South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-01-13
Letter from Washington.
LF,on our Regular carrs,pond..s.I
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 10

coming close upon its end, and il be-
comes more and more fixed in the
minds of close observers that the
wretch Guiteau has been weaving his
own rope. The people of Washing
ton and of the country, have been Justly
incensed at the disgraceful scenes and
outrageous conduct OF the prisoner in
court during the progress of the trial,
but the one mitigating fact in connec-
ton with it is that all this has simply
had the effect to make justice surer.
1t has obliterated every vesitge of
sympathy which at the beginning
some felt for the miserable creature /;
has given the experts and Court an
opportunity to study his mind and
character, and gone far to enforce
| conviction upon the minds of the Jury.
No one who has observed the Jury
during the last two weeks expresses
the least doubt that their minds are
made up beyond the slightest proba-
bility OF change. 1t is likely that
within one week from this time the
verdict OF guilty will have been re.
turned. sentence of death pronounced,
and Guiteau will be lying in cell,
his bravado all gone, in a condition
of utter cowardly, unpitied pros,ra-
ton. After he has given up hope
there will be no more doubt outside
the courtroom OF his absolute account.
ability than there is with those who
have witnessed his daily manifestations
of ungovernable malice, brutal ego.
tism, depravity and blackguardism.
He is shrewd and cunning when con-
fronted with the possible consequen.
ces of his act, and has expected by
his conduct to save himself from all
punishment beyond few years in an
asylum, meanwhile having secured
the notoriety he so much covets.
To one who watches him in the
courtroom this thirst for notoriety
seems sufficient in itself to account
| for the murder of the President. His
egotism, and the immunity he has
manage to secure during long series
OF petty offences, probably induced a
| belief that he would escape serious
punishment for this last crime. lie
had, unhappily. many instances in the
records of criminal trials to base a
theory upon that temporary insanity
would furnish him an available ex.
cuse. There is not a redeeming trait
in this wretched creature, least of all
the excuse OF unaccountability. He
seems able to recognize no motives
except such as animate himself. lie
imputes to witnesses only the most
vulgar impulses. His rejoiuders to
counsel for the Government are the
snarls of q kicked cur. His vitupera-
tive treatment of his sister and the
lawyer who so patiently has conduc.
ted his case far better than even q
more skillful, but paid counsel would
have done; his base threats against the
woman who had once been his wife :;
his references to the father who bore
with him so long, to his dead mother,
to the brother who can gain no benefit
from his attendance on this trial, are
developments Of the most astounding
evil character that has perhaps ever
manifested itself to the world. In
making up its judgmet of Guiteau the
country cannot compare him with its
experience of other criminals. He il
unparalleled. L have been told by
experts and others who have had init.
mate acquaintance with convicts, that
so bad man, with wickedness so mir
rored i'll his face, they have never seen.
He has excessive brutality without
courage, vulgar assertion without self
confidence when fairly confronted,
abnormal malice without the capacity
of strong hatred. Instances of bis
cowardice are known to his iailors
which have not, and cannot, be told
in print. He is bestial wretch and
capable of any crime, but as response
bic for his acts as any such human
brute can be. l want simply to add
that, in the light of recent develop.
ments, the injustice of the criticism
upon Judge Cox is fully APPARENT
He has had hard case to deal with
and has shown patience and wisdom
through it all.
Congress has assembled again but
nothing OF consequence will be done
for some days. The holiday recess
has been an exceptionally dull one in
this locality. New Years day, how.
ever, was a stirring time, and the re-
ception at the White House was very
largely attended. The impression has
gone out that the usual receptions O.
very two weeks during the winter are
not to be given this season, and so e.
verybody in town endeavored to avail
Themselves of this opportunity to see
President Arthur in the White House
as well as to take look at the man.
sion in its improved condition. There
was in consequence great jam. The
receptiOn for the general public was