Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-14


After recess Davidge resumed his argI.-
ment with review and discussion Of the ex-
pert testimony. Never before had so many
men OF eminence appeared upon a trial OF
this character. The treasury had been
opened to secure the attendance Of witnesses,
AID more than twenty experts had been sum-
moned for the defense. Many eminent men,
whose names were known in every household,
came here. They watched the prisoner; they
| listened to his evidence, and what was the
result? With two exceptions, they vanished
from before the light of evidence like a
cloud before the wind, and not one of them
could come upon the stand and swear this
man was legally insane. They met and COM
pared notes, and could not testify but
to his sanity With the exception
OF the two moral insanity men-and l regret
to say it, neither of them would or could adj
NIT that they believed in God - they van
ished from before you, and were permitted
by the defense to Withdraw without testify
| ing. Now, what has been the result Of all
this evidence? This alleged fool has grown
| before you to a man of more than ordinary
] intellect. We have uncovered his moral ma
ture; We have shown him to be in religion a
| hypocrite, a swindler, a denizen of jails, and
depraved and wicked wretch"
In answer to the prisoners claim of divine
inspiration, Davidge read with impressive
effect from the first chapter of the epistle of
james, thirteenth 10 fifteenth verses, as fol-
lows: Let no man say, when he is tempted
i am tempted of God for God cannot be
t, mpted with evil; neither tempteth lie any
man, but every man is tempted when he Is
drawn away OF his own lust and enticed;
then when lust Is conceived, it bringeth
forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth DEATH"
The air OF the room was very oppressive
after recess, and quite a ripple OF excite
ment was caused by sudden stir at the rear
OF the room. Judge Davidge suspended his
remarks until the confusion should subside
Some one called out: ale has fainted" An
eccentric court-crier scrambled back through
the audience with glass of water in his
hand, and as he nearsd the scene inquired:
as it a man.? and being answered IN the
affirm alive, caused some amusement bv his
business-like direction to the bailiffs to
drag him out". Guiteau called OUT 81
think the most sensible thing to do, your
Honor, would be to let in little fresh air"
The suggestion was Immediately acted upon
and Davidge resumed his speech. In few
minutes Guiteau interrupted, sneeringly:
You're putting it all wrong, Davidge; you
are talking for money now"
Without noticing the interruption Dav-
idge advertsd TO the period OF two weeks |
when the prisoner was making up his mind
to commit the act.
81 was praying to find cut the Lords |
will, broke IN the prisoner.
Davidge (partially turning to the judge |
Let him go on; | will hang him upon |
his own testimony"
The prediction, however, appeared to have |
no terrors for Guiteau, for his Interruptions |
became more and more frequent. AlIusion /
being made to his not paying his debts, he |
shouted: Pm better man than CorkhiIl |
in that particular; | always pay my d-bts |
when l have money; ne don't pay his when
he has money in his pocket"
Reading from the evidence, Dayidge
quoted from Guiteau's own testimony this
sentence: 81 don't tell my business TO every
body; l keep my mouth shut"
Guiteau retorted That's true excep:
here l have to open it; I have to open pretty
often here and in a few minutes he
shouted in a loud tone: "Confer not with
flesh and blood; that was Paul's idea, and
that's mine. / get my advice from the
Deity, and not from flesh and blood. That's
the way Paul got his work in, and that's the
way did mine. The trouble with you Dav-
idge, is that you don't know anything about
the Deity; He knows about you though, and
you'll know something about Him when He
gets you down below"
After disposing OF the insanity and inspi-
ration theories, Davidge continued: There
is not the element in this case that removes
1t from the category so carefully provided
against in courts. Here was a daring.
audaciOUs boy, who in the Oneida Commu-
nifty gave way to life Of lawless violence;
later, as man, a theOcrat, who would over
turn all law and churches; later, when he
boasted himself 10 re Of the firm OF
Jesus Christ x Co, you see the legiti-
mate outcome OF his wicked egotism, J