Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-02-01
GUITEAu
YIrrIErH DAY.

Inc assassin was gwen the mtieth day OF hle
trial to address the jury. He sftd;
"The prosecution pretend tlpl am wicked
man; Mr.. Seoyllle and the red think am
hnatlc; and presume yosx'think I am.
certainly was q lunatic July :, Ehen fred oa
the President ana the Americ&H.rople gcneraL
ly, and presume yon think wax CAN you mag
inc anything more insane THAI ~ going TO that
depot and shooting the Presidsnt OF The United
state92 fou are here 70 saywhether l was
sane v or insane at the moment Isirod that shot
You have nothing 10 do with nv condition be-
fore on since that shot was frUt you must say
by your verdict sane or insane ~ the moment
the shot was fred IL youh have Aay doubt OF
my sanity IT the moment yQe iist give ne the
benefit of the donhf and y ssbst il, il You
WI a sa9y y ras assfs a;sss Esas III ,~ sasaas Jaa
account was sane II sred t. fupposing my
self TO be the agent OF the Deity, was insane,
aud you must acquit."
With this introduction the prisoner took up
newspaper and proceeded TO read 70 tie jury
his published speech. His manner TO tho casual
observer seemed completely self-pcssessed q
usual, but behind the ostentatious afsctation
OF cemposure was intense foehng, which was
only held in control through his undouhted
strength OF will. His excitement was betray ID
by slight hectic spot high upon
each cheek, Of his usually cdoriess face,
and by the unusual delibemtion with
to speak. Whether this excitement was from
merely superficial effect upon his emotions.
naturally incident to the occasion. or whether
il proceeded from deeper and more overp0wtr-
ing influence, the true realization OF bis posi-
ton, an nslInost-coayGted murderer pleading for
his life it were difficult to divine. Whatever the
original character o; feeling, it finally gained
the ascendency over bis powers OF control. and
as he reached that point IN his speech-"I have
always served the Lord, and whether.i live or
die Tho broke down completely. stopped,
tired to choke down the rising lump III his
throat, but found it impossible TO keep back
genuine sob. Taking out his handkerchief,
he buried his face IN it for q few seconds.
wiped his eyes, and with determined effort
started on again. He seemed to recover his
composure 50 quickly that some believed the
whole effort was manufactured. His sister,
Mrs. Scoylile, however, apparently thought 9TH
erwIse. She was deeply affected, and wept and
sobbed bitterly for some minutes. After this
incident Guiteau continued to read, OCCASION
ally adding brief comments upon the text As
be proceeded with his reading all appearance
Of nervousness gradually wore of, aud. with
the utmost composure and an JUNCTION that bor-
dered upon tho ludlerous, the prisoner read on !
with an attempt at every conceivable form OF
oratorcal and dramatic effect. His description
of the taking off OF the President was gwen
with striking effect. At this time be closed his
eyes OF turned them heayenward, waved his
per OF raised II to a high treble. At times the
intensity OF his utterances seemed 10 react
upon himself, but the effect vas hut transitory,
aud with the exception of one instance there
ss n no ,,s ndicsSn nIlv,is e hreaains down
emphasize some sentence or scn,i-
ment by repeating il or commenting
upon it, At one time, Lansing, he leaned
toward the jury and, emphasizing with his
head and hands, said, with an attempt at great
solemnity OF uttGrBnce:
II tell you, gentlemen, just as sure as there
issa God IA acavssss, Z yea haIys q hair OF a,y
head this nation viii go down hf blood. You
cap put my body in the grave, bUC there will
be day OF reckoning"
"1he jury may put my tody in the ground,
but my soul will go marching on. The slave
holders put John Browns body in the ground,
but his soul goes marching on 49,. -.
Here he chantod most werdly ono ftanzs OF
John Browns Body" closing with GLORY,
Glory, Hslieluiah ~
The assassin began proceedings by anuouuc-
ing the receipt of several hundrei letters,
many OF them tender missives from lsdiec. He
then informed the audience that he did not
think il proper that he sLould accept Cabinet
Office from President Arthur rrf tnat ba
would stop Judge Porter Bhoull he attempt TO
mislead the jury.
Judge Porter tbon commenced the closing
argument to The Jury for tue prosecution. Ho
opened with the remark that thus far the trial
had practically been conducted by the prisoner
and Mr. Scoyile, and every one had been de-
nounced at their wilt He proceeded to sketch
the career Of the assassin Ms beggar, hypc-
crite aud scoundrel, and TO depot the horrors
OF his crime.
As Judge Porter proceeded with G resistsess
torrent Of denunciation and inyective, thd
prisoner occasionally csiled out That's a
lie r . That's absolutely faise; OF, " Tnsi amt
the prisoners hfs, Judge PorteEshowed up in
all its hideous aefornuty ID eyBfamous heIn of
ms nature. Alluding to his dispute With his
brother, John w. Gniteail In Boston where be
struck the latter IN tue frce, Judge Porter
sad this was the first aud last time this
coward ever struck any one blow in the face.
His coward hand always struck frcm behind.
After showing who and what was the murderer,
Judge Portsr next dcsc ibed his. victim, paying
glowing tribate 10 the character and services
OF the lamentea Prehdent, and prcnounciug
most touching eulogy, as IT were, ON his mern-
ory. Tue claims o, the prisoner 10 be pray
ing man were considered and the hollow mock
cry Of the dain. shown. Guiteau augrlJ
shouted:
II pray every night and morning and before
every meal IL you did the same you would be
better man. You Wouldn't be here looking
for biood-money." ei uI7
.The prisoner saws no prayed for fix weeks
Why, II he had made up ilis ulind unaiterahly
10 murder the President on the LIST of lune.v
saii Judge Porter, did no stGl continue 70
pray down TO tEe very act OF nnrier2'
Guiteau--f prayed to sses II The Lord
vonidns letme on irom killing him"
"what was be praying for?' continued
Judge Porter. "The man who efsimcd 10 nave
I.iiu traft u
deteflso, In adyancc for IN act to do wfien lie
was diyinely inspired. The believer IN iusp.rsr
ton, he would himself alter the inspred vook
and substitute for it a book Of his own. That
he did not shoot the President on tie
first occasion,, ssid Iude1 fosters xsas
done it on that occaGoslthe would T.. beelis
torn to pieces, and he knew IT, On this cccst
SION the President xaa surrounded by his Gabt
met and his friends Itis son, not yet strong,
but who would have been urged Mt such q tiars
with o God-given strength W defend his faI,N
er. was also by bis side, and the assasslns erar-
ven heart failed him and he said, Not yet ~
SOM other me.
With graphic pic.uring Jn ige Porter rsls,ed'
iiijs cisrss, lie ipsE q scsaenis Oh each
occasion which bsfti sf lin. President Gis-
fieii'ssisn to Secrssasy slaise house, doseea
by the assassin. was viyidy portrayed.
In the courso OF MS speech Judge Porter ad-
verted to the constant Interruptions of tho
prisoner, bis false claims OF sympathy, and
that the press was with him, and SAID IN con-
tradicion:
II have yet 10 SEQ . single Amer can
newspaper that has one word to say in his
defense" -
Scoyille vainly stroye 10 gct fhe ear or the
court, protesting taat Judge Porter wss tx ecd-
ing the rules OF the court by such statements.
| At length Judge Porter paused, and Socyillo
demanded that he be allowed TO make similar
statements in reply.
Judge Porter attempted 10 go on, bat SEQ
vile, reinforced by the clsmor of tho prisoner.
succeeded In getting the floor, when. VITA much
excitement, be demAnded that his yishts, a,si
| no claimed that he lad rights, should be re-
spscted. He insisted that judge Porter had
no right to state what tho newspapers said or