Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-01-21
TIE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.
Incidents of the Case and Testimony
Given.

Given.
Judge Cox decided that the jurisdic-
ton of the court was complete. On the
question of the prisoners responsibility,
he said the legal test was whether at
the time he committed the deed be
knew the difference between right ar I.
wrong in respect to that particular
act. He pointed ont the sort of deIu-
sion that would relieve the prisoner
of responsibility. 1t must be an insane
mental delusion, which was not the re-
suit OF his own reasoning, but which
took possession of his mind indepen-
IDENTIFY of his will and reason, and de-
prived him of the ability to distinguish
between right and wrong as to that
particular act. On the question whether
the prisoner should have the benefit of
reasonable Coubt in the minds of
the jurors as % his insanity, Judge
Cox said he would not instruct
the jury to acquit if they felt reasonable
doubt about any one fact in issue, but
he would explain to them the legal pre-
sumpt ons of innocence and of sanity,
and instruct them that if, on the whole
those presumptions. they had reasona-
BILE doubt of his guilt, he is entitled to
an acquittal.
Guiteau once or twice during the de.
livery of the decision expressed himself
gratified with what the Judge said, and
at the end he exclaimed: 81 am salts.
fed with the law as laid down by your
Honor"
Mr.. Davidge in addressing the jury
against Guiteau reviewed the evidence
and ridiculed the notion that Guiteau
was or is insane. Gnlteau followed him
closely, interrupted him frequently,
and reiterated the assertion that he has
never claimed to be insane since July
2. Mr.. Davidge argued that the assas-
sins sanity WIS proved by the consid-
Grafton he showed for Mrs. Garfield
when he refrained from shooting her
husband at her side, by the manner of
his preparing for the deed, by the way
he executed it, and by the measures he
took to secure his own safety, first from
the mob and then from justice, by in
terposipg the plea Of insanity.
There was an exciting scene at the
close of the session, when the lawyers
were debating the question whether the
prisoner shall be permitted to address
the jury. Guiteau insisted upon his
right to do so, and declared he would
not trust the best man in America
to close his case for him. Judge Cox
said he bad no objection to the pris-
oner making a speech, provided he
would confine it to argument on
the facts and evidence. District At
sorney Corkhill asserted that the
prisoner had no right to speak,
and strenuously objected to his being
permitted to leave the dock. There
was tilt between the lawyers on this
subject. and everybody got excited.
Mrs. Scoville. the prisoners sister.
broke into tears. Guiteau insisted that
his speech, which he had written out,
was like an Grafton of Cicero, and the
American people, who were greater
than this court and jury, would read it.
At the trial, Friday, Mr.. Davidge
closed his address to the jury. Guiteau
repeatedly interrupted him and made
one or two speeches. Mrs. Scoville de
nounced Mrs. Dunmire, the prisoner )
divorced wife, as liar. Mr.. Reed, for
the prisoner, followed Mr. Davidge.
On Saturday, before Mr.. Reed COM
menced his argument, Mr.. Scoville arcs e
and addressed the court, stating that he
desired to know whether the prisoner
would be allowed to speak in his own
defense. II the court would accord him
that privilege, both he (Mr. Scoville)
and his associate (Mr Reed would pre-
fer that he should speak first.
81 want 10 be heard on that ques.
ton, your Honor" shouted Guiteau.
q want to close the arguments for
the defense. l wouldn't trust my case
in the hands of the best lawyer in
America"
81 should be 10th in a capital case to
deny any man proper opportunity to
be heard, even if he is represented by
counsel said Judge Cox, "but in this
case it is safe to assume that the pris-
cner will abuse the privilege, as he has
done all through the trial, and that
what he would say would be highly i'm
proper to go before the jury. 1 shall,
therefore deny him the privilege. AS
said, however, if his counsel desire to
read from his manuscript anything
which they deem proper to be laid be-
fore the jury, they could do So"
Guiteau protested that he appeared as
his own counsel, and claimed the right
as an American citizen to be heard in
his own defense. Finding that Judge
Cox could not be moved, he shouted:
LET the record show that / appear
here as my own counsel, and that
l take exception to your ruling, Judge
Cox. shall appeal to the American
people, and they will override you, and
you will go down to future ages with a
black stain upon your name"
Judge Cox made no reply to this
TRADE, but simply nodded to Mr.. Reed
to begin his argument.
The speech that Guiteau wrote in his
cell, and which Judge Cox decided he
should not be permitted to deliver to
the jury, was published. Guiteau says
it contains his true defense, and he re-
pudiates the line of defense adopted for
him by his lawyers.
The speech starts out with the dec
laration that he stands before the
jury as patriot, suffering in
bonds for an act that wss done
t Or the good of the American people.
Much of it has been heard before in
his testimony and in his various adj
dresses to the public from Jail. Some
rhetorical passages that it contains
have appeared again and again in his
utterances in and out of court. He
reasserts that the Deity inspired