Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1882-01-24
TIE issAssIS's TRIAL.
Judge Porter's Closing Argument
Frequent interruptions BY Gui.
teau and Gcoville.

Frequent interruptions by Gui.
teau and Scoville.
WASHINGTON. January 23.-For every
seat in the courtroom this morning
there were at least ten clamorous appli.
eaats bssissing every avenue Of ap-
proach. The crush was greater than
ever before. When the door was closed
1000 people were left outside. As soon
as the Court opened. Guitsau said: ~
spent yesterday examining my mail. I
had several hundred letters. many from
ladies, and some were very tender. I
desire to express my thanks to the Ia
dies for these kind and tender letters.
One letter suggests that General Arthur
give me q Cabinet Office. Now. ! want
to say that I weuld not take any Office
from President Arthur. and. under the
circumstances, II would not be proper
that I should accept one. Now, In re-
gard to Judge Porter. ! want to say, as
be is going to have the closing OF the
case, IL he attempts to mislead the Court
and jury. / and my counsel will stop
him. He came into this case under Q
misrepresentation on the part OF General
Arthur. Otherwise he would not be In
the case. Ho does net properly repre-
sent the government. He only repre-
sents himself"
Judge Porter entered the courtroom
shortly before the prisoner had deliver
ed himself OF this writing. After Q few
moments delay no stepped to the open
space before the jury. and, in tones
which clearly betrayed his weakened
condition, began the closing argument.
Said Judge Porter: III II please your
Honor and gentlemen OF the jury: In
my own infrmity, for I share your 70.
tigue, I proceed as best as / can to dis
charge my duty. The nature Of this
duty 10 such that / should feel almost
accessory after the fact II I should fail
to speak such words as I can to aid you
10 reaching q proper conclusion. Thus
far, the trial has practically been con.
Quoted by the prisoner and Scovillo.
Everyons has beeu denounced at their
will, and even now I Rm informed that
1 will be interrupted by them BOTH"
Judge Porter briefly recitsd tho scenes
OF disorder, the abuse aud s~lapderito
which everyone In tho case for two
months had been subject, land yet" he
said, ''oi tho three speeches which have
been made by the defense, / will do the
prisoner the justice to say that his Is
the least Objectionable" After sketch.
ing the circumstances Leading up to the
crime and painting with fervid language
the damning wickedness Of its exeou.
ton. Judge Porter turned his attention
to the prisoner and proceeded to depict
bis character in the following terms:
"a beggsr, o bypocrite, o robber and q
swindler. A lawyer who never o .
cause. No court, NO jury failed to see
In him q dishonest rogue, aud such men
cannot win cases. He has left his trail
OF infamy in a hundred directions. The
man who, as o lawyer, had such notions
OF morality that when he had taken
debts TO collect. and collected them by
logging the debtors. held them; o man
who was capable Of blasting tho name
Of o woman with whom he had slept for
years and still recognized as his wife; o
man who. when no tired Of this woman,
pretended TO be q Christian and believer
In the Bible, looked into the book, and
read, Thou shalt not commit adultery
and then went out Immediately and
committed adultery with street.walkers;
a man who pushed himself into the fol.
lowship Of Christian associates a. o fol.
lower OF tho Savior. when fresh from
six years OF foul fornicaiion In the
Oneida Community"
Guiteau-That lie ought to choke you.
As Judge Porter proceeded with o re-
~sistless torrent OF denunciations, the
prisoner occasionally called out. That's
a lie." That's absolutely false" or
''That aim So"
"Public justice demanded that the as.
sassin should never leave the dock save
in the shackles OF Q sentenced felon.
He who spared no one should not be
spared. He spared not the good Gar.
field. He spared not the loving wife,
who had once saved her husbands life.
He spared not the little mother, upon
whose lips bad rested, on the Ath Of
March last, the kissing lips which had
just before rested on the Book OF God.
This vile wretch. had he been free and
unshackled; had he thought the insanity
plea would save him; had he the bulldog
In his hand. would have shot q bullet
through Judge Cox when be refused to
let him speak; would have put Q bullet
through Davidge when be was dsnounc.
ing him as o murderer. He wanted to
know whether. on the day when Juror
Hobbs lost his beloved wife; when his
home was darksned with the shadow Of
death, hs would not, had 1t served his
purpose, have shot Hobbs then and
ihere; not from good will to him, but
fran good will 10 himself. Had henot
on one occasion threatened one OF the
Jury with removal by that God whom
he claimed a. q partner 2"
The argument Of the defense Tor the
past seven days has all been directed to
this one object-to divide the jury.
Judge Porter addressed himself upon
this subject with great force Of argument
and eloqususs directly to the intelligence
and consoisnoes Of the jury. They must
not believe. II any man Of them thought
to discharge his duty by avoiding . full
duty and should cause Q divided jury