Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-04
WEAVING HIS OWN ROPE.
Effect of Guiteau's Outbreaks Upon
the Twelve JurYmen.

Washington Correspondence N. ?. Herald I'd.
The writer has made It a point during
number of visits to the court room to watch
closely the effect of Guiteau's explosions,
and of the judgments of the experts as TO
them, upon the faces of the Jury. The
twelve seem fully as intelligent as any
twelve men one would pass casually on the
street, and it is to be remarked that those
among them who have had the least sd-
vantage Of education have paid the
closest attention to the testimony,
to the arguments of counsel
and to Guiteau's outbreaks. The jury
man with a strongly marked Irish face, who
Its In the front row, leans eagerly forward
during the entire session, his eyes following
every motion of the witness, the lawyers, or
Guiteau, as they alternately occurY the at
tention OF TIL court. That iuryman has
made up his mind already that Guiteau is
simply selfish blackguard, aud will vote to
hang him. There is no doubt of it; and
there is scarcely less doubt that the votes of
the other eleven, II taken to dsy, would be
not less decided as to the prisoners entire
accountability and guilt.
When Guiteau first wildly addressed the
court, exhibiting every indication of intense
excitement; when he abused witnesses with
out reason apparently without an spprecia-
ton of his perilOus condition, there was
box that was not removed until disgust d.
placed doubt Guiteau's violence reatn
like the rawlings of an insane man. Look
ing him in the face, however, observing his
manner, noting the furtive glance and
the hardly disguised chuckle over the
effect of his outbreaks upon the au-
dience, the conclusion has been forced
upon everyone within the bar that the
assassin's violence and abuse have been a
OFo Ind Ill Il
did not need that the experts should point
this out, although they have thrown the
broad light of experience upon each of the
details of his scheme as he has carried it
out When DIR. Macdonald first carefully
named his reasons for believing that Gui-
teau was Stimulating insanity in all this,
there was very marked expression of as
sent pervading the jury box. Il could not
be referred 70 afy particular individual In
the jury; it was a general but undoubted
manifestation of approval.
Indeed no one who has observed the Jury
during the last few weeks OF this trial has
doubted that their minds are made up; nor is
1t likely now that any evidence in rebuttal
can change that conclusion. 1t is certain as
thing of the future can be that Judge Cox
will charge the jury against the accused /
have yet to meet lawyer who has been
within the bar who entertains a doubt Of
Guiteau's accountability or that Judge Cox
will fail to make that fact plain. doubt
whether either Mr.. ScOville or Mr.. Reed
hope to-day for favorable verdict.
There is not a redeemiDg trait in this
wretched creature, least of all the excuse
of unsceountabiiity. He seems able to
recognize no motives except such as ami
mate himself. He imputes toWitnesses
only the most vulgar impulses. His re-
1linders to counsel tor the government are
the snarls of kicked cur. His vitupera.
tive treatment OF his sister and the law:er
who SO patiently has conducted lis case far
better than even 8 more skillful, but paid
counsel would have done; his base threats
against the woman who had once been his
wife; his references to the father who bore
with aim SO long, to his dead mother. to
the brother who can gain no benefit
from his attendance on this
trial, are developments of the Taost astoupd
ing evil charscteZ that has perhaps ever
mauifeated itself to the world Ia making
up its judgment Of Guiteau the country
cannot compare him with its experience Of
other criminals. He is nparaileied. have
been told by experts and others who have
had intimate acquaintance with convicts.
that so bad man, with Wiekedness so mir
rored In his face, they have never seen. He
has excessive brutality without courage.
vulgar assertion without sslf-confidence
when fairly confronted, abnormal malice
Without the capacity of strong hatred. In-
stances OF his cowardice are known to his
lsilors which have not, ana cannot, be told
In print. He 10 bestial wretch aud capable
OF any crime, but as responsible for bis acts
as any such human brute can be. 1t is this
exhibition Of himself, apparent to jury,
Judge, counsel and observers. but perhaps
not to those who merely read the report of
the trial, and hsva not had the opportunity
to watch him, that will hang this assassin.
While mary criticisms of Judge Cox and
the government counsel hsve been unde-
served, it seems 10 an uDprejudiced visitor
that the prosecution has been undigDified
in many respects. The disorder IN the court
has been much exaggerated in the newspa-
per reports. There have been few, if apy.
instances OF loud laughter Rather the
effect OF Guiteau's coarse impertiaenee has
been rustic and a mcYonent through the
audience, which IN so large and compact a
body OF men and women makes a good deal
OF commotion. Possibly Judge Cox might
have temporarily stopped this by clearing
the court room, bat as long as
there were even a hundred people present
the effect OF the outbreaks would have
been inevitable. Within the walls OF a
church, the demonstrations, undsr such
provocatiOns, would be marked; In such a
miscellaneous assembly it would be impos-
Cox does not seem man of imperative de-
cision Of character, and, while his rebukes
of disorder have been frequent and stern,
they have not been given with that authori-
tative manner that compels obedience. SO
with Guiteau. He has taken advantage OF
several unfulflled and unfortunate threats
during the first days of the trial to give free
rein to his evil propeDsities. The wrangles
OF counsel, their occasional disputes with
tie prisoner aud their irrelevant criticism OF
witnesses have been unseemlY incidents In
the trial; but SO Tor Guiteau's own violence,
the feet that it has been permitted has un-
doubtedly made for the best. He has been
steadily weaving the rope that will hang
him.
That Guiteau will 60 to the gallows very
few who have given personal attention 10
this trial now express a doubt. There is
another thing certain. When face 10 face
with death no such exhibition of mental,
moral and physical eowardice will ever have
been seen On the seaffold; nor will the law
ever have put an end to a criminal of such
inherent, developed, monstrous wickedness
as has manifested itself in this cowardly
assassin.
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