The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1882-01-29

morning, Guiteau took the witness
stand. and in accordance with the priv.
ilegs previously granted by tho Court
addressed the jury as follows. reading
from manuscript:
The prosecution pretend that 1 am a
wicked ulau. Mt. Ssoville aud the resi-
think am a lur=,ic. and 1 presume
! you think am. ! was certainly a
luna'Ic on the I'd OF July. when fred
on the President. and tho American
| people generally, and 1 presume you
think was. Can you imagine any
thing more insane than my going to tho
depot and shooting the President of the
United States You arc here 10 say
whether was insane or sane when I
fred that shot. You have nothing to
do with my condition since or before
fred tina: shot. You must soy by your
verdict, sane or insare the moment the
shot was fred. II you have any doubt
of my insanity. you must give me the
benefit OF that doubt; that is. il you
hare ANY doubt T,:sther / fired that
shot as the agent OF the Deity. II 1
fred it on my account was sane; il 1
fired it sufposing was the agent of
the Deity, i was Insane. and you must
acguit. This is the record of the law
given in recent decision CT the New
York Coart OF Appeals. 1t revolution
ICES old rules, and is grand step for
ward in the law OF insanity. II is
worthy of this age of railroads, elec.
tricity and telephones, and it we'll
! comes from the progressive State Of
New York. l have no hesitation ir
saying that 1t is a special providence in
my favor, and ask this court and jury to
| consider it. Some eminent peo.
pie in America think me the greatest
man of this age, aud this feeling is
6rowing-the belief of my Inspiration.
and that Providence and l have really
saved the Nation from another war.
Ny speech setting forth in detail my
defense was telegraphed to oil the lead.
ing papers and published Monday, aud
row AIN permitted by His Honor TO
deliver it to you. He then explained
to the jury that his speech opened with
a quotation from his christian greeting
to the American people, and in using il
for the opening of his speech to the
| jury, ho had neglected to cut out the
date. Christmas. 1891. After thanking
his counsel, aud paying high tribute
to the zeal and ability Scoville had dis.
played, and whom he proposed to soon
reward with very liberal fee. he ex.
tended his grateful Acknowledgements TO
the Court, officers and bailiffs. and last,
but not least, te the American press.
The latter were power that generally
criticized man when they got down on
him. Tho had been very heavy on the
prisoner at first, but when they knew
his motives. they changed their views,
aud were now treating him very fairly.
| With this Introduction the prisoner
took up o newspaper and proceed to
read to the jury his published speech.
Guiteau continued 10 read, occasionally
adding brief comments upon tho text.
As he proceeded, all appearance Of
nervousness gradually wore of, and
with the utmost composuro and uuction
that bordered upon tho ludicrous, the
| prisoner read on with an attempt at
every conceivable form OF oratorical,
| rhetorical and dramatic effect. At times
ho closed his eyes or turned them
hoavenwGrd aud moved his body back
and forth. sunk his voice into a whisper
or raised 1t TO high treble at times. The
intensity Of his utteTances seemed TO
react upon himself, but The effect was
trnnsitCTy and with the exception Of
one inst there was no indication Of
breaking down. At freqnent intervals
he paused to emphasize sorne sentence
or sentiment by repeating or comment.
ing upon it. At ono time, pausina. he
loaned toward the jury, and cmphN-
sizing with his head and hands, said
with an attempt at great solomnity.
II tell you gentlemen. just ms sure as
thoTo is u God in heaven. il you harm a
hair OF my head. this Nation will 90
down in blood. You can put my body
in the grave, but there will be day OF
reckoning"