The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-01-19
.GarfGld'S Assassin.

|
the prisoner was brought in, and a
soon as he had taken his seat h,
opened the days proceedings will
the following speech: "I received
checks yesterday representing abou
$4,000 /; some of them are worthless
and many of them are no doub
good. l don't want any one to senC
me worthless checks. | do my owl
banking business and my check:
should be made out to my order
Any one who desires to send me
any money can do so, but | dom
want any worthless checks"
Col. Reed took his position imme.
diately in front of the jury and
awaited the sign from the court tC
begin the argument for the defense
All turned in that direction, when
ScOville arose and addressed. the
court, stating his desire to know
whether the prisoner would be al.
lowed to speak in his own defense:
if the court decided to accord him
that privilege that he (Scoville) and
his associate (Reed) would prefer
that he should speak first.
Guiteau-"I want to be heard on
that question, your honor. | want
TO close the argument for the de-
tense. | would not trust my case in
the hands of the best lawyer OF
America"
Judge COX-"I should be 10th in
a capital case to deny any man
proper opportunities to be heard,
even If he is represented by counsel;
but in this case, it is safe to assume
that the prisoner will abuse the
privilege. He has done so all
through the trial and that what he
would say would be highly i'm
proper to go before the jury. shall
therefore deny Tim the privilege. AS
said Yesterday, however, If his
counsel desires to read from his
manuscript anything which they
deem proper to be laid before the
jury, they can do So"
Guiteau protested that he ap-
peared as his own counsel and
claimed the right as an American
citizen to be heard in his own de-
Tense, but finding that Judge Cox
could not be moved. he shouted {:
"Let the record show that 1 ap-
! pear here rs my own counsel and
that L take exception to your ruling,
Judge Cox; L shall appeal to the
American people and they will over
rule you and you will go down to
future ages with black stain upon
| your name"
Judge Cox made no response to
this TRADE, but simply nodded to
Col. Reed to begin his argument.
Col. Reed then rose to address the
jury on behalf of the prisoner. He
commenced by paying compliments
to the jury for the seriousness, SOL
emnity and care which had char
acterized it during the long trial,
and trial unparalleled in the his.
tory of criminal jurisdiction. He
| should not endeavor to make any
statement of evidence, or to draw
/ gilded pictures of any scene: but he
would simply talk with them, as be-
tween neighbors. Mr.. Davidge,
counsel for the prosecution, had Oc-
cupied two days in addressing the
jury, and that the efforts and con-
sumption of time on his part showed
the grave apprehension felt by the
prosecution lest something might
have appeared in the case which
would make the jury say that the
poor man was q lunatic and ire
sponsible.
The prisoner has certainly sus-
tanned his record for impartiality IN
abusing and contradicting every
one who has had anything to say
upon the case, from Judge Cox on
| the bench to the last witness on the
| stand.
Before Col. Reed had been speak
ing half an hour the prisoner began
to comment and contradict, con-
trasting the mercy of the Savior's
words to those afflicted with devils,
as insane, with the demands of the
prosecution in this case. Col. Reed
said they say chang him."
Guiteau shouted 'and the Ameri-
can people say let him go. The
American people are on my side.
Mr.. Reed, now 60 on with your
speech"
Soon after the speaker had occa-
sion to allude to the evidence of j.
w. Guiteau, when the prisoner again
interrupted, and called out dispar-
agingly, "Well, he amt my refer
ence; I've got better men than he is
for my reference"
Col. Reed commented upon the
incident related by several witnesses
when Guiteau struck his father at
the supper table, and Guiteau called
out, vehemently, "that was not true;
[ never struck him, never intended
TO strike him; l don't fight any one;
Pm peaceable man. I'll don't like
any one tell them so. and tell them
to get out of my way, and that
settles Them
'This act, ;" continued Colonel Reed,
"was the first indication of insanity.
He denies it; probably he don't re-
member it."
Guitcau, sneerlngly-"That is
owing to weak mind and dis
ordered intellect"
Colonel Reed continued - "Mr.
Davidge condescended to read yes
terday portion Of the evidence in
relation TO the incident, to show, as
he claimed, the depravity of the
prisoner, and Judge Porter kindly
suggested TO him that Guiteau
struck his father in the back; the
full record says on the neck or
shoulders"
Mr.. Davidge, laughingly-"Don't
90 back on the witness"
Col. Reed-"I am reading from
the records"
Guiteau, with an air of satisfaction
of his superior discernment-"Whv,
that was intended for a pun, Reed,
but you don't seem to see it [ don't
know as that should be wondered
at, for it would require a microscope
for an ordinary mortal to see it."
After recess Reed continued his
argument, reading letters written
by Guiteau at the time he left the
Oneida community and commended
that no man could read these letters
but reach the conclusion that the
writer was of unsound mind. This
evidence was not manufactured for
the occasion, it was on rec
ord years ago. A good many
of experts for the government, who
had watched the prisoner closely for
weeks, swore that they did not think
the prisoner, by his rocks or by his
talk, or by his actions here in the
courtroom, has endeavored to feign
insanity. Though, said Col. Reed, it
is point vital to this case, and l
ask you gentlemen, if half a dozen
of these observers swore that lie is
PLAYING a part here, and as many
more swear to the contrary, and al
low them witnesses for the govern
ment, l say, the experts disagree so