St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1882-01-21
THE GUITEAU TRIAL.
GRANT, CoNKL1NG AND ARTHUR
CHARGED WITH BEING RESPONSE
BILE FOR THE MURDER OF
President GARFIELD.

Scoville resumed his argument to-
day, taking up and discussing the
Statistics of Insane Criminals, which
has been introduced in evidence
by the prosecution, and said that it
was of the greatest benefit to the
defense. Discussing the horrors
of crime, as often shown in the acts
of the insane criminals. MIR. Scoville
said: There is nothing in this act
to compare with some Of these IN
sane acts of insane criminals, and
gentlemen of the jury, in my opinion
if there were not leasons, and
powerful ones, back of this presecu-
ton, this prisoner never would have
been brought TO trial. But l tell you,
gentlemen of the jury, back. of this
prosecution is an influence which |
have felt and which you may feel,
gentleman, before the trial is ended.
There are politicians who seek to
hide their own shame behind the
disgrace of this poor prisoner, and
make him scape9oat for their
crime. | did not intend, gentlemen
of the jury, to take mp this feature
of the case, but when I find the
power and influence of this govern
ment used against me in denying
me small pittance that I have ask
ed--a fair and impartial trial, and
the small facilities needed for
proper defense, I do not propose
to keep quiet. l say that such men
as Grant, and Conkling, and Arthur
are morally and Intellectually re-
sponsible for this crime. Conkiins
shall not escape-shall not shi-k
responsibility for the state of the
things that led to this act; he shall
not escape the condemnation of the
American people, if l can help it,
for his share in the disgraceful
scramble for Office that led to the
conflict with the chosen ruler of
this great nation, and Jed this poor.
insane man to compass What they
would have hailed with satisfaction,
as would probably hundreds of
other politicians, if it could occur
other than through assassina-
tion-the removal OF Garfield-who
stood in the way of their upright
eous and t.isgraceful struggle for
office. Neither shall Grant escape
that condemnation to which he is SO
justly subjected. When coming
from Mexico, and coming with I'M
due haste, he threw his own
name into the petty quarrel about
small Office In the Republican
party. and sought to foment the
differences that had sprung up. I
am not going to see the nisdeeds of
these men, high in power, visited
upon the head of this poor insane
man if I can help it. This clamcr
for his blood is not for the purpose
of avenging Garfield, or of satisfy
ing justice, but their theory is this:
Ii it can be shown that this was the
act of a sane man, then those poll
ticiaps In high place viii say: "Of
course we are not responsible for
the act OF sane man; to be sure we
had some differences, but then it
could never have led sane man to
do sucL an act" But on the con-
trary, gentleman of the jury, what
is the effect of yoar verdict? If you
acqut him as an insane man, why,
the people will say some one is ut
fault; they say we will fix the blame
upon the heads and hearts of those
men who wased the war upon our
poor dead President until it drove
this poor insane man, from reading
daily in the papers what Grant says,
what Conkliug says, and from con-
stantly thinking upon it, to his in
sane act of killing the President,
and these men in high places, really
the cnlpable ones. will go down to
posterlty with a stagma upon their
names and the detestation of their
countrymen fastened upon their
memories.
Mr.. Scoyille's denunciation Of
ConkGng and Arthur created a pro-
found sensation In the courtroom.
As soon as recess was announced,
Mr.. Scoyille was surrounded by
ladies and gentlemen and congratu-
lated upon his fearless exposition.
One gentleman exclaimed: THAT'S
the correct sentiment, and four
tifths of the American people are be-
hind you ON that"
The recess hour was enlivened by
heated discussions in the corridors
and upon the outside on the general
A. 4 i 4 IN