River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-01-19
APPROACHING
The End The Evidence all Taken in
the Guiteau Case, and Argument
Commenced.
roRrIErH DAY.

Commenced.
FoRTIETH DAY.
WASHINGTON, Jan. g. Guiteau ar
rived at the court at $50 and was taken
to the waiting room. He appeared
rather nervous and his countenance
indicated anxiety. When he had taken
seat in the dock, he glanced around
stealthily over the audience and imme-
ately began a harange evidently in
| tended for the jury.
81 have received" he said, "some
500 letters, great majority of them
from ladies. When get time shall
attend to them. / want to send my
greeting to the ladies of america and
!, thank them for their sympathy; they
don't want me hanged. Public opinion
is fast changing. / received, Saturday,
a check for 81 900 from the stalwarts
of Brooklyn, and another for $500 from
the stalwarts of New York. | want the
jury to understand how public opinion
is on this case"
A bailiff here tried TO silence him,
when he turned on him in most
| vicious manner and snarled out: ''You
| keep quiet and mind your business.
Do not interfere with me when I'm
talking. If you had any sense you
would understand your place"
With this opening breeze, the pro-
ceedings in due form begun, and SEQ
vile resumed his argument.
Scoville proceeded without Interrupt
ton for an hour. His remarks were
listened to with marked attention. He
laid stress upon the propositions that
insane men, if they know the differ
ence between right and wrong, do not
conceal their plans; the benefit OF that
| doubt should attach to that plea, when
raised, with the same force as when
Urged in connection with the commits
sion of a crime. His allusion to the
decision of Judge Davis, who "went out
| of his way" he said, Ito pass upon
something not included in the case he
was then considering" brought Judge
Porter TO his feet With the indignant re-
1 ply that the charge was false.
Scoville retorted-The opinion of a
man who sat on the same bench with a
Barnard and q Cardoza should not be
received with much consideration.
Judge Porter, with even more vehe-
mence, reiterated that the charge of
the counsel was false; that Judge Davis
never sat on the bench with either of
the gentlemen named. 'If the honora-
BILE member of the federal judiciary is
to be put on trial here, / demand"
said Judge Porter, shat the record be
produced here on which this base charge
is made"
Scoville insisted that when the style
of prosecution best suited to the police
court were introduced here by the pros
ecution, he should comment upon
them as he deemed fitting. He should
not be frightened by the tragic utter
ances of Judge Porter. He heard the
same notes years ago from owls in the
woods OF Ohio.
Guiteau laughed, and called. sheer
ingy: "That's a very fine speech Mr..
Porter"
Davidge protested that not five min
utes had been devoted to the scope of
the argument and the court warned
the counsel to abstain from all person
alities.
Scoville concluded his argument at
II o'clock, and in conclusion desired to
make a few remarks of personal
character, abiding to his controversies
with Judge Porter. He disclaimed any
intention to transgress the court pro-
prieties or rules of practice, but he
should criticise the conduct ofthe coun-
sci when it merited criticism, and the
threats of the prosecution would not
intimidate him. Citing the custom of
the counsel on the other side of bowling
to the jury upon entering, Scoville
said: Sometimes it is three bows all
around; sometimes more, but never
less than three. 1t has never been
done by the counsel upon this side, and
do not hesitate to criticise the pro-
prieGy of It"
Judge Porter-The gentleman is sim
ply instancing his lack of politeness. II
he has no apology to make, | shall GER
tainly make none for him.
A recess was here taken.
After recess Corkhill and Davidge adj
dressed the court and jury, both max
ing sweeping arguments, after which
the urt adjourned.
FORTY FIRST DAY.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10-When Gui-
teau came in court, he whispered to
his brother as he passed him: Come
over to the dock; want to see you
about something" Taking his seat
the prisoner laid down large bundle
of papers, and spreading out the man.
uscript, busted himself in looking il
over
! Judge Porter began his argument
shortly after 10 o'clock, and at once
fixed the attention of everyone in the
room. Guiteau pretended to be en-
crossed in his manuscript, but soon
laid it down and listened with rapt at
tention.
Porter went en- to say, that although
the president had died the government
etill lived, and his successor was prose-
cutting his assassin.
EYES," said Guiteau, "and Arthur
employed you under misapprehen-
sion."
eyes," said Judge Porter, under the
misrepresentation that the law was
stronger than Guiteau. Guiteau
seemed to think that he was stronger
than the law"
81 do not claim to be stronger than
the law, but I claim that God Almighty
is stronger than the law" said Gnitean,
sullenly.
"You will come before God Almighty
presently, said Judge Porter, solenmly.
"Until then he would do well to refer
but little.to Him. He will feel soon
what he never felt before. Divine
pressure informs him of the hangman' g
moose. The prisoner had sworn on the
stand that he was predestined to re-
move the president. He had forgot
ten to say that he was also predestined
to BE hung for it. Speaking again Of
his interruptions and Of the pr lmptings
of his family, P rter said he had SUI
preme contempt for all the Guiteaus,
not the respectable ones, but those who
sympathized with the assassin.
Porter then took up the authorities
cited by the DEF nse, pronouncing them
either misrepested or bad Jaw from OBJ
scure benches. He sneered at the as
sertion of Scoville that the Anticipated
arguments OF the prosecution could not
stand in the light of defense WHICH
purported to be the outgrowth of an
enlightened age-an age of Guiteau's,
when hungry politician kills a presi-
dent from pique. "a politician" con-
tinucd Porter, "who had such belief
in the gullibility and depravity of
mankind that he supposed he was
doing men like Gen. Grant, Mr.. Conk-
ling, the greatest parliamentarian, and
one of the foremost statesmen Of his
time, and even President Arthur, aser-