River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-01-26
APPROACHING
The End. The Evidence all Taken in
the Guiteau Case. and Argument
f.omrueueeh
FORTY FOURTH DAY.

1 inc WuiteAu Ease. anu Argument
Commenced.
FORTY FOURTH DAY.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14--sI received
checks yesterday, representing about
$15,000," was Guiteau's exclamation
this morning as soon as court was
opened.
Judge Cox gave his decision that
Guiteau would not be allowed to speak
in his own behalf, but that if counsel
desired to read anything from his man.
uscript they deemed necessary, they
might do so.
At this the prisoner began to rave,
and told Judge Cox that he should 60
| down to future ages with black stain
! on his name. Judge Cox made no re-
| ply, but nodded to Reed to commence
his argument.
He commenced by complimenting
the jury and said he should not try to
draw any gilded picture of the scene,
but talk with them as between neigh
bors.
From the outset he was interrupted
by the prisoner, who continued to make
comments to the end of the speech.
Reed continued that Davidge con-
descended to read, yesterday, portion
\ of evidence III relation to this incident,
to show, as he claimed, depravity of
the prisoner; and Porter kindly sug-
gested to him that Guiteau struck his
father in the back. The record says
on the neck or shoulder.
| Davidge llaughingly).- :" Don't go
back on the witness"
Reed am reading from the rec
ord, sir. 1t says
Guiteau, with an air of satisfaction
at his superior discernment) why
| that was intended for pun, Reed, but
| you don't seem to see it. don't know
as it should be wondered t,for it would
require microscope for an ordinary
mortal to see it.
Reed continued: at does not re-
quire an expert to pronounce the pris-
oner insane. You have seen him day
after day, shutting in before you. You
have seen that strange, unnatural look
of his eyes, needing no expert to con-
vince you that this is not the appear
ance of sane man." Continuing in
this strain the speaker said 'In my
opinion, if this crazy creature is sent
to an asylum he will be a driviling
idiot within six months"
In conclusion Reed said: Gentle
men of the jury, if you all said when
you were sworn, that you would be
governed by the evidence, and stand
up to it without regard to effect it
might have on you and your business.
/ adiure you to keep that oath, falter
not in the performance of duty which
shall save you IN this fair land from
/ r I,.% he
onviction of this man and
seuding him to the gallows, and
his execution would be an in
fanny or in brief, an indelible
stain on American Jurisprudence and
American juries. Think of the scene
if you condemn him to the gallows.
Though not present in body to see the
sight, you cannot but be there in mind
if such day shall ever come, and do
not believe it can ever come under this
evidence. Think of this man brought
out from his cell with the same pale
face and the same wandering eyes.
The officers of law gathering around
him, pinioning him, binding him with
cords so his muscles stand out, cover
ing him with black hood; shutting
out the light of day from him, and
leading him to the gallows.
Prisoner would rather go that
way than be smashed up in railroad
collision.
FoRTY-FIFTH DAY.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-This being the
morning for Scoville to begin his argu-
ment, the court room was packed to
suffocation.
Sceville opened his speech by furi-
Gus assault on the opposing counsel.
He claimed unfair treatment and reach
ed the climax by a formal indictment
of conspiracy against the prosecution.
He was heated and durried, but ingeni-
GUS and proceeded to name the con-
spirators: Corkhill, Porter. Davidge,
and five ofthe government experts, viz,
Drs. Gray, Hamilton, Kemptster Nc
Donald, and Wooster. The counts of
this indictment are twenty in number:
First-They have perverted the law.
Scoville in his illustration or support of
this count, alluded to the introduction
by Judge Porter of the decision of
Judge Davis. He warmed with the
subject and denounced in severe lam
guage the act of Judge Davis: Had a
newspaper been guilty Of such a bold
fraud to attempt to influence the decis-
ion in the pending cause, the editor
would have been subject to arrest for
contempt"
When the court took recess Judge
Porter said he would be unable, owing
to the condition of his health to remain
in the afternoon; but desired Scoville
not to abstain, for that reason, from
saying anything he desired to say.
After recess, Scoville proceeded to
point out to the jury what he termed
perversion of the evidence by Davidge.
Judge Porter's seat was vacant, while
the district attorney indicated by his
appearance that he wished his was also
vacant.
Scoville having intimated that he
desired to criticise the conduct of the
district attorney and his chief partner
in this wicked conspiracy to hang the
prisoner, but would not do so in his
absence, as he was not in the habit of
saying things behind ones back, Judge
Porter was sent for by brother coun-
sci, and he returned presently, aban-
| doning the rest he was seeking. 81
haven't he said the slightest interest in
enything he may say against me. How
| aver, Will COME III dHu give MIN I'LL
opportunity to abuse me-"
Scoville dwelt at great length upon
what Davidge deemed immaterial mat
| ter, and the latter remarked on the dis
| position OF the counsel to consume
time needlessly.
Scoville retorted that he did not pro-
pose to have matters Of fact which
were contained in the record shown up
before the jury wilfully perverted or
enveloped in artificial obscurity.
Guiteau-That's right. Stand by
the record. Davidge had better read
my speech. 1t is published in all the
leading papers in America, this morn
ing and takes M whole page.
ScoviIle denounced the witness Shaw
He believed he lied deliberately and
perjured himself in this case, as also
had"
"a contemplate little Jew clerk who
came down here to help show out,
Guiteau screamed out: "This whole
testimony of Shaw is false, and no de-
cent man would believe it for an in
slant"
AS the court was about to adjourn |
Guiteau called out: 81 desire your
honor to read my speech, tonight, so |
can discuss it with you tomorrow"
Adjourned.
F0RTY-SIXTH DAY.