The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-01-14
THE GuiTERU TRIAL.
The Points of Law on Both Sides and Argu-
ment of the Case.

The Points of Law Both Sides and Argu.
ment OF the Case.
| The Gultcau trial nj Washington was re
ruined on Saturday, when Davldge opened the
argument on behalf of the government upon
the legal points of the case. The jury were
told by the Judge they might be excused tor
the day, but they preferred to remain and hear
the argument Guitcau assured counsel he
should take no part IN the legal discussion
and would only make such comments az he
deemed necessary to set either party right. AS
Davidge proceeded, he read the recent lnstruc
tions Of Judge Davis, in New York city, in
the Coleman case, wherein, it will be recollect
ed, he laid down some pretty stringent rules In
regard to the insanity plea Guiteau was una
bic to stand this. He jumped to his feet, de
cared it had no application to the case be
sides the jury III the Coleman case had wholly
disrcgarded the instructions.
Davidge-"Your honor, this man for three
weeks was held up to us rs an imbecie, and
now listen 20 him He not only knows the
difference between right and wrong, but he
understands fully the law Of the case"
Guiteau-"rransitory mania That's my
case don't pretend am insane. I've got
as good head as you or Porter, either; SEQ
Vile is a fool, though. | repudiate him and
his whole theory of defense. All | want ID
two hours before that jury, and can settle
this thing all right"
The scene was lively for minute, but Judge
Cox raped vigorously Tor order, and Gutear
subsidized.
Davidgc then proceeded to read the instruc
tons he should ask the court to give. They
involved in substance the responsibility OF {
person tor an act when at the time of its com
mission he knew 1t was contrary to law
though at the same time he may have acted
under the influence Of an insane delusion. H'
proceeded to cite a number of English ant
American cases in support OF the point.
There is plenty of law on the other side 6
that issue" shouted Gulteau. 81 VIII cal
your attention to them after while, 1t is al
one sided this morning. All Davldge's cases
are IN the federal or New York courts. say
that it was Gods act, and that he has and vii
take care of it,"
! DavIdge-"We will come hereafter to III,
| Deity part of tins matter"
! Guiteau-"lf you get the Deity down upoi
you, he will stick to you all your days in thi
l world and the next You ought to be ashamed
Davidge to sell yourself for filthy lucre. Goo
/ Almighty will curse you prosecutors. That
the opinion of the American press, too"
Davidgc-"If the defense of uncontrollabl
impulse Is to be founded only in the absur'
pretense of Inspiration, | want by this frs
prayer to put the conviction of this deiendan
beyond possibility OF doubt, | need nc
have gone so far as have, because we are NJ
trying here q man whose grade of intelligenc
is merely wrong. We are trying lawyer
"You are trying man on the question
Z. his inspiration" SAID the prisoner.
d Davidge-We are trying lawyer, theol,
gan, lecturer, man who, although imbecil
Tor three weeks, as claimed, was trausfigure
; in the estimation of the jury and the worlo
by his own testimony. The line of preceder
! from 43 down in these courts, and the court
/, OF England was unbroken, and establlshin
the doctrine that If he knows the diflerenc
J between right and wrong, he is responsible
though he be OF little reason, eccentric, or eve
i partially insane"
d In conclusion Davidge cited the case OF th
] Mormons, who were violating the law ever
! day under delusion that they were obeyin