Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-14
THE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.
Mr.. Davidge Continues His Argu-
ment, with Interruptions By the
Assassin.

WASHINGTON, January l3.-Ihe rain and
slush had no terrors for those who had Sc
cured tickets to the trial. At an early hour
the court room was crowded, and at ten
O'Clock, possibly 200 persons were patiently
waiting ON the outside. Just before the
opening Of court Guiteau said: ''In justice
to myself and Mr.. Davidge I desire to say
that I received a letter yesterday severely
denouncing Mr.. Davidge, and my remarks
against him were based upon that. have
found out, however, that I was
mistaken, and that Davidge is
a high toned, christian gentleman, and q
sound LAWYER. / desire, therefore. 10 with
draw anything l said against him. l still
entertain the same opinion OF Col. COrE hill,
however. Pm satisfied I was wrong about
Davidga, but right on COrkhill."
Mr.. DaviTga resumed his argument and
review Of the evidence. He showed up, by
the evidence OF J. W. Guiteau and other
Witnesses for the defense, the fallacV and
ahsurdity Of Scoville's pet theory that the
prisoner was an imbecile.
After his opening speech Guiteau re-
mained q quiet listener for an hour. Mr..
Dividge having used some pretty strong
language in alludiug to Guiteau, such as,
"He IS au unspeakable liar," the prisoner
retOr-ed; "Oh, YOU are making all that fine
talk for money! following # uD with fire.
Quent comments: "That happens to be
false that isn't tTue,n and similar express
sions. Mr.. Davidge passed TO the exsmina-
tiOn OF the prisoner himself his appearance
upon the stand; what he had said. and what
capacity OF intellect he had shown,
proving conclusively that what had gone
before had sll been sham ard a hollow
fraud. ScOville had dilated on his morality,
and had asserted that a lack Of intellect
was bis falling On the contrary, ne bad
shown on the stand wonderful memory, logic,
reason and intellectual ability. Likewise,
as the defense had claimed for him virtue
and mOrsitv, the prosecution had availed
themselves OF their right TO show the con-
'rarY, aud what had been the result? He
had been shown TO be such a monster Of
corruption, deceit, depravity aud wicked
ness that the country looked on with
shudder.
THAT might have been the case, ," shouted
Guitesu, Sin July, but It isn't the case now.
II you could see some Of the letters l have
been receiving YOU would see that a good
greatest men in the county"
COntiGuiug, Davidge skillfully and with
wonderful effect reviewed that portion of
the s'imODy bearing on the prisoners
moral character as eviderced In his past
life. "All this time" said counsel,
no one accused him of insanity.
In the estimation Of his
friends aud his family he was sane enough
for all the transactions of life. But, when
his hand is red with blood and outraged
law claims him as a sacrifice on the altar OF
justice, We first ear Of his insanity"
Alluding to Guiteau's schemes in relation
to the Inter Ocean. Mr.. Davidge said: ''We
have 10 deal simply with the plans Of an
sudaciOUs mind. but there is nothing In the
-, L a. g.. I
understand, that The stock Cf the paper,
once worth S15 COO. is now worth 81 O00, 600,
and it was by putting into successful
operation the plans fret suggested By the
prisoner.
Eyes" shouted Guiteau, "the paper
never was anything until put some brains
tn'O f., ard they have been running ever
since on nv brains "
Summing up this ircldent, Mr. Davidge
said: at was no indication of insanity.
/ was simply in keeping with his idea that
The one great moving brain and the one
central figure Of the day was that of Charles
J Guitesu
"Thank you, i Davidgp, 2" sarcastically called
cut the prisoner. "I'm glad you're begi1-
niDg to think so. A great many other
people think Pm the greatest man Of the
day, but 1 DONE care a scrap what they
think. l haven't got bit OF egotism."
G mmenting on the testimony Of DR..
Spi zka. Mr.. Davidge said "NOtwiths' and
lug some OF his remarkable statements,
Spi zks never denied the prisoners legal
responsibility. Accepting all his evideTce,
even Spi-zka brought the prisoner within
the reach Of the law and punishment"
After the recess Mr.. Dsvidge resumed his
argument with a review and discussion OF
the expert testimony. "MOre than twenty
experts hal been summoned for the defense
mary of them men whose names We're
krOwn IN every household. They came here,
they watched the prisoner, they listened 10
his evidence, and what was the result :
With two exceptions they vanished from
before the light OF evidence Ike a cloud
before the wind, and not one OF them could
come upon the stand and swear that the
man was legally insane. They met and
compared nOtes, and they could not testify
20 his insanity, with the exception OF moral
irssuiry. Men, aud l regret to say #,
neither of them would or could admit thar
hey believed I'm God, thpv vanished before
you and were permitted by the defense to
withdraw without testifyiug."
n answer to the prisoners claim of d.
vine inspiration, Mr. Davidge read with i'm
urpszive effect from the first chapter Of the
Fps ! OF James ,the thirteenth and fifteenth
verses, inclusive.
The prisoner continued interruptug when
Mr. DSvt ge (Dar;iallY turning 70 the judge
upon his own testimony This prediction
seemed to have no horrors for Guteau, and
he continued his Interruptions. After
dispO ing OF the insanity and
inspiration theories, Mr.. Davidge
continued: "There is rot an element in the
case that removes it from the category so
carefully provided against in the cour s.
Here was a daring, audacious boy, who 10
he Oneida Community gave way to a life
of lawiess vice, and lster, as a man, a theO-
crlt who would OveTturn all law and
churches. Later, when he proclaimed him
self Of the firm OF Jesus Christ & Co.. you
see the legi innate outcome OF his
wicked egOtism, and # is just as
legitimate and logical to find the true ex-
nIauatiOu OF this crime in the same traits OF
lnordiuate vanity, desire OF nOtorie;y and
reckless egOtism, as l conceive the true and
only theory Of his mOnstrOus crime-believ-
ing that others were as wicked as himself,
and that those who would be benefited bY
e would In some way interpose to save him
from the damning consequences of his most
he'nOus crime.
Guitesu continued 10 interrupt with a
constantly increasing exhibition Of ugly
temper. You'll get the Deity down on
YOU for the way you are conducting this
case" he shouted, "snd he will eternally
damn you, Davidge."