The Evening critic., 1882-06-30
Bill Jones, Attempt.

Bill Jones Attempt.
On Saturday, November 10, while Guiteau
was being taken from the Courthouse to the
jail, and when the prison van reached First
and East Capitol streets n man on a white
horse, who had been following 1t, rode up and
fired into the van, the ball grazing Guiteaus
right arm Just above the wrist The man then
rode Off, and was chased by the van, but the
chase was fruftless.
He was subsequently arrested, and proved
to be a man named Jones, farmer in the
county. He was admitted to bail. and no eff
fort has ever been made to bring him to trial.
Guiteau was very much frightened and made
a request to have his guards doubled, but that
was not granted.
The TussIe with MIR. McGiII.
On August II, Guiteau and Mr.. w. @. Nc
GIL, one OF the jail guards, had a tussle in the
cell. The stories about 1t were conflicting,
and have never yet been satisfactorily cleared
up. One report was that Guiteau attacked the
guard, and another that the guard wanted to
Kill Guiteau. The guards coat was cut by
knife In Gu1teau's hands, and pistol shot
was fired, but no serious damage was done.
Presented by the Grand Jury.
The Grand Jury returned a presentmenI
against Guiteau on the 4th day of October,
1881.
previously found, Guiteau was arraigned and
pleaded not guilty. HIS trial commenced on
November Ia, one month later.
The Defense.
Amatter OF general conjecture before Guiteau
was presented for trial was the line of defense
his counsel would adopt. There were various
theories.
Mr.. Leigh Robinson, who entered the case
as assistant counsel by appointment of the
Court and was subsequently retired, proposed
to base the defense on malpractice. II was the
belief Of n great many that this would be done.
Others thought that
The Question Of Jurisdiction
would be raised, and 1t was also believed that
the insanity dodge would be resorted to. 1t
proved that the latter was made the basis of
the defense, and the case was managed by Mr..
hat n fr N n
lawyer, won great deal of favorable comment
from leading members of the bar for his able
efforts although the prisoner did not share in
such opinion. The wretch was
Very Abusive in His Manner
toward Scoville, and tho latter's patience and
forbearance was often marveled at. AS TO the
question of insanity, leading experts from all
parts of the country were examined, tho wilt
nesses representing both sides of the case.
There was, as is always the case, a difference
of opinion among the physicians, but that
Guiteau was not insane on the ID of July was
proven beyond doubt. The prisoner himself
would not at any time publicly acknowledge
his alleged mental disorder.
on the contrary, he denied 1t, and more
than once had disputed with ScoVille on tn o
subject. So great an egotist was he indeed
that he would admit OF no fault as to his char
aracter. habits, or condition calculated to go
against him. And yet the insanity theory has
been steadily followed up. Those experts who
failed to agree with the Views of the Govern
ment witnesses, still clung to theidea that
dementia was clearly observable In the pris-
oner, and for weeks
CIamOred for "A Respite,
not for Guiteau, but for science. His res
pite was refused. The President and the
world believed that Guiteau had not only
fair trial, but that In all matters of doubt he
had the benefit of such doubt. He was allowed
to disgrace the proceedings with
ni'"idssy' R"',,"nlsm n,;smX. and Bias
rather than that he should seem TO be unduly
restrained. There was no limit 10 the lati-
tude given his counsel In the examination of
witnesses. No criminal ever had as fair
viction, sentence and execution 90 to show that
here, at least, criminals are tried by judges
and jurles, and not by witnesses.
On the first day OF the trial. and after he had
put in his plea Of not guilty, Guiteau at
tempted to read a long paper explaining his
motives for committing the crime, but no was
checked by the Court, Judge Walter s. Cox
He, at this time, also gave an exhibition OF his
insolence and depravity. His sister, Mrs. SEQ
Vile, and his brother, John, failed IN their Of
The Jury.
The jury was completed on the 10th Of No
yember, ana was composed OF the following
keeper; Fred W. Brandenberg, cigar dealer;
Henry j. Bright, retired merchant; Charles j.
Stewart, merchanti Thomas II. Langley,
W. Gates, machinist; Ralph Wormley (col-
oled), laborer; William II. Brawner, grocer
Thomas Heiniein, mechanic, and Joseph
The counsel for the prosecution were Dis
trict Attorney George B. Corkhill, Judge j. X.
Porter, OF New York, and Walter ID. Dayidgo,
of thtsacity. The defense was represented by
Mr. George scoYille, and for time MIR. Leigh
Robinson, while Mr.. Charles Ii. Reed sat by as
advisory counsel most Of the time. Theicourt-
room was thronged daily with Interested spec
tators OF both sexes. In fact thousands could
notobiain admittance. There was a great de-
mand for Gltteau's photographs and auto
graphs. AT first he gave the latter away, but as
the trial progressed he conceived the idea OF
turning them 10 account and did quito a thirty
Ing business selling them On the fourth day
OF the trial ho threatened that there would be
A Row All the Way Through
unless he was permitted 10 have his way and
speak whenever he chose. And that was one
of the premises made during his life, which
he kept The trial was characterized by a
great deal OF latitude being allowed the pris-
oner, whose abuse OF various persons engaged
in II became national scandal, and what
was characterized as the laxity of Judge Cox s
presidency over the court excited unfavorable
comment In many quarters. but II has been
Justified by tho proof II indirectly afforded OF
Guitoau's sanity and intelligence. AS TO the
Judges rulings on disputed points OF law,
their correctness have stood tbr0 test OF time
and the judgment OF the sup ie Court, and,
on the whole, his conduct o. : trial has boon
Yindicated.
Mr. ROblnsO< .isgusted.
On November 21 ~ slgh Robinson asked
10 DO discharged the case, because he
ana Mr.. ScOyille< not agree, aud the re-
quest was gr9 - Efforts were made at
various times TO secure the services OF Gen
oral Butler, Mi, Magruder OF Maryland, and
others, for the defense; but they were all un-
ayailing. On the 21st of November the prose
cutiOn rested, and Mr.. ScOVillo commenced his
plea, during which the prisoner interrupted
him In tho most insulting manner.
Witnesses for the defense were first oalled