen ruler of this great
Nation and led this poor insane man to COM
pass what they would have hailed with salts
faction and as would probably hundreds of
other politicians if it could occur other than
through assassination removal of Gar
field, who stood in the way Of their unrighteous
and disgraceful struggle for office. Neither
shall Grant escape that condemnation to which
he is so justly subjected, when coming from
Mexico, and coming with undue haste, he
threw his own name into the petty quarrel
about a small office in the Republican party
and sought to foment differences that had
| sprung up. dlu loG SolliS w o0o Ciio LILO
deeds of these men, high in power, visited up
on the head of this poor insane man, it can
help it. This clamor for his blood is not for
the purpose Of avenging Garfield or of satisfy
ING Justice, but their theory is this : If ID can
be shown this was the act OF sane man then
those politicians in high places will say, OF
course we are not responsible for the act OF u
sane man. To he sure we had some differen-
ces but then it could never have led sane
man to do such an act but, on the contrary
gentlemen of the jury, what IS the erect OF
your verdict if you acquit him as an insane
man? Why people will say some one IS at
fault. They say we will fix the blame upon
the heads and hearts of those men who Waged
war on our poor dead President until it de-
ceived this poor insane man from reading
daily in the papers what Grant says, what
Conkling SAYS and from constantly thinking
upon it: to his insane act of killing the Presl-
dent"
On Saturday, the prisoner was allowed to
speak in his own behalf, report OF which is
furnished by telegraph as follows {:
The prisoner carefully arranged his glasses,
and, with flourish began to read from man
uscript, as follows 'The prosecution pretend
that | am wicked man. Mr.. Scoyllle and
Mr. Reed think am a lunatic, and presume
YOU think am. certainly was a lunatlc on
u IL, L
American people generally, and L presume
you think 1 was. Can you imagine anything
more insane than my going to that depot and
shooting the President of the United States !!
You are here to say whether was sane OF IN
sane at the moment l fired that shot. You
have nothing to do with my condition before
or since that shot was fired. You must say by
your verdict, sane or insane, at the moment
the shot was fired, II you have any doubt OF
my sanity at the moment, you must give me
the benefit of that doubt and acquit. That is,
if YOU have any doubt whether l fired that
shot, or as an agent of the Deity. II fired 1t
on NV own account, I was sane if fired 1t,
supposng myself the agent of the Deity, was
insane, and YOU must acquit This is the law as
given in Il recent decision of the New York
Court of Appeals It revolutiOniZes old rules
and is a grand step forward in the law OF in
sanity. It's worthy of this railroads, cleo
tricity, and telephones, and it well comes from
the progressive State of New York. have no
hesitation in saying that it is a special prov
dence in my favor, and I ask this Court and
jury to consider it. Some of the best people OF
America think me the greatest man OF this age,
and this feeling is growing. They DelleVe IN
nv inspiration, and that Providence land have
really saved the Nation another war. My
speech setting forth in detail my defense was
telegraphed Sunday to all the leading papers,
published on Monday morning, and now am
permitted by his Honor to deliver it to you"
AS he reached that point Il have always
served the Lord, and whether l live or die"
he broke down completely stopped, tried to
choke down a rising lump in his throat, but
| found it impossible to keep back genuine SOD.
| rT,Einr ont his handkerchief he buried his face