Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-01-20
GULTEAUS TRLAL.
JUDGE COX DENIES aUrTEAU THE PRIVILEGE OF
ADDRESSING THE JURY.

JUDGE COX DENIES aUrrEAU THE PRIVILEGE OF
ADDRESSING THE jury.
At the opening Of court, on Saturday, Mr..
Scoville addressed the court, stating that he
desired to know whether the prisoner would
DO allowed to speak in his own defence. II
the court proposed to accord him that priv
ilege, both he (Mr. Scoville) and his associate
(Mr Reed) would prefer that he should speak
first.
Guiteau-I want to DO heard on that ques-
ton, your Honor, / want to close the argu-
ments for tho defence. l wouldn't trust my
case in the hands Of the best lawyer in
America.
Judge Cox-I should be 10th ia a capital
case to deny any man a proper opportunity
10 be heard, even If he is represented by
counsel but in this case it is safe to assume
that the prisoner will abuse the privilege as
he has done all through the trial, and that
what he would say would be highly imprOp-
or to go before the jury. 1 shall, therefore,
deny him the privilege as l said yesterday,
however, il his counsel desire to read from
his manuscript anything they deem proper to
be laid before the jury they can do so.
Guiteau protested that he appeared as his
counsel, and claimed the right as an American
citizen to be heard in his own defence. Find
ing that Judge Cox could not be moved, he
shouted Let the record show that l appear
here az my own counsel, and that take ex-
oeption to your ruling, Judge Cox. ! shall
appeal to the American people and they will
override you, and you will 60 down TO future
ages with black stain upon your name
Judge Cox made no reply to the TRADE, but
simply nodded to Mr.. Reed TO begin his ar
gument
Mr. Reed thon rose to address the Jury in
haba1r Of N1to rrisppaN Iffp lima nf
was largely historical He cited tho cases Of
homicidal attacks on rulers by those subse.
quontly adjudged iunatics, commented upon
the instructions Of Judge Cox, and appealed
to the jury to have the moral courage II
reasonable doubt existed to 30 declare by
thor verdict.
Mr. Scoville began his plea for the prisoner
on Monday. He devoted much time to Sc
we're denunciation Of Porter and Corkhill for
their manner Of conducting the prosecution.
He insists on GuiteRu's insanity, and substan-
TALLY adopts Guiteau's own line of defence in
laying stress upon the theory OF an irresisti-
bic pressure of supposed inspiration as lead
ing TO the removal" Of the president. The
following passage occurred in Mr.. Scoville's
remarks on Wednesday
Gentlemen Of the jury, in my opinion, il
there we're not reasOns-and powerful ones
back Of this prosecution, this prisoner never
would have been brought TO trial but l toll
you, gentlemen of the jury, back OF this pros
ecuiion is an influence which have felt, and
which you may feel, gentlemen, before this
trial is concluded. There are politicians who
seek to hide their own shame behind tho dis
grace Of this poor prisoner, aud make him
the scapegoat for their crime. did not in
tend, gentlemen Of the jury, TO take up this
feature Of the case but when find the pow
or and influence Of this government used
against me in denying the small pittance that
have asked for q fair and impartial trial, and
small facilities needed for proper defence,
do not propose to keep quiet. say that such
men as Grant and Conkling and Arthur are
morally and intellectually responsible for this
crime. Mr.. Conkling shall not oscape-shAll
not shirk the responsibility Of the state Of
things that led to this act and he shall not
escape the condemnation of the American
people, il l can help il, for his share in the
disgraceful scramble for Office that led to a
conflict with the chosen ruler Of this great
nation, and led this poor. insane mau to com
pass what they would have hailed with salts.
faction, as would probably hundreds of other
politicians, il il could occur other than through
assassnation-the removal of Garfield, who
stood in the way Of their unrighteous and dis
graceful struggle for offices. Neither shall
Grant escape that condemnation TO which he
is so justly subjected for coming from Mexico
(and coming with undue haste) to throw his
own name into this petty quarrel about small
oihce IN the Republican party, and seeking TO
foment the differences that had sprung up. l
am not going to see the misdeeds of these
men, high in power, visited on this poor
insane man, If l eau help IT, This clam
or for his blood is not for the purpose Of
avenging Garfield or OF satisfying Justice;
but their theory is this: II il can be shown
that this was the act OF sane man, then
those politicians in high places will say. "Of
course we are not responsible for the act Of a
sane man. Gentlemen Of the jury, il you
acquit him as an insane man, the people will
say some one was at fault, and there are men
in high places, the really culpable ones, who
will 90 down to posterity with a stigma upon
their names aud she detestatiOn OF their coun-
trymen fastened upon their memories"
Mr.. ScOville's denunciation of Conkling and
Arthur created a profound sensation in the
courtroom, aud when recess was announced
he was surrounded by men and women aud
congratulated upon his fearless exposition"
During the recess he received the following
despatch from Now York 1.-The New York
court of appeals has just decided that the
prosecution, where some evidence Of insanity
is produced by the defence, must make out a
case Of sanity, beyond reasonable doubt"
On Thursday Scoyile continued his speech
and vas expected to occupy the whole of to-
day. II is understood that the defense will,
at the conclusion Of Mr. Scoville's speech, re-
new the motion to allow the prisoner TO ad-
dress the jury, and will ask to be heard In
support of the motion. Allowing two days
for Judge Porter-and it is more than prob
able hat he will require three-the case will
hardly get to the jury before Wednesday
next