Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-01-12
GENERAL NEWS.
Davidge's Argument To-Day ir
the Guiteau Case.
"A Lively War Against Gamblers
Inaugurated in Chicago.
Arguments In the Gu,reau Cas-.

Arguments In the Guifeau Case
Washington, Jan. 12-As soon as the
court was called to order Davidge took
lis position in front Of the jury and re.
sumed his argument. He disclaimed
any intention to make set speech, but
expressed himself with the desire to rcn-
der the jury what aid he could in their
present solemn duty. The time had now
come in this trial when the jury had to
become factors. Whatever disorder or
levity might characterize the trial, there
was but one sentiment in respect to the
conduct of the jury. All commend their
dlsnltied department and patient atten.
ton to tho evidence, and he could not
doubt that Us they had received the com
mendations OF all in the past, they would
continue to deserve it in tho future by
their decision of the question before
them.
AS Davidge traced the process of
reasoning by which the prisoner
gradually reached the convection that
but one life interposcd between himself
and the possibility of great benefits,
Gulteau became restless for the first
time since the opening Of the court, and
showed by his nervous twisting about
the usual preliminaries to interruptions,
whlch,ln this instance, quickly followed.
Not often, said Davidge, in the record
of henious crime do we have such
plain and pointed evidence as to the first
conception Of crime. In this case the
suggestion came to the wretch in tn.
night as he was lying in his bed"
1T came to me when the Lord got
ready to harm" snarled the prisoner.
Davidge concluded-"This thought or
suggestion came to him on the
18th of May; still thinking
that he might obtain the Office he sought
and keep his hands clean; he made
another effort on the 2sth day OF May to
induce the President
(Guiteau called out from tile dock, 81
would not have taken foreign mission
alter the 1st of June ii it had been
offered to me-"
Davidge, apparently not needing him: !:
On the 2Sth day of May
Guiteau-"I am talking about the LIST
of june"
Davidge,pausing moment-"Just lis.
ten to him.
Guiteau, sneeringly-"They would lis
ten to you, but your talk is SO weak that
it is hardly worth listening to-"
For several minutesG Guiteau continued
to interject his comments with tho evil
dent intention of annoying Davidge, but
finding he could not effect this he grad
ually subsided into complete silence.
"ln the beginning" SAID Davidge, sit
was sought to show that the prisoner
was off his balance; now the court tells
you to look for that degree of insanity
that disables man from doing that which
he knew was wrong. This test You
are to apply upon questions of
inspiration. think that will be able
to show to your satisfaction how little
there is in the claim.
He then argued that the prisoner had
that dsgree OF intelligence, legal knowl-
edge and moral sense which rendered
him responsible for his acts. In tell
ing passage he showed that the prisoner
had himself wit enough to see the fatal
weakness of Scoyille's defense and
repudiatedit. arguing in his own behalf,
that he was not an imbecile, but sane
man, whose intellect had been dominated
during specified period of time, render
ing him not responsible for this crime,
lie then reviewed the circumstances Of
the CRIME, the victim and the criminal.
His analysis of Guiteau's character was
graphic and effective. eff lie exclaimed,
Il were to sum up the moral and intel
lectual qualities of this man I should say
that he had the daring Of vulturc COM
bined with the heart of a. wolf" In
speaking of Guiteau's plan he remarked
upon his greater fear of the mob
than of law and EXCHANGED: "We must
say to our shame that this estimate had
foundation" Ii rested with the Jury,
he added, ito show the world whether
Guiteau's opinion was well founded"
Books and Bottles Missing,
Chicago. January 12-Several days
ago all the books belonging to the large
wholesale beer bottling firm of George
Hoffman disappeared in mysterious
manner. Soon after the books were
missed it leaked out that VIM. Basquia,
collector for the firm. was short in his
accounts. He was placed under arrest
and confessed that lie had been SYSTEM
aticnlly robblng the firm and altering
the books over year, and induced a
companion named Frank Hastings to
make way with tho books. Both were
arrested but no clue can be obtained to
the missing books. The men were re-
leased in hopes that one of them might
go to the place where the books were Sc
creted.
4 Pacific Coast Disaster.
San Francisco, Jan. l2.--Accounts of
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