Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-02-02
CONVICTION OF GUITEAU..

On Tuesday evening Of last week Judge
| Porter finished his argument in the assasslna-
tion trial, and there only remained Judge Cox's
charge to the jury. 1t was now O'Clock, and
there was some apprehension among the spec
tators, who densely packed the court room,
that Judge Cox would adjourn Court, and de-
fer his charge until the next morning. But in
view of the fact that the jury signitied their
preference to have the case given to them at
once, the Judge proceeded to deliver his charge.
1t had evidently been prepared with great
deal of care, and was delivered in quiet,
clear, judicial manner In that vast crowd
there was no more earnest and attentive lis
tener than Guiteau himself, who bent forward
over the ratings on the dock with his face
resting in the palms of his hands and his ell
bows supported by the railing, making note
worthy picture in the dim twilight OF the room.
Judge Cox's charge swept away all the cob
webs which the lawyers Oh each side had con-
structed 1t was concise, clear and positive
statement of the legal definition Of insanity,
of the gauge which the jury must apply to the
evidence sustaining both the sanity and insan-
ity claims. 1t left no sort of doubt in the
minds Of the jury as to precisely what was in
sanity as contemplated by the law, and gave
them no opportunity for any other discussion
among themselves, excepting the single one as
to whether the evidence introduced met the
legal requirements. The charge was one to
which, even the counsel for the defense said,
little or no exception could be taken, and no
exception at all was possible upon his state
ment of the law.
Nevertheless it sounded to the audience,
and, as since learned, was accepted by the Ju-
ry like the death sentence OF Guiteau. The
prisoner was given the benefit of all that he
could possibly, under the evidence, ask for,
and vet Judge Cox's statement of the case was
so terribly powerful against him that many
people believed that the jury would be out but
few moments. Once or twice Gulteau Of
fered some trivial comments, but they were
unnoticed by the Judge and almost unheard
by the people in the court room: 1t did not
escape notice of members of the bar who heard
the charge that in some respects Judge Cox
had been fairer toward the prisoner even than
his counsel had asked him to be, while on the
other hand he had brushed away as lnslgnlfl-.
can't and Of no CONSCIENCE some OF the points
which the prosecution had dWelt upon with
seemingly the greatest confidence.
Soon after O'Clock, and while dusk was
becoming darkness in the court room, the
jury took the case into its own hands. "A
grim visaged bailiff making his way thorough
the dense throng that stood between the jury
and door beckoned to them to follow him. A
NoSe
mentary evidence, prepared to follow, and
one by one, thus escorted, the jury made its
way from the court room into the consulta-
tion room overhead. Judge Cox, after they
had gone, leaned over the bar and cOnversed
quietly with one or two lawyers. Mr.. ScOville
and Mr.. Reed, the prisoners counsel, chatted
with one or two of the audience. Judge Por-
ter sat silent, while Corkhill made the only
ofticious exhibition by gathering together the
documents and papers with which the tables
were Strewn.
Guiteau sat in the dock for five or six
minutes, like statue, after the jury had gone.
1t was too dark to see his features, but those
who stood near him said he was muttering
something to himself. He finally looked up
toward the Judge and tried to get up, but ne
seemed TO have lost his strength, and the Off
GERS who guarded him thought he was going
to break down. At least he said in weak
voice. unlike that he used to interrupt the pro-
ceedincs. that he would like to he taken out
of the court into the Marshal's office, and
Judge Cox consented. Two baillffs took him
oneby each arm and he was led through the
throng. his head bent over, his eyes upon the
floor, shuhing along until he got out of the
court room. In the Marshal's Office he was
seated in chair in the corner, and when
one of the deputies spoke to him asking
him how he felt, he replied in tremulous
voice that he was anxious to have it over, it
wore on his nerves very much waiting for the
jury to come in. lie would not say what he
thought of Judge Coxs charge. Fifteen min
utes, perhaps, after the jury went out Judge
Cox decided to give a recess for half an hour
Within ten minutes after the recess Rad
been taken the jury called to the bailiff in
waiting that they were ready with their
verdict. They were Informed that a recess
had been taken, and that Judge Cox had
left the court room, so they remained in their