The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-01-19

~ were to sum up the moral and intellectual
qualities OF this man, should say that he had
the daring Of vulturo, combined with the
heart Of . wolf.' In speaking Of Guiteau's
plan, he remarked upon his greater fear Of the
mob than Of the law, and exclaimed. I'VE
must say, to our shame, that this estimate had
the jury to show the world whether Guiteau's
opinion was we'll foundsd II be had feared
tho law 40 be feared the mob, our martyred
head and chief would be alive to-day"
Mr.. Davidge took up In order the
Case OF each member Of the Guiteau
family upon whose mental condition evil
dence had been offered BY defense, and re-
cited in connection counter-evidence OF the
prosecution, summing up the force of this cvi-
dence with the remark " But the unanswer-
able testimony Of experts settles the questio
how much effect this collateral insanity could
have upon the mental condition Of the prisoner
It il but the merest mockery to discuss this
question, In view Of the undoubtcd ability OF
this man TO distinguish between right and
wrong"
Guiteau interrupted once, and shouted ~
have always been = Christian man, and for slx
years have been strictly virtuous. Don't for
get that, either"
fact, or single jot Or little, to show..that this
prisoner was not perfectly responsible for his
action on the "a Of July. The jury will find
that the defense have carefully picked out and
held up to view everything IN tho entire career
Of this man which may DO considered odd or
peculiar, and it il for you to consider how much
value can be attached to this evidence, when
yon come to consider whether this man did not
know on tho ID Of July that it was wrong for
him to kill the Chief Magistrate Of the nation
Mr.. Davdge then took up tho ONEIDA Commu-
nifty, and spoke Of Guitsau's wallowing there
for six years.
Guiteau shouted: "And say il Is false.
Davidge, and good deal purer. | went there
to save my soul, not from lust. Put that down,
Daviige, and don't you forget Il"
Mr. Davidgc discussed the evidence OF Charles
H. Reed, who conversed with the prisoner the
Tuesday before the shooting, and who thought
he appeared - little Oh his balance" And
this, mark yoil," said Mr.. Davidge, lis the ex
tent OF his evidence ~ 10 that day. He WAS
never asked il he thought he Was unable to
distinguish between right and wrong. IL it SO
very strange, gentlemen, that this prisoner
should have appeared queer, when ct that very
time he was carrying in his breast this mon-
strous crime9''
Counsel dissected, with startling perspicacity,
the testimony OF one Witness after another, and
pointed out the weakness aud unre!lability Of
those opinions OF witnesses for the defense,
which had been based in many instances upon
the most meager acquaintance.
Before ordering An adjournment Judge Cox
asked counsel their wishes in regard to speech
from Guiteau. District Attorney Corkhili pro-
seat ct the counsel table. Mrs. Scovile wept
hysterically. Judge Cox instructed Mr.. Sco-
vile to read over the prisoners manuscripts,
And report to the court il it contained any
thing hs desired to have 60 before the jury.
FoRTY-TmRD DAT.
Mr.. Davidge resumed his argument for the
prosecution, and spent the day in matter-of-
fact and, 1t times, rather tedious review Of the
portant parts, he laid marked emphasis upon
the damaging testimony Of John W. Guiteau,
who, he said, was ! most unwilling witness
against his brother, but who Was obliged, 40 .
man OF truth and honor; to affirm the prison.
er's sanity and his hateful, d0mineering.
egotistic temper. John 6uiteau's testimony, ut
the time It was rendered, was universally COM
the skillful use made Of il BY Mr. DAvidge
shows what importance the prosecution ~
tached TO 1t. This witness wAs from the very
first opposed to the plea Of hereditary insanity
~ il touched himself aud his children ~ nearly
A it did the prisoner. Hence be rendered the
prosecution very material help In attacking this
line OF defense. Il is understood that he feels
very indignant at Mr.. Scovllle for making this
theory 50 prominent, and that after the trial Ia
concluded he will set himself right before the
pubic on the matter.
Mr.. Davldxe, while he in no wise encouraged
Guiteau's Interruptions, noticed them whero It
served his purpose, aud or several occasions
made them the text tor aprop0s aud tslling
comment His description Of the prisoners
own testimony was given in graphic sentences.
He had been put on the stand, said Mr.. Dav-
idge, - = last hope, bur, 20 far from sustain
ing the defense, he had removed any doubt
which remained ~ to his sanity. He then
commented Oh Cuiteaus character - testified
to BY several Of the witnesses for the pr0secu-
tion showing that ho WAS thorough scOun-
drel, whose insanity consisted In An absurd
idea Of his own consequence, which led him
to disregard all the rights Of others which in
terfered with his own convenience.
He may be . crank, said the speaker,
scornftdly, .but he i responsible enough to
be hanged"
he proceeded to discuss the medical teetimo-
nv, taking mp the hypothetical question Of the
defense and claiming that it's bases werc not
sustained by the evidence. He also pointed out
that tho inquiry begged the question at issue
and WAS artfully incomplete aud unfair. Then
he turned to the inspiration theory. If no
Was inspired" said Mr.. Davidge, "it was from
the devil-not from God. Substitute devil for
God and the meaning OF much OF this pressure
Is clear. du.tean struggled against it - every
man tempted OF the devil struggles, but he did
not resist. He succumbed, and sin brought
forth DEATH"
As the orator drew his speech to close the
prisoner made several Of his spiteful demon
strations. and singled ont Corkhill for another
TRADE Of abuse. quoting a. he has often quoted
before, the action OF the mills Of the gods. He
said that they would, in their grinding, make
slow but sure work Of Corkhill.
roRrr-rouRrH DAT.
At the opening Of cour. Guiteau stated that
he had thirty checks, representing about &l5,-
600. some Of which were worthless. and ths. he
wanted no more Of tho latter kind. When Mr..
| ScQsille asked il the prisoner would be allowed
to 1peak to the jury, the assassin exclaimed
that he wouldn't trust his case III the hands Of
the lest lawyer in America. Judge Cox
said it WAS safe to assume that Gui-
| arguing in his own defcnse, for WHICH reason
| it would not be granted. MIR. Reed then conn
| menced An argument which consumed the day,
and was subjected to frequent Interruptions
| by tho assassin. There were portions Of the
speech which seemed to considerably impress
the jury-notably the very pathetic passages
| in which Mr.. Reed denounced the crime for its
atrocity, aud pictured the widow nightly pray
/ ing that the murderer Of her husband might
/ be pronounced insane. Those who closely
watched tho jury observed that there were
/ tears Ill the eyes of some. Reeds method was
earnest and deliberate. His expression WAS
always serious. Ho fought to prove that,
from the time Of his birth, Gnitesu Was q
victim Of mental disease. Commencing with
the period OF hls mothers maternity, he showed
that all through tho weary months sho was
! an Invalid. aud argued that duiteau was
the sufferer from this. Tho boy could
not talk tlil he WAS years old, aud was whip
ped BY bis father because he could not
whipped from boyhood, Reed argued, be-
blamelcss life from that hour; il was nlaill-
tanned, to tho ago OF 10, when he struck his
father. That. the counsel claimed, WAS All act
| Of madness. Then Luther Guitean, worthy