The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-01-16


ural look in his eyes, and it requires the
opinion OF no expert to convince you that
this is not the appearance of sane man"
Continuing in this strain, he said: In my
opinion, If this poor creature is sent to the
asylum he viii be a confirmed idiot within
six months"
Guiteau had been quietly listening with
his elbows upon the rail of the dock and
his chin upon his hands, his back being
turned to the audience and his attention
fixed upon the street. This startling pre-
diction amused him intensely Turning
around he looked over in the direction of
the speaker and enjoyed quiet laugh for
some seconds.
These experts" said the speaker, ssdo
not swear to the fact, for none but the
Deity can know what there is in the
brain of man. They swear only to their
opinion and you have a notable instance
of how far from the facts the opinion of
the most learned doctor may lead in the
sad case of the late President We had
bulletins every day giving his condition.
We had the information that the probe had
been inserted twelve inches in the wound
and yet the wound led in exactly the oppo-
site direction. l say it would be shame
to send man to the gallows upon the
| opinion Of doctors" Alluding to the
structures of the counsel yesterday upon
the course of certain members Of Guiteau's
family in standing by the prisoner when
| they should have cast him off as q wretch,
he said "It is in evidence that year ago
Mrs Scoville believed her brother mental
wreck and an insane man, and should she
desert him now she would be unworthy the
name of sister"
Continuing he said: ''You can never
know, gentlemen, how hard it has been to
a.
know. They would rather listen to the
cry cruelty him than come here to tell
what they know to save the poor man from
the gallows and the government from the
disgrace of executing an insane man"
Guiteau shouted: The government
men want me convicted. Gen. Arthur
don't want me convicted, and I ein't going
to be, probably"
| Reed claimed thatthe evidence of Brooks,
Chief Of the Treasury detectives, who Wis
| tied the prisoner at night and whose evi-
dence the prosecution stroYe so hard, but
| Intellectually, to suppress; of Bailey and
| Of Detective McElfresh, and in fact all the
evidence that might aid the prisoner came
like Godsend. He continued at some
length bis argument to demonstrate the
insanity of the prisoner, maintaining that
Guiteau's father was insane on religious
| subjects and forced him in that vestibule
| of hell, the Oneida community. Before
that he had led a pure life. His father
convinced him that he would go to hell
unless he became a member of the commu-
nifty and he went there to save his soul.
Guiteau interrupted: when | went
| there / went into hell and did not get out
for six years.
During pause in the argument the pris
oner broke in: Il am going to have my
speech published in all the papers
of the United States. Then 1 am going to
discuss the question as to whether | shall
| deliver it to the jury. Then I think your
| Honor win allow me to deliver it,
In conclusion Reed said: Gentlemen of
the jury, you all said when you were
| sworn that you would be governed by the
evidence and stand up to it without regard
to the effect it might have upon your busi
ness. l adjure you to keep that oath.
Falter not in the performance of a duty
which shall save you and this fair land
| from eternal disgrace. I assert that the
conviction of this man to the gallows and
his execution would be an infamy beyond
| description and an indellible stain on
| American jurisprudence and an American
| Jury, And think of the scene if you con-
denim him to the gallows. If such day
shall ever come, and / do not believe it
can come under this evidence; think OF
this man brought out from his cell with the
same pale face and weary, wandering eyes,
the officers of the law gathering
| around him, pinioning him. binding him
with cords, so that his muscles stand out,
covering him with black hood and lead
ing him to the scaffold.
! The prisoner: II would rather go that
way than be smashed up in railroad cars,
as some poor fellows were last night.
Reed, continued: Think of him, lun-
attic, condemned to the gallows. 4 luna
| tic wh,1m the Saviour, if he were on earth.
would heal The picture is not over
drawn ! only ask you, pray do that
which shall not in after years bring blush
of shame to your country"
Guiteau-'Gieed is a good fellow, but L
| would not give a cent a bushel for his rub
| bish If | could have a talk with that jury
1 would give them the right theory" Ad-
| journed.
| Reeds argument waS given close atten-
| ton from beginning to- the close. MIS-
Seville sat all day in mournful attitude
with her hands over her face most OF the
time to conceal her tears while her little
daughter stood by her side and by caresses
sought to win her from her grief
WASHINGTON NEWS.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-It is stated