Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-05-23
HE MUST HANG!
The Supreme Court Decides
Against Guiteau,
AND AFFIRMS JUDGE COX,S SEN.
TENCE.

Inc ASSASSlu Will Ne h00&e0 FIRST
and His Sanity Determined After
ward-His Body will then Be
| Turned Over to His Relatives.
Special to the Times.
WASHINGTON, May 2l.-The unan-
imous decision Of the Supreme court
of the District Of Columbia on the
questions raised by the defense in
the Guiteau case will be announced
Monday.
The Post to- morrow will give the
following points as those of the de-
cision:
The opinion Of the court will
broadly sustain the position taken
by the District Attorney, that juris-
diction is complete where the fatal
blow was struck, without reference
to the locality Of actual demise.
The court will hold that the bul-
let fired at the President by Guiteau
on the second day of July, in this
city. was the cause of death.
That although the trial had been
held in Washington, the death of the
President in New Jersey, except as
affected by the local statute, could
not stand between the Jurisdiction of
the court and the assassin.
That he had not been in New Jcr.
sey, had committed no offense against
the New Jersey laws, and the mere
fact Of the victims being removed to
prolong his life, and save it if posi-
bic, could not be made to affect the
character of the crime.
The court will also hold, in addi
ton, that there are several grounds
on which the jurisdiction as exer-
cised might be maintained, if it we're
necessary to decide the case:
!. That this is a United States
court, with all powers Of any circuit
court Of the United States.
?. That it is a judicial district,
and that under the provisions of the
laws, when crime is begun in one
and completed in another district,
the otfense is complete in either.
3. The fact Of the murder being
an offense in this District against
the United States, and the removal
of the President to New Jersey, did
not take him beyond the jurisdiction
Of the Government against which the
otfense was committed.
Considerable anxiety has been ex-
pressed as to the action of the Su-
prcme Court Of the United States, it
being announced that the prisoner
would be remandcd to that body by
his counsel, on a writ of habeas
corpus.
There are only two justices of the
Supreme Court in the city, the Court
having adjourned for the term.
These are Justice Waite and Justice
Miller. The best legal authorities
express doubts whether such writ
could be granted by any but a full
bench, and it is not believed that
any single judge would take the re.
sponsibility in SO important a ques-
ton, especially when it is recalled
that the Court was in session in
three months after the sentence was
passed.
It may therefore reasonably be
concluded that Guiteau will hang, as
sentenced, and that there is no
earthly hope for him.
The Post adds: After the deliy-
cry of the opinion the prisoner will
be taken at once to the Jail where he
is now confined, and placed under
continued company, better known as
the death watch. His every move.
ment will be observed up to the fatal
moment. Not word will be per-
mitted to be spoken to him, except
by special advices or prisoners au-
thorizcd by the warden.
Warden Crooker has the entire
charge and responsibility of the as
sassin from this time until his dead
body shall be ready to be consigned
to the doctors for post mortem ex-