The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1882-01-14
The Arguments in the Guiteau Case Begun
-Davidge Opens for the Prosecution
Another Exciting Scene.

-Davidge Opens for the Persecution
Another Exciting Scene.
WASHINGTON. Jan. l2.--As soon As tie Court was
called i0 orier Davidge took his position IN front
Of thc Jdiy, a Il opened the argument with a dis.
caimer OF any intention to make a set speech
but ex pressed q simple desire 70 render the Jury
what aid he could ih their present and solemn
duty. The time had now come In this trial when
| the Jury were to become factors Whatever DIS
order or levity might have characterized the trial
| there was but one sentiment IN respect OF the
conduct Of ,he Jury. All commenced their digni
fed department and close and patient attention
to the evidence. and he could not doubt that as
they had receive the commentator of all in the
past they would continue TO deserve IL IN The
future by their decision Of the question before
them
As Davidge traced the process of reasoning by
which the prisoner gradually reached the convic-
uon that but one life interpOsed between him
self a.d possibly great benefits" Guiteau became
restless aud, for the first time since the opening of
the Court indicated by his nervous twisting
aoout the usual preliminaries to series of in
terrupiionS " lich in this Instance quickly fol-
lowed
mot often said Davidge, "in the record of
heinous crime do We have such PLAIN aud pointed
evidence as lO the first cOnce3Li01 of ,rune. In
this case the sesiion ame to the wre ch IN the
night as he Nas iyiag in his bed"
1T came wiisp the Lord got ready TO have it,"
Davidge COZ i iAued: This thought or sugges-
tion came TO La ca the 18th OF May. Still think-
ing that he migti ,tain Office, he sought TO keep
his hands clean. lie made another effort OH the
18th of May to i1-;uee the President"
Guiteau called ont from the dock: Il would
rot have taken foreign mission after the lst of
June If it he'd been ffered to me-"
Davidge 'rtAFentiy not heeoing him)-On the
2Sth of May
Guiteau-I am talking about the lst of June
Davidge pausing momenr-Jus; listen to
him.
Guiteau isneeringly)-They would listen to YOU,
btlf talk weak IL Is hardly worth listen
ing To.
For several minutes Guiteau continued to in.
teriect his COM ments, with the evident iuten ion
oi ahnO! ing Davidge, but finding that he could
not effect this he gradually subsided into COM
ylete silence.
''ln the beginning" said Davidge. lit was
sought tO show that the prisoner was off his bal
auce; now the Court tells you 10 look for that de
gree Of insanity that disables man from knowing
That what ne was doing was wrong This is Lhr
test that yOu are to apply. Upon the question of
IN piration think viii be able to show To your
,alisfaction how little there is in this claim "
The Only question, he said, was that of
insanity. He then argued that the pris
nner had that degree of intelligence, the
legal knowledge and moral sense which rende ered
nm responsible for his acts. In telling passage
he showed that the prisoner himself had wit TO
the fatal weakness of Scovile's line of defense
aud repudiated il, arguing in his own behalf that
he was uO i'm Hecie but sane man. whose intel
lect aud Will had been dominated during speci-
for TINS particular crime. He then reviewed the
circumstances OF the crime and the victim q
the criminal His analysis of Guiteau's charac-
ter graphic and effective.
"ll, he exclaimed, II were 20 sum up the NOR
al and intellectual qualities of the man | should
say that he had the daring OF a vulture combined
with the heart OF a wolf
In speaking of Guteau's plan, he remarked
upon mis- greater fear of a mob than of law and
exclaimed: "We must say TO our shame that this
estimate had foundation. 1t resed.'' he added
with this Jury TO show to the world whether
Guiteau's oDinion was we'll founded. If he had
feared the laws as he feared the mob our mar
ID haad and oh ief kVauld no alive
At this point recess was taken.
When the Court reassembled Mr.. Davidge took
up I'm order the case of each member of the Gut
teau family upon whose mental condition evi
dence has been offered by the defense and re-
cited in connection the cOun 'er-eyidence of the
prosecution, summing up the force OF this eyi-
dence with the remark. But the unanswerable
testimony of the experts settles the question OF
how much effect this collateral insanity could
have upon the mental condition of the prisoner
1t j. but the merest mOckery to discs SIS this ques
tion in view of the undoubted ability of this man
to distinguish between right and wrong.
Guiteau interrupted once and shouted: 81
have always been Christian man, and for SIX
wears have been strictly virtuous. Don't forget
that, eiti e.
NJ Davidge continued, there is not a single
tact or single jOt title to show that this pris
oner was not perfectly responsible for his cioD
the 2d of July. The jury will find the defense
have carefully picked out and held up to view
everything in the entire career of this man.
which may Oe considered odd or peculiar, or it is
for you to consider how much value can he at
tsched to this evidence when you come to con-
slider whether this man did not know. on the 2d
of July. it was wrong for him to kill the CHief
Magistrate of the Nation. Davidge then took up
the Oneida community and spoke of Guiteaus
wallow ng there for six years.
Guileau shouted: And | say its false. did
not wallow. l am just as pure as you are,
Dividge. and good deal purer. went there 10
save my soul. not from lust. Put that down,
Davidge. and dot you forget it,
Mr.. Davidge discussed the evidence of Charles
Reed, who conversed with the prisoner on
the Tuesday before the shooting. and who thought
he appeared "a little off his balance" land this,
mark YOU" said Davidge. ''is the extent of his
evidence as to that day. He was never asked II
ne thought he was unable 10 Distinguish between
right and wrong. Is ii so very strange, gentle
men, that this prisoner should have appeared
queer when at that very time he carry ing in
his breast this moEstrOus crime? This witness
Reed"
Guiteau (interrupting)-You'd better let Reed
alone. Davidge. He's bad man for you 10
tackle
Davldge continued: This witness Reed again