Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-01-11
Mastery Argument by Judge
Porter.
Nothing Like It in the History
of this Case.
The Crime Portrayed in all It's
Hideous Ugliness.
The Insufferable Impudence of
the Assassin Overawed.

ing new cOtl6rS DIS WAS eVldencGQ Dy
the general movement to catch a
glimpse of the prisoner, as he passed
before them on his way to the dock,
AS Guiteau passed his brother, he
whispered to him, ''Conne over to the
dock; I want to see you about
something of great Importance. "
On taking his seat, the prisoner laid
down his large bundle of papers and
spreading out his manuscript, busted
himself in looking it over.
Judge Porter began his argument
shortly after 10 o'clock, and at once
fixed the attention of every one in
the courtroom. Guiteau pretended
to be engrossed in his manuscript,
but soon laid it aside and listened
with wrapt attention 1t is believed
that Judge Porter will speak until the
hour of recess. Nothing like it has
been seen or heard during the past
nine weeks in the Guiteau trial. AS
Judge Porter reviewed the conduct
of the prisoner and the conduct on
| the part of his counsel, of his course
in court, crime in all it's hideous ugli
ness was held up to the detestation of
his hearers. The silence became op
pressive, and the presence of
avenging justice in the near future
with force of conviction that swept
from the court room every vestige
of that levity which had SO long
| danced attendance upon every utter
ance Of the prisoner, and like veil
obscured from the the consciousness
of the spectators the crime what
should be solemnly of the judicial
atonement. The prisoner WINGED
and nervously twisted in his place
and for several minutes was unable
| to say anything that in any sense
could approach to an interruption.
Gradually the prisoner gained his
usual assurance, and resumed his
daily habit of interrupting with cor
tradictions and denials. For once,
however, the insuferable impudence
of the prisoner was completely over
awed Neither his noise nor his
abuse could interrupt or silence the
avalanche of condemnation that
swept from the lips of the eloquent
counsel, "The prisoner is mistaken,
your HONOR said Judge Porter, ''it
he believes by his unseemly bawling
he can prevent my voice from being
heard by the jury. The puppet cam
not be moved in such a good time
as when he sat with his counsel, and
by his outbursss now, he is fast
tightening the hangman's moose
about his neck" With nervous
twitching of the mouth Guiteau
uttered, "We will see about that"
Heretofore audacious and wholly
unabashed, the prisoner seemed i'll at
ease and at loss to understand why
his would be sallies of wit and impu
dence wholly failed with the audi
ence, while more severe came the
denunciation of counsel; more fire.
quent and marked were the demon
strations of approval, finally like the
wild beast brought to bay, Guiteau
yelled OUT Il staked my life on the
issue, and I am willing to go to The
gallows tomorrow if it is the Lord's
will. l am sick of this bosh, Judge
Porter, l wish you would get youl
$4,000 and go home"
Judge Porter concluded his mas
terly argument at 11:40 by reading
the now famous letter of President
Garfield to Judge Payne, in which be
complimented and thanked him fol
brushing away the network of soph
istries with which it has of late years
been customary to envelope th.
plea of insanity when set up in ex
cuse for crime.
Judge Cox, at lido, began the
reading of his decision, which be
gins with lengthy review of sub
ject of Jurisdiction.
Judge Cox occupied Is minute
in reading that portion of his decis-
ion touching upon the question O
jurisdiction he reviewed the progress
of opinion and cited all importan
rulings from the early days of com
mon law in England and decidet
against the prayer of the defense
He summed up the question "tha
jurisdiction is complete in the plac
where the wound is completed; con
sequently, this court has full cog
nizance of the offense." Judge Co
! next took up the question OF legt
, text of insanity, and decided tina
knowledge and appreciation of tn
difference between right and wrong
must be taken as correct test.
= I Judge Cox concluded his decisio
e at l:25 p. M, having consumed a
e hour and forty minutes with rapi
speaking upon every matter of point
His rulings were directly against th
prayers of the defense. The onl
= grain of comfort for the prisone
was offered when Judge Co
reached the question of reasonabl
doubt. Upon this subject, he said
Il shall not charge the iur
to acquit, if they hav
> reasonable doubts as t
any one element, but [ shall tax
f into consideration and charge thel
relative to all elements, and that
from all circumstances and all ev1
dence, they have reasonable doubt
the commission by defendent
the crime as charged then they sha
acquit."
As Judge Cox finished speakini