Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1882-01-23
ruE AssAsSIs,s TRIAL.
GuIteau's Address to the Jury-He
Weeps During It's Recital-Ars.
Scoville Deeply Afrected-"Glery,
Hallelujah."

Weeps During It's Recital-Nrs.
Scoville Deeply Afrected-"Glery,
Hallelujah."
WASHINGTON. January 2l.-Upon en-.
tering the courtroom this morning Gui.
teau took o seat In the witnsss.box, re-
marking. as hs laid out his papers: ~
sit down because I can speak better
not that I am afraid Of being shot. This
shooting business is getting played out"
At an istimation from Judge Cox the
prisoner carefully arranged his glassss.
and, with q flourish. began to road from
his manuscript, a. follows: "The pros
ecution pretend that I am . wicked man.
Mr.. Scoville and the rest think ! am o
luaatic. and I presume you think I am.
I was certainly o lunatic on July q,
when fired on the President; and the
American people generally, and / pre-.
sumo you think I was. Can you imsg.
inc anything more insane than my 60
ing to the depot and shooting the Presi.
dent Of the United States2 You are here
to say whether I was insane or sane
when I fred that shot. You must say
By your verdict whether I was insane or
sane al the moment the shot was fred.
II you have Any doubt Of my sanity at
that moment you must give me the ben.
eft Of the doubt, and acquit. That Is.
II you have any doubt whether / fred
that shot as q zane man or as the agent
OF the Deity. II I fred 1t on ny own
account I was II ! hred II, sup
posing I was the agent Of the Deity. /
was insane. and you must asquit. This
IL the record Of the law given In the re.
cent decision Of the New York Court Of
Appeals: II revolutionizes the old rules.
and is = grand step forward In the law
Of insanity. 1t Is worthy Of this sgs OF
railroads. electricity and telephones. and
II wlel comes from the progressive State
OF New York. I have nc hesitation in
saying that u ID special Providence in
my favor. and ! ask this Court and jury
30 to consider 1t. Some eminent people
in America think me the greatest man OF
this age. and this feeling Is growing.
They believe In my inspiration, and that
Providence and I have really saved the
nation from another war. My speech
setting forth In detail my defense was
telegraphed to all the leading papers and
published on Monday. and now I am
permitted by his Honor 10 deliver 1t to
you"
Guitsau then explained 10 the Jury
that his speech opened with q quotation
from his Christmas greeting to the
American people. and in using 1t for the
opening speech to the jury he had me-
elected to cut out the dats-Christmas.
1881. Thanking his countrymen, and
paying q very high compliment to the
zeal and ability which Sooville had dis.
played whom he proposed soon to re-
ward with q very liberal fee), be ex.
tended his Acknowledgements to the
Court. jury, officers and baliffs. and last,
but not least, the American press. The
latter generally criticised q man when
they got down on him. They had been
very heavy on him at FIRST, but when
they knew his motives they changed
their views and were now treating him
very fairly. With this introduction
Guiteau took up o newspaper and read
to the jury his published speech. His
manner to o casual observer seemed
self.possesssd as usual. but behind the
ostentatious affectation Of composure
was intense feeling. which was only held
In control through undoubtsd strength
OF will. His excitement was displayed
by q slight hectic spot high up on each
cheek Of his usually colorless face,
aud by the unusual elaboration with
which he began and for soms time con.
tinued to speak. Whether this excite.
msnt was merely from the superficial ef-
feet upon his emotions naturally incl
dent to the occasion. or whether It pro-
ceeded from o deeper or more ovsrpow.
ering iufuencs-the true realization OF
his position as an almost convicted muir
dertr pleading for his liie-it were din.
cult to divine. Whatever the character
Of the feeling Il finally gained ascend.
ancy over his powers Of control. and as
he reached that part OF the speech which
begins: ~ have served the Lord. and
whether I live or de-" he broke down
completely. stopped, and tried to choke
down the rising Jumps in his throat, but
found 1t impossible to keep back . gen.
uine sob. Taking out his handkerchief.
he buried his face In IL for . few sec.
onds, wiped his eyes. and with q dster.
mined effort started again. He seemed
to regain his composure 40 quickly that
some believed the whole effect was man
ufactursd.
Mrs. Scoville. however, thought other
wise. She was deeply affected. and wept
and sobbed bitterly for some timo after
this incident. Guiteau continued to
read, occasionally adding brief com.
ments upon the text az he proceeded.
All appearance Of nervousness gradually
wore Of, and with the utmost composure
and an junction. that bordsred upon the
ludicrous the prisoner read on, with an
attempt at every conceivable form OF
oratorical. rhetorical and dramatic effect.
His description Of the taking of Of the
President was given with striking effect.
At times no closed his eyes or turned
them hsavenward. and waved his body
back and forth. He sank his voice to .
whisper or raised II to q high treble. At
frequent intervals no paused to en-.
pbasizs some sentence OF sentiment by
repeating or commenting. At one time,
psusing. hs leaned toward the jury. en-.
phasizing with his head and hands, said
with an attempt at great solennity: 81
tell you. gentlemen. just a. sure as there
Is o God in Heaven, II you harm q hair
OF my head, this nation will 90 down In
blood. You can put my body into the
grave. but there will be . day Of reckon
Ing"
In the most graceful manner imagin.
able Guitsau explained again that the
reason he did not take Garfield away
two weeks before he did. was because he
had NO authority to remove Mr.. Gar.
field. "whsn the time did come" he
said in an airy tone. ~ removed him
.artIv aud oyscafpllv Tho ;u,v ~.v