Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-16
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. PRESENTING THE CASE. Reeds Effort to Prove Gui-
 teau Insane. AN ABLE APPEAL TO THE JURY. His Execution Dubbed & Ma
 tiOnal Disgrace. GUITEAU'S PLEA IN DEFENSE. His Address Presented to
 the Public.
GUITEAU'S PLEA IN DEFENSE.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. Enlishtentmg the Jury-AttOrney Reeds Plea for the Assnssin-The Jury Asked to Find Him Insane-His Execution Characterized a National Disgrace.
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-A large number of persons gathered yesterday to hear MT. Reed
 plead for Guiteau's life on the ground that when he shot President Garfield his mental condition was such as to render him legally irresponsible for his act. As soon as court opened Mir. Scoville stated that the defense wished to know the decision of the court in regard to Guiteau's desire to make the clos ing address to the jury. The court answered that he had been informed that the prisoner was preparing an address to the jury. He would be loath in 8 capital case to deny any prisoner an opportunity to present proper argument in his own behalf. But he was persuaded that any address from this prison CT would partake of the character of his former testimony and interruptions that it would be a rehash of his testimony. No per-
 son had right to do that. It would be
 grossly improper to permit such testimony to go before the jury. He (the court) would
 not make the experiment. The counsel for
 the defense might examine the prisoners manuscript and, if they thought proper, read it to the jury.
 After the assassin had vented his disap- pointment at thus being shut off from airing
 his eloquence Mir. Reed rose and addressed himself to his task. He compared Guiteau's case with those of Hatfield and Oxford of England, and with that of Lawrence, who attempted to take President Jackson's life
 He next discussed the rulings of Judge Cox on the prayers for instructions and then re- viewed the evidence, which he contended all went to prove the assassin's insanity and consequent Responsibility at the time of committing the murder. In calling attention to the rule of Judge Cox that a knowledge of right from wrong was the best test of 8 mans responsibility, he charged MT Davidge with emitting the quail flying or relative clause, and read the ruling of Judge Cox to substantiate his assertion. He concluded with urging that it was the duty of the jury to acquit if there was a rea- sonable doubt as to the sanity of the pris- oner. Guiteau unexpectedly exclaimed, ''The American people say, Let him go' /" 1 This was induced by MT. Reeds ref l cution that Guiteau should be convicted Guiteau again interrupted Mir. Reed by stat ing that his brother was not his reference. The prisoner enjoyed the laughter which fol lowed one of his interruptions which he con- strued as compliment to his wit, but he was not in good humor. He frequently denied MT. Reeds argument. After the recess MT. Reed read the letter written years ago to show Guiteau's insanity where the prisoner claimed to be "a member of Jesus Christ and company, the very strongest firm on earth. " \ Mr. Reed laid great stress upon the fact that of all the government experts, but three doc- 1 tors swore Guiteau was playing part. He ! argued that if these doctors were unable to l agree as to mans conduct how could they determine the state of the mind? He gave a graphic picture of ! Guiteau, and after asking if the doctors know everything mentioned how they were mistaken in their bulletins concerning the To- cation of the bullet in President Garfelds 1 bsdy and the nature of the wound. In a 1 heightened voice. and striking his hands to- gether, he said: q do not charge them with perjury, but do say that 1t would be a ! terrible outrage to send man to the gallows I on the opinion of these experts" Further 1 on he urged that Senator Logan's opinion ] was worth more than than of the experts. ! He sought to support this by saying Senator Logan, though a Democrat at the be- 1 ginning of the war, joined the Union army and fought for his country. l Mr. Reed took occasion to say there was a grave suspicion attached to the fact that De- tective McElfresh was not put on the stand, and that the District attorneys stenographer l had destroyed his note book, as they would l have told in thunder tones to the jury that he said he did this act in obedience to the l command of God. It was in the concluding 1 part of his speech that MT. Reed appeared to l the best advantage and demonstrated his claims as an orator. He secured the undi- vided attention of the jury and the audience. 1 When Mir. Reed, in the course of his perora- 1 ton, invoked the jury to falter not in render 1 ing a verdict that would save them and America from disgrace, Guiteau shout ed out, "Pd rather go that way, Reed, | than be smashed up as were some poor people on the railroad last night. :" The prisoner had already declared that Presi- dent Arthur did not want to see him con- victed, and his opinion of the speech was 1 evidenced by the statement that he would l not give cent bushel for MT. Reeds rub bish. It was ten minutes past three when | MT. Reed stopped speaking, and the court 1 then adjourned until to-day, when MT. Sco- vile will begin his address.
 ! Mir. Reeds argument was listened to with 1 close attention and evident interest from the beginning to it's close. As he had promised 1 III one or the opening SenIeRc0s ue kept It ] within the character of 8 conference with
 neighbors---never once venturing on the domain of oratory. MT. Porter, who is to l close for the prosecution, was most attent- i've auditor. So was the prisoner himself,
 who refrained from his usual frequent inter jections. Only when MT. Reed predicted that, if sent to an insane asylum, he would
 be, within two years, drivelling idiot, he ex-
 pressed his appreciation of what he evidently
 considered capital joke by breaking into a
 laugh and indulging in it in a quiet way for
 some time. His sister, Mrs. Scoville, sat sll
 l the day in mournful attitude, with hand
 covering her face most of the time to con- ceal her tears, while her little daughter stood
 by her side, and, by her caresses, sought to
 win her from her grief.
 The special House committee on the ex-
 penses attending the illness and burial of
 President Garfield and allowance to his widow
 met, and after discussion, adopted resolu-
 tion offered by MT. Page, of California, in
 structing the chairman, Mir. Taylor, of Ohio,
 to give public notice that all persons having
 claims for services rendered or materials fur
 nished during the illness and burial of the
 late President Garfield should present the
 same to the committee for auditing on or be-
 fore the 10th day of February next.