St. Landry democrat., 1882-06-17
Guiteau's Fate-DeciSion Of the District
Supreme Court.

WASHINGTON, May r.
The unanimous decision of the District Su-
preme Court on the question raised by the de-
fense in the Guiteau case Will be announced
Monday. The Post tomorrow will give the
following as the points of the decision:
1.-THE opinion of the court will broadly sus-
tain the position taken by the District Attor-
ney, that jurisdiction is complete where the
eatal blow is struck, without regard to the
locality of the actual demise. The court
holds that the bullet fired at the Presi-
dent by Guiteau on the I'd of July in
this city was the cause of his death,
and that the trial could only have been held in
w Washlngton; that the death of the President in
New Jersey, except as affected by the local
statute, could not change the jurisdiction. The
assassin had not been in New Jersey, had CON-
m1tted no otfense against New Jersey laws, and
the mere fact of the victim being removed to
Elberon to proiong his life or save it, If possi-
bic, could not be made to affect the character
of the crime. The court will hold, III addition,
that there are several grounds on which the
Jurisdiction as exercised might be maintained
If 1t were necessary to decide the case:
Il. That this is a United States Court, with
all powers of any Circuit Court Of the United
States.
''2. That this is Judicial District, and that,
is begun in one and completed in another dis
trict, the offense is complete in either.
''3. That murder being an offense in this
district against the United States, the removal
of the President to New Jersey did not take
him beyond the jurisdiction of the Govern
ment against which the crime was committed.
Considerable anxiety has been expressed
as to the action of the Supreme Court Of the
United States, it being announced that applt-
cation would be made to that body by the de-
PENDANTS counsel for a writ of habeas corpus.
There are now only two Justices of that court
in the city, the court having adjourned for tho
term-Chief-Justice Waite and Justice Miller.
The best legal authorities express doubts
whether such a writ could be granted by the
full court in session, and it is not believed
that any single Judge will take the response
blity on SO important question when it is re-
called that the court was in session for three
months after sentence of death was passed. 1t
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 delivery Of the
opinion the prisoner will be taken at once to
solitary cell in the Jail where he is now con-
1lned and placed under the continued guard,
better known as the death watch Every
action will be observed up to the fatal mo-
ment, and not word will be permitted to be
spoken to him except by his spiritual advisers,
or by persons specially authorized by the
Warden, General Crocker, who has entire
charge of and responsibility for the assassin
from this time on until his dead body is ready to
be consigned to the doctors for post-mortem
examination"
Distrct-Attorney Corkhill has determined
upon an examination of the brain of the as
sassn by board of the most eminent medical
experts in the United States, to put at rest, as
he believes, forever the question of his sanity.
After the autopsy the body will be delivered
TO the relatives Of the doomed man, if any of
sLcm cali for it.