New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-05
GUITEAU INsoLENT AND CONFIDENT.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE !


drearily commonplace and more devod-at the be-
ginning, at lcast-of dramatic features The raised
| platform at the back Of the courtroom, which
formed a species of amphtheatre, has been removed
since the trial closed, bringing all the spectators
| down 10 n common level. The presented this
morning, when the time had nearly arrived for the
| Court 10 meet, the usual appearance of little
| COURTROOM half filled with'a lisless crowd There
| were less than 80 persons present including tho
counsel on both sides. ammber OF the jUrymen and
| the newspaper correspondents. when Justice Cox
| took his seat
The room soon filed IN, however after that,
though the only sign of unusual interest in the pro-
ceedngs was a dense group of spectators in the
ncr at Justice Coxs left hand The cheerlessness Of
the day was felt inside. The ground without was
covered with deep snow, which was falling stead
! lily in a thick cloud of tiny flakes The courtroom
was cold, rs well as dull and gloomy, and most of
those present, including the prisoner, sat with their
overcoats on. Guitcau folded his hands in front of
him and sat quietly through most of the proceed
| ings. His place was az the counsel table with his
| brother on side and a deputy marshal in citi-
zen's dress wearing n crimson badge, on the.
other. After a formal motion or two, Justice Cox
began reading his decision, to which the assassin
listened quietly though not at all times with close
attention. as the wandering OF his eyes showed.
The decision, which oyerruled of course, all the
points raised by the defence, was listened 10 with
only moderate interest. Mr.. ScOvle's grounds for
a trial have been regarded here from the first
as of the most trivial cara ter. Snyders share in
the transaction has been ascribed 70 desire for
nOtOriety and free advertisement, rather than to
corrupt motives, because for one reason, Mr.. SEQ
Vile is not believed to have any money for bribing
cOuspiratols. Before the reading of the decision
was concluded Guiteau was writing some
| ,,,I
sheet of paper before him. This Indifferent manner
was preserved even after Colonel COrkhIll had
moved that sentence he passed upon the prisoner.
As he made the motion Guiteau was engaged in the
writing last mentioned and pursued it without look
| ing up
zone moment" said Mr. ScOve, and made some
inquiries with regard to the length of time he wonld
| have to prepare his bill of exceptions.
| Guiteau was now reading his writing following it
with his finger with an appearance of real interest.
| While Mr. Scoville submitted his formal motion in
| arrest of Judgment. Guiteau was mBnng his eye
over the editorial page of a newspaper and seemed
| to show little amusement at what he read there:
| When this was Overrued also. Guiteau addressed
! the Court with an air of supercllOuS disdan
of 4lr ScOyille,and made some bunging request for
| information about the time he 10 have 10 pre-
pare his exceptions, saying: expect 10 have
some of the best lawyers IN the country, and only
want to know what is necessary 10 preserve tho
record for them to pass upon"
He went on with this rant until Mr. Scoviie
broke in and both talked TO the Court az the
time Mr. ScOvile tried to silence Guteau, and
Guiteau turned on him in a fury of anger. "You
con yicted me- he shouted, "by your jackass
theory and cOn-sum-mate with bitter en-
phasis on every syllable" nonsense" Then to the
deputy marshal. who tried TO check hun, he said,
angrily: " will not keep still until get ready"
Then addressing Justice Cox, he said: DO under
stand that it is necessary for your Honor TO pass
sentence before the Court in banc acts?'
Mr. Scoville, interuptng him in low tone,
said He'll tell you if you'll keep still"
"You keep still yourself" retorted Gniteau in a
loud voice and with hateful look. You con-
victed me by your fool theory. You've been def
cent in brains and experience" As he said this
and more to the effect, he folded mp his news
paper. giving it grip at each turn, and slapped it
savagely on the table.
District Attorney Corkh who had now been
standing in his place some time, said gravey:
"Your Honor, it becomes my duty to ask that sem
tcnce he passed upon the prisoner at the bar
Guteau could be seen to quail az this He looked
UP at Justice Cox and said in ahalf-appealipg tone:
Il hope your Honor will defer it as long as you
can"
"The prisoner Will stand up" was the reply He
rose slowly and reluctantly the deputy al his side
rising and standing also As he stood there il could
be seen that his appearance had improved since
yesterday Tho swollen look had gone and the
eyes were less infamed. As for any look
of human feeling or emotion, how
ever il might as well have been the face
of a dead man, with the eyes alive. lie thrust his
hands into his overcOat pockets and stood there in
suen silence looking down at the table before him.
" Have yOu anything 10 say why sentence should
not be passed upon you 7" asked Justice Cox, int
low tone
lam not guilty sir" he replied, in a positive
tone of the charge as set forth in the ndictment'
bringing his fist down the table with bang
His momcntary shrinking had passed away. Grow
ing more excited, he said, loudly: " II was Gods
act and don't you forget it, Then followed, for
perhaps minute OF more, the familiar denunclatons
in his accustomed elocution. lie gave warning that
every official, from the President down. who had
ANYTHING to do with his death. should pay for A."
and the Nation should " roll IN blood
nave no fear OF DEATH said he boasttnlly.
tbroying his shoulders back. care not what may
come TO me- As he spoke his last sentence. he
looked down at the table rs If To begin again after
n moment. as he had done several times before but
he remained silent still with his eyes lowered. aud
Justice Cox began reading the sentence lie spoke
in his usual tone, without any attempt az oratorcal
effect Guteau listened sucnly. with hts cNes all
the while lowered, and made only few character
l,tic Interruptions By this time the proceedings
had indeed become solemn. The COURTROOM VA.
huShed into perfect silence. Every eye was fastened
on the assassin and the grave tones ot the Jadge
were the only sounds to bc beard.
John W Guiieau sat looking into his brothers
face with an expression ~ deepest d"lrciion, Will"
Mr Scot1lle turned away, and rcsted his head gn
hls hand las whole attitude showing hls utfof hopo-
lessIess when Justice Coz expressed the opinion
that uniteau must. nt Oh" time h. committed the
cri,ne ba,e thofonghy understood the natnrc ~ a
and ia consequencos IN. latter stid in m'itf'te