Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-01-21
Guiteau Occupies the Attention
Of the Court and Jury
To-Day.
A Long Harangue in Defense Of HE
Murderous Act.
The Supreme Court of Illinois
Creates a Damaging Mix
up in the Chicago Pro-
bate Court
DOings.
The Trial of Guiteau.

SAAS SouA0 A"oAn nouAlchu LUX u beAL IN the
witness box, remarking as he laid out
his papers, II sit down because I can
speak better, not because am afraid Of
being shot; this shooting is getting
played out"
AT an intimation from Judge Cox the
prisoner arranged his glass eye and with
flourish read from his manuscript as
follows: "The prosecution pretend
that am very wicked, man; !;
MIR. Scoville and the rest think I am a
lunatic, and I presume you think am.
l certainly was a lunatic July 2nd, when
L fired on the president; and the Ameri-
can people generally, and presume you
think L was. Can you imagine anything
more insane than my gong to the depot
and shooting the president of
the United States. You are here
to say whether lwas Insane or sane when
[ fired that shot. Yea ..aye nothing to do
with my condition since and before I
fired that shot. You must say by your
verdict, sane or insane at the moment
the shot was fired; if you have doubt
OF my sanity moment you must give
me the benefit of the doubt and acquit,
that is, if you have any doubt
whether L fred that shot or
as an agent of the Deity; ii fred on
my own account was sane; if fired it
supposing 1 was an agent of the Deity
was insane and you must acquit. This is
the record Of law given in recent decis-
ION OF the New York court of appeals;
it revolutionizes = old rules and
is grand step forward in the law of in
sanity; 1t is worthy of this age of rail-
roads, electricity and telephones, and it
well comes from the progressive state of
New York. have no hesitation in say.
ing that it is special providence in my
favor, and ask the court and jury to so
consider it. Some eminent people Of
America think me the greatest man of
the age, and the feeling is growing; they
believe in my inspiration" !"
and that providence and 1 have really
saved the country another war. Ny
speech, setting this forth in detail, was
telegraphed to all the leading papers and
published Monday, and now am per.
mitted by his honor to deliver it to you" )"
He here explained to the jury that his
speech opened with quotation from his
Christmas greeting to the American peo-
pie, and in using it for
All opening for his speech to the jury he
had neglected to cut out the date Christ
mas, 1881. After thanking his counsel
and paying very high compliment to
the zeal and ability winch Scovllle had
displayed, whom he proposed soon to re-
ward with a very liberal fee, he
extended his grateful acknowledgement
to the court. the jury, officers and balliff,
and last but not least to the American
press. The latter were power that gen.
orally criticised man when they got
down on him; they had been pretty
heavy on the prisoner at first, but when
they knew his motives they changed
their views and was now treating him
very fairly. With tins introduction the
prisoner picked up newspaper aud pro-
ceeded to read to the jury his published
speech. His manner was an ostenta.
tlous affectation of composure of his in.
tense feeling, which was only held in
control through his undoubted strength
OF will. His excitement was betrayed
by slight hectic spot high up on each
check OF his usually colorless face
and by the unusual deiiberation
with which he began and
tor some time continued to speak.
Whether his emotion was from merely
SUPERFICIAL. fleet npon his codition natu.
rally incident for the occasion or wheth.
er it proceeded from deeper or more
overpowerlng influence of the true reali-
zation OF his position Of an almost con-
victed murderer pleading for life, it was
difficult to divine.
After this Guiteau continued to read
occasionally, adding brief comments on
the text. As he proceeded all appear
ancc OF nervousness gradually wore off,
and with the utmost composure and
unctionl that bordered upon the ludi-
crous. the prisoner read on with
MI attempt at every conceivable form of
oratorical and dramatic effort. His des-
cription of his taking off of the presi-
dent was given with striking effect. At
times he close d his eyes or turned them
heavenward, waving his body back and
forth.
He sank his voice toa whisper or raised
up to high treble at times. The
intensity of his utteranees seem.
ed to react upon himself
but the effect was but transitory. and
with the exception of one instance, there
was no indication of his breaking down.
At frequent intervals he paused to en-.
phasize some sentences or sentiment by
repeating it or commenting upon it. At
one timo pausing he leaned toward the
Jury and emphasizing with his head and
hands, said, with an attempt at great 10.