Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-01-28
GUITEAU
Delivers His Harangue to the Jury.

Washington, Jan. 2l.-Upon entering
the court room this morning, Gniteau
took his seat in the witness box remark
ing as he laid out his papers, II sit
down because l can speak better, not
that am afraid ofgetting shot; this shoot
ing business is getting played out" At
an intimation from Judge Cox, the
prisoner carefully arranged his glasses
and with flourish began to read from
manuscript as follows
'The prosecution pretend that l am
wicked man. Mr.. Scoville and the
rest think | aIn a lunatic and presume
YOU think the same. / certainly was a
lunatic July 2nd, when | fired on the
president and the American people
generally; and l presume you think l
was. Can you imagine anything more
insane than my going to the depot and
shooting the president of the United
States? You are here to say whether /
was insane or sane when | fired that
shot. You have nothing to do with my
condition since or before l fired that
shot. You have nothing to do with my
condition since or before | fired that
shot. You must say by your verdict
sane" or insane" at the moment the
shot was fired. fyou have any doubts
of ny sanity at that moment you must
give me The benefit of that doubt, and
acquit me, that is if you have amy doubt
whether | fired that shot or as an agent
Of the Deity. If | fired it on my own
account / was sane. fl fired it sup
posing | was an agent of the Deity,
was insane, and you must acquit me.
This is the record of law given in a
recent decision of the New York court
of appeals. 1t revolutionizes old rules
and is a grand step forward in the law
of insanity. 1t is worthy of this age Of
railroads, electricity and telephones
and if we come from the progressive
state Of New YORK | nave no hesitancy
in saying that it is special providence in
my favor and ask the court and Jury so
to consider It, Some people OF America
think me the greatest man Of the age,
and the feeling IS growing. They be-
lieve in my inspiration, and that Provi-
dcnce and ] have actually saved the
nation from another war. Ny speech
setting forth in detail my defense, was
telegaphed to all the leading papers
and published generally, and now | am
permitted by his honor to deliver it to
you"
He then explained to the jury that
his speech opened with quotation
from his Christmas greeting to the
American people, and in using it for the
opening of his speech to the jury, he
had neglected TO cut out the date. Christ
mas, 1881. After thanking his counsel
and paying high compliment to the
ability which Scoville had displayed
who he proposes soon to reward with a
very liberal fee, he extended his CRATE
ful acknowledgements to the cour., the
jury, officers and bailiffs, and last, but
not least, to the American press. The
latter were power that generally criti-
cised man when they got down on
him. They had been pretty heavy on
the prisoner at first, but when they
knew his motives they changed their
views and were now treating him very
fairly. With this introduction the pris-
oner took up q newspaper and proceed
ed to read to the jury his published
speech. His manner to casual oh
server seemed as completely self-posses-
sed as usual, but behind his ostentatious
affection of composure, intense feeling
appeared, which was only held in
control through undoubted strength Of
will. His excitement was betrayed by
a slight spot or each check of his usual
ly colorless face, and by the unusual
deliberation with which he began, and
for some time continued to speak
Whether this excitement was from a
deeper or more overpowering influence
of the true realization Of his position Of
an almost convicted murderer pleading
for his life, it is difficult to divine
Whether the original character Of feel
ing it finally gained the ascendancy
over his power Of CONTROL and he reach
ed that point in his speech, II have al
ways served the Lord, and whether
live or die" he broke down completely,
stopped, tried to chocke down the rising
lump in his throat, but found it i'm
possible to keep back great sob. TAX
ing out his Handkerchief he buried his
face in 1t few seconds, wiped his eyes