New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-13
JURISDICTION IN TIE GUITEAU CASE

CLOSING ARGUMENTS BY MESSRS. DAVIDGEAND REED
WASHINGTON, May 12.-Walter K. Davidge.
RESUMED his argument this morning in the supreme
Court of District General Term, against the motion
the verdict and sentence III the Gmtcau case
IT seemed to him that who WAS called upon
TO Interpret the language OF the act Of 1890 unembar
RAISED by any restraint growing out of any peculiar sys
irn coud doubt that the crime OF murder commit
ted where mortal blow which carried death with
was struck 1t appeared to him almost an insult to the
human understanding to assume that murder involved
any degree the place where the victim died lie pro
cced,d TO auote from Blackstone. Coke Hale, Hawkins,
East and other English authorities in support of the po-
son locality Of the death was IN no sense assO-
ciated with the crime committed, but simply with the
mode Of punishment lie also cited the case OF the state
of Minnesota against Gessup dhe blow having been
struck in Minnesota and the victim having died III Wis
consinl in which the Supreme Court OF Minnesota de-
cled that is for his acts that the defendant IS respOn
sble that the place where the acts are done Is inc
place where lie should be indicted and tried Mr. DaV
idge quoted several English decisions 10 the effect that
the giving Of the blows which constitute the felony Is
the crime The intent he said here All the acts
and agencies of the prisoner here. The prisoner
had nothing to do with the time place OF the death
except that he rendered death sooner what Ohehce
had this man committed against the majesty OF the
State Of New-Jerseyl WHAT mockery 1t would be to
try him there Was great Government like that OF
the United to be waiting on the state OF NewJer
sew for the vndicatiOn OF ts dignity ana s majesty
lie cuprt here had never done anything against the
majesty of that state.
MIR Davdge concluded his argument at l213 p. M.
and then Mr. ade the closing speech III support OF
the bill Of options. He referred to an article written
Inv MIR Dayidge, and published IN law magazine III
Is74 man aiming the position Of want OF jurisdiction
ON euch a case this and, IN reply TO Mr. CoIkhils
suggestion that the legal mind OF the country sustained
the doctrine Jurisdiction he ventured the assertion
that ory-nine out Of every fifty lawyers IN the Cy OF
washington to-day held that the court which tired Cut
team had no Jurisdiction AS 10 Mr. CorEhlDs Other
statement that the medical men OF the country were
convinced of Gueaus sanity, he declared that some
of the very best medical men Of the country believed
that Guiteau was unatc and that II would be shame
and disgrace TO hang hun. AS 10 public sentiment
on the subject of the verdict and sentence he be-
heved that 1t changing rapidly from day 10 day
The position OF counsel the other SIDE was tnat Tue
committed when the bullet was nred INTO he
Presidents back familiar illustration OF the talacy
position that she prisoner could not De In
dicted that the next day day thereafter
until the President died Why Because The offence
WAS not complete until death resulted To commit "a
thing complete it, Judge Peters had said In 1909
lin case which Mr. Reed had cited TO the Court that he
always refused TO take Jurisdiction when be had any
doubt about To send Guiteau TO the gallows when
there we're grave doubts OF the jurisdiction Of the Court
that tried him would amore horrible crime and more
damnng act than bis own crime and act III nrins Inc
bullet into the Presidents back
This closed the arguments, and the Court thereupon
adjourned TIL Monday next