Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-25
PoRTER's PLEA.
Continuation Of Ms Address to the
Jury.
A Scathing Arraignment Of the Murderer
Mastery Resume Of the Evidence.
The Most Brilliant Speech
Of the Trial.
LAYING DOWN THE LAW TO THE JURY.

L
WASHINGTON, January 4.-As soon as
court opened, Judge Porter was about to
begin his speech, when the prisoner fore
stalled him and called out from the dock:
II desire to say that some crank has signed
my name to letter that appeared in the
papers this morning. 1t was without my
authority, and / repudiate it. also want
10 say in repard TO a couple OF cranks
understand have been arrested for hanging
around here, if they attempt to harm me
| they will be shot down. lwant every one
to understand this"
Judge Porter, who had paused to permit
this preliminary announcement, began by
saying. "the prisoner as usual has made the
! opening speech. After thanking the court
and and Jury J f9f tesig V'''"T"''
A Sham and Imposture-
an imposture which was supposed to have
gained q strength Of credence from reitera-
ton. The truth asserted by this defence
is that truth which is uttered with etfront-
cry, enforced by persiStency and redupli-
Gated by reiteration. This is the truth
which they assert in opposition TO that
truth which you are TO ascertain and de-
clare. In my remarks yesterday showed
you how the prisoner has belied by his
| by his acts the character given him by his
counsel; l showed you that he had been a
Liar, n Swindier. q Murderer
at heart from the beginning. That this
| man has grown worse every year OF his
| life we have all seen and know.
Guiteau-Thats bosh and you know II,
Porter.
Judge Porter continued to depict the
character of the prisoner and the fallacics
Of bis defense, when Guitcau again and
again interrupted him, at one time calling
out: Attorney General MacVeagh
wouldn't have anything to do with it,"
| Porter half replying to the prisoner said;
| And this Christian gentleman would have
YOU even believe that Attorney General
MacVeagh had dipped his hand
In Gariield's BLOOD.
Guiteau-"Oh. that's very fine" 4 mo-
ment later, allusion having been made by
| Judge Porter 10 the present Attorney Gen
| eral, Guiteau bawled out: Hes high
toned gentleman and you are wine bib.
Der. | have got your record, Mr.. Porter
Judge Porter, with deliberation-"Wcll,
| perhaps am
Guiteau with drawing accent-"Well,
| | guess you are, Mr.. Judge Porter
Continuing, Judge Porter said: This
| Christian gentleman, who prays every
|
| believe am a wine bibber.' With great
| effect and impressive earnesthess OF man
| ner, Judge Porter emphasized, by an anec-
| dote which he related, the distinction be-
tween the spirit of love and the
Spirit OF Woe.
the latter being expressed i'll the life and
character Of the prisoner.
| The first serious outbreak of the morn
ing occurred when Judge Porter, adyerting
| to the statement of the prisoners counsel
| and reiterated assertions of the prisoner
himself, that the notes of StenoGrapher
| Bailey were DESTROYED by the prosecution,
because they would have benefited the de-
| fence, denied the right of the defence to
| expect or demand to see papers prepared
by the prosecution solely for their own
| use. Furthermore" said Judge Porter,
| as asserted by the defence, rihn wUNH bipgs
| improved their standing in the case.
| Scoville insisted upon being heard, ana
| demanded that the Court should stop
counsel from making any such staleihe"'s
Or His Own Authority.
as to the contents of papers which had not
been in evidence before the jury.
Judge Porter insisted that he had rlght
to deny statements Of the same characeH
made by the other side.
Judge Cox thought the Counsel had no
| -...t
tents OF such papers.
Judge Porter, with much feeling, pro,
tested that he had been practitioner
longer than the Judge, and had never be-
fore heard OF such a ruling He (Porter!
was of course debarred from taking legal
executions, but he must protest against the
unfairness OF the position which would ad'
nit all sorts OF statements from the
prisoner and from his counsel, and yet
would
Debar the Prosecution
from alf oppo,i ,iuniy Of refatat,om; a;,nmsD, sois
Reed. with consiGeT.." exc,telI'e,I' salu
"If was Judge. would put :. 1arId
rest. Such insolencc to the Court sn,
be punished
Judge Porter resumed his argument and
| proceeded to discuss the question OF reason.
able doubt rs an element of the defence OF
insanity, refcrrins to the decision OF Judge
Martin OF New Jersey. which had been re.
inforced by decision in Ohio, when he
was again interrupted by Sc0ville, who de-
sired to know If the arguments were TO be
heard again upon the law points.
A sharp COlIoquy
between counsel ensued. when Judge Por-
ter removed the objection by handing his
authority to the Judge saying, "lt will
| answer every purpose OF mine, your honor,
il YOU should have occasion TO rule upon
the point. .,..
mission. Judge Porter said: WHO killed
Garfield"
Guiteau-The doctors.
Porter-The doctors
Guiteau-Nes; the LORD let tue III dpl W
confirm my act. -.
Porter-Secretary Blaine was responsible.
Guitnou--T morally rpspOnslbIP.
Portar-Blaine saved his life on that
night before the murder SIMPLY by his
presence with him Us they were together.
They might have saved his life on July "a,
but from the fact that the murderer stole
nm from behind them. Blaine is morally
responsible for not preventing the crime.
The prisoner confessed that Mrs. Gariieid
presence with her husband on former oc-
casion had prevented him from shooting.
Hewas asked IL Mrs Garfield had been
4 leaning upon his arm instead OF Blaine, on
the fatal morning would you have shot
him and he answered No" Then is Mrs.
Garfield responsible for her husbands 8 death
according to the fallacies OF this
wretchedIy FnIIacaous Defence.
Referring to the oratorical flight Of the
counsel for the defence, when he painted
the Presidents widow at her daily prayers,
praying for the acguittal OF the prisoner,
In the name OF justice, Judge, Porter: In
burning language, showed up the proianl,,
ty and Inconsistency OF such assertions, and
rebuked the assumption Of man who had
never exchanged word with Mrs. Garfield,
in presuming to credit her with such mon.
strous sentiments. Continuing, Porter
said: "who else is responsible? John IL.
Moves. He is responsible. He killed Gar
field. John II. Noyes, from whom the prs
1 ,nar stole his lfcturpg
Guiteau-Tbat il false. | rely on my
| own brains for my productions.
"Who else? His father is responsible
| that father whom he struck when eighteen
wears old. He killed President Garfield
that father whom he says he can never for.
give, and with whom he bad not Tor the
last fifteen years of his hoDored life eI.
| changed a word Who else is responsible!
why, his motber-the mother whom he
scarcely remembers, who was
Guilty Of the Msastrosfty
| OF having an attack of erysipelas 80 as tc
necessitate the cutting off her hair some
weeks before his birth, and who, for tni,