The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-01-20
THE GUITEAU TRIAL.
FORTY SECOND DAY.

tent attention 10 the evidence throughout the
trial. The assassin began series of interrupt
tions but, finding he could not discomfort the
eloquent advocate, he gradually relapsed into
silence.
SIN the beginning" said Mr.. Dayidge, sit
was sought to show that the prisoner was off
his balance. Now the court tells you to look
for that degree of insanity that disables man
from knowing that what he was doing was
wrong. This is the test you are to apply. Upon
the question of inspiration, think [ viii be
able to show to your satisfaction how little
there is in this claim. The only question, he
said, "was that of insanity" He then argued
that the prisoner had that degree of in
telligence, legal knowledge and the moral sense
which rendered him responsible for his acts. In
q telling passage he showed that the prisoner
himself had the wit to see the fatal weakness of
Scoyile's line CT defense. and reppdiated it,
arguing in his own behalf that he was no i'm
beetle, but a sane man, whose intellect and will
had been dominated during specified period
OF time, rendering him irresponsible for this
particular crime. He then reviewed the cir
cumstances of the crime, and the victim and the
criminal. His analysis of Guiteau's character
was graphic and effective. "If, - he exclaimed
were to sum up the moral and intellectual
qualities of this man, should say that he had
the daring of vulture 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 'fWe
must say, to our shame, that this estimate had
a foundation 1t rested" he added. with
ahe jury to show the world whether Guiteau's
opinion was well founded. If he had feared
the law as he feared the mob, our martyred
head and chief would be alive to-day"
Mr.. Dayidge took up In order the
case of each member of the Guieau
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 evil
dence with the remark ''But the unanswer-
able testimony of experts settles the questi on
how much effect this collateral insanity could
have upon the mental condition of the prisoner.
1t is but the merest mockery to discuss this
question, in view of the undoubted ability of
this man to distinguish between Fight and
wrong
Gulteau interrupted once, and shouted: al
have always been Christian man, and for SIX
years have been strictly virtuous. Don't for
get that, either"
fact, or single jot or title, to showssthat this
prisoner was not perfectly responsible for his
action on the I'd OF july The jury will find
that the defense have carefully picked out and
held up to view everything III 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 Magistrate OF the nation"
Mr.. Davidge then took up the ONEIDA Colnmu-
nifty, and spoke of G1iteau's wallowing there
for six years.
Guiteau shouted: 'sAnd say it is false. |
didn't wallow. I'm just as pure as you are,
Dayidge, and o good deal purer. went there
to save my soul, not from lust. Put that down.
Dayi1ge, and don't you forget it,
Mr.. Davidge discussed the evidence of Charles
H. Reed, who conversed with the prisoner the
Tuesday before the shooting, and who thought
he appeared "a little off his balance And
this, mark you, said Mr.. Davidge, +" is the ex.,
tent of his anidenee es to that day. He was
never asked If he thought he was unable to
distinguish between right and wrong. Is it so
very strange, gentlemen, that this prisoner
should have appeared queer, when at that very
time he was carrying in his breast this mon
strous crime n
Counsel dissected, with startling perspicacitf,
the testimony OF one witness after another. and
pointed ott the Weakness and uurehability 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 q speech
from Guiteau. District Attorney Corkhil pro-
tested against his again being allowed to take a
seat at the counsel table. Mrs. Scovil'e wept
Historically. Judge Cox instructed Mr.. SEQ
willie to read over the prisoners manuscript
and report to the court If it contained any,
thing he desired to have go before the jury.
FORTY THIRD DAY.
Mr.. Davidge resumed his argument for The
prosecution, and spent the day in matter-of-
fact and. at times, rather tedious review OF the
evidence. Passing lightly over the more unm-
portant parts, he laid marked emphasis upon
the damaging testimony of John w. Guiteau,
who, he said, was a most unwilling witness
against his brother, but who was obliged, as a
man of truth and honor, to affirm the prison
er's sanity and his hateful, domineerng,
egotistic temper. John Guiteau's testimony, at
the time it was rendered. waD universally COM
mented upon as very bad for the defense, and
the skillful use made of il by Mr.. Davidge
shows what importance the prosecution at
tached TO it. This witness was from the very
first opposed to tho plea of hereditary insanity,
as it touched himself and his children as nearly
as it did the prisoner. Hence he rendered the
prosecution very material help In attacking this
line of defense. 1t is understood that he feels
very indignant at MIR. Scoville for making this
theory SO prominent, and that after the trial is
concluded he will set himself right before the
pubic on the matter.
Mr.. Davldge, while he in no wise encouraged
Gulteau's Interruptions noticed them where it
served his purpose, and OF several occasions
made them the text for apropos and t. ling
comment. His description of the prisoner
own testimony was given in graphic sentences.
He had been put on the stand, said MIR. Dav-
idge, as last hope, but, SO far from sustain
ing the defense, he had removed any doubt
which remained as to his sanity. He then
commented on Guiteau's character as testified
10 by several of the witnesses for the prosecu-
ton, showing that he was a 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 a crank, said the speaker,
scornfully, but he is responsible enough to
be hanged"
He proceeded to discuss the medical testimo-
ny, taking up the hypothetical question of the
defense and claiming that its bases were not
sustained by the evidence. He also pointed out
that the inquiry begged tie question ct issue
and was artfully incomp etc and unfair. Then
he turned to the inspiration theory. eff he
was inspired said Mr.. DavIdge, '.lt was rIom
the deyil--not from God. Substitute devil for
God, and the meaning of much of this pressure
is clear. Guiseau struggled against it as every
man tempted of the devil struggles, but he did
uOt Ic6lst. 1O SuCCuAAucuf dnO siu DiOuSHh
forth death"
As the orator drew his speech to close the
prisoner made several of his spiteful demon
STATIONS, and singled cut Corkhill for another
trade of abuse quoting. as 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.
FoRTY-FoURTH DAY.
AT the opening of court Guiteau stated that
he had thirty checks, representing about $15.
600. some of which were worthless, and that he
wanted no more of the latter kind. When Mr..
Scoyllie asked If the prisoner would be allowed
TO speak to the jury, the assassin exclaimed
that he wouldn't trust his case in the hands of
the best lawyer in America. Judge Cox
said it was safe to assume that Grli-
teau would abuse the privilege Of
arguing in his own defense, for which reason
it would not be granted. Mr.. Reed then COM
menced an argument which consumed the day
and was subjected to frequent Interruptions
by the assassin. There were portions Of the
speech which seemed to considerably impress
the j,lry-notably the very pathetic passages
in which Mr.. Reed denounced the crime for lis
atroeity and pictured the widow nightly pray
ing that the murderer of her husband might
be pronounced insane. Those who closely
watched the jury observed that there were
tears III the eyes of some. Reeds method was
earnest and deliberate. HIS expression was
always serious. He fought to prove that,
from the time of his birth, Guitesu was a
victim of mental disease Gnfg1 mon eiOy with