The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-01-13
TELFGRAPHIC NEWS
TO TIE JGRY.
Fac Argumeats Opened In the
GuiGeAu Case.


Washington. 12.-As soon 20 the court
was called to order DsyidKe took . posi-
ton In front OF the jury and open ed the
argument with . disclaimer of any in
tentlon 10 make q set speech, but ex-
pressed a simple desire to render the jury
what aid be could in their present aud
solemn duty. The time had now come
In this trial when the jury were to become
! factors. Whatever discrder or levity
might have characterized the trial there
wsa but one sentiment in respect Of the
conduct Of the jury. ALI commended their
dIgnined department and close and
| patient Att ntior to the evidence, and he
could not doub. that As they had receives
the Contamination Of all in the past they
would continue TO deserve it in the fu-
turs by their decision Eof the qutG-
ton before them. As Davldge
traced the process OF reason.
| ing at which the prisoner gradually
reached the conviction that but one life
interposed between himse and possibly
great benefts, Guiteau became restless,
and fer the frat time since the opening CT
the court, indicated by his nervous
twisting about, the usual preliminsries 10
Interruptions which in this instance
quickly followed Not often" said
Da Vidge, "in the record Of heinous crime
do We have such plain and pointed evil
deHce as to the first conception Of the
crime. In this case the suggestion came
to the wretch in the night ss he was
l7iuR in bed" at came to me when
the Lord got ready to have it," snarled
the pri'ouer. Davidge continued: This
thought or suggestion came to him on
the 18th OF May, still thinking he might
obtain the Office he sought and keep his
hands clean. He made another effort on
the 18th OF May to kill the President"
Guitesu called out from the desk: 81
would not have taken q foreign mission
after the let of June If it had been offered
to me-" Dsvidge, apparently not heed.
ing him. ION the 18th of May"
Guiteau-I am talking about the lst OF
June.
Davidge, psusing a moment-Just
listen TO him.
Guitesu, sneeringly-They will listen
TO you, but your talk is so weak, that 1t |
is hardly worth listening 10. For several
minutes Guiteau continued to interject
his comments, with the evident intention |
Of annoying DsvidRe, but finding he
could not effect this he gradually sub
sided into complete silence. "In the be-
ginning" said Davidge, ''it was sought
to show that the prisoner was off his bs-
lance. Now the court tells you to look
for that degree OF insanity that dissbles a
man from knowing that what he was
doing was wrong. This is the test you
are to apply. Upon the question of inspi-
ration, l think l will be able to show to
your satisfaction how little there is ia
this claim" The only question, he said,
WAS that of insanity. He then argued
the prisoner had that degree of intel
lgence, legal knowledge and moral
sense, which render him responsible for
his acts. In a telling passage, he showed
that the prisoner himself had wit to see
the fatal weakness Of Scoville's line Of
defense, repudiated it, arguing in his own
behalf, that he was No mbecile, but g
sane man, whose intellect and will had
been domin ated during specified period
Of time, rendering him irresponsible, for
this particular crime. He then reviewed
the circumstances of the crime, and the
victim and the criminal. His analysis OF
Gu,teau's character was graphic and eff
fective. "If," he exclaimed, Il were
to sum up the moral and intellectual
qualities Of this man, should say that
he had the daring Of the vulture COM
bined with the heart Of the wolf" 10
peaking Of Guitesu's plan, he remarked
upon his greater fear of q mob than Of
the law, and exclaimed: "We must say |
10 our shame that this estimate had foun-
dation." 1t rested, he added, with the
jury to chow to. the world whether
Guiteau's opinion was we'll founded.
Upon the resssembling of the court,
Dsvidge considered in their order, each
member of the Guitesu family whose
mental condition had been considered |
here, but unanswersble expert testimony,
he said, showed how much effect this
collateral insanity could have on the
mental condition OF the prisoner. 1t is 8
hollow mOckery to discuss this. Guiteau
once shouted: "L have always been 8
Christian man, and for seven years been
strictly vlrtuoue. Don't forget thai, either."I
Davidge continued: There is not single /
fact or a single jot or little to show tina,
the prisoner was not perfectly responsibleI
for bis acts on the % Of July. The jury
will find that the defense have carefully |
picked out and held up to view everything
in the entire career Of this man which
may be considered odd or peculiar, and it
is for you to consider how much value
can be attached to this evidence, when
you come to consider whether this man
did not know on the I'd Of July that it
was wrong for him TO kill the chief magis-
trate of this Union. Davidge then took
up the Oneida community. and spoke of
Guiteau's wallowing there for six years.
Guitesu shouted: "And | say it is false
l did no! wallow. Pm Just as pure as you
are, Dsvidge. and good deal purer.
went there to save my soul, not for lust.
Put that down, DAvidge, and don't forget
t."