Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-26


sassin nov on trial; for Booth was acturted
by . mistaken motive of patriotism and was
man of manhood and manliness, but tins
sneaking, cowardly wretch who can plan Tor
his victims death and his own safety At the
same time, murdered his man for revenge
and for notoriety.
Guiteau-I shot my man in broad Daylight
and don't you forget it, Porter.
Pressing the assertion that Guiteau was
actuated by revenge and desire for notoriety,
Judge Porter compared him to a noted Grim
inal in Europe. l don't recall his name but
he said am the ugliest man in Europe
s.You know that's an absolutely desperate
wicked Idevelish lie, finally shouted Gull
teaa. stammering with rage and with nerv-
business.
AT u 80 recess was taken for thirty
minutes.
After recess Scoville gained the ear of the
court to state that he interrupted Davidge
but once and Porter, this morning, but twice,
and each time in a respectful manner. He
did not propose to interrupt again unless it
was warranted. and he thought he was enti-
tied to a more respectful consideration than
had vet been accorded him.
Guiteau followed suit with the announce
ment that he should not interrupt unless it
was warranted, but the harangue he seemed
about to start in upon, was summarily cut
short by Judge Cox who commanded him to
keep silence.
Judge Porter resumed, There is one man
between you and the grave of the slaughtered
President who knows whether the defence is
a sham one or not
Guiteau-It is a true defence and you
know it.
Judge Porter-'The truth will burst forth,
however, and reach the consciousness of any
one. If from no other source, it will make
its way from the,murderer himself.
Judge Porter then read from a letter of the
prisoner. to his father, in which he said: For
years was haunted with the idea that was
cut out for some great mission, but now am
convinced it was but devilish delusion and
| renounce my overweeniug vanity and
egotism.
| Guiteau-Well, I've changed my mind
since then; that was ten years ago.
| Later, reading from Guiteau's criticisms
upon the religious and moral growth of the
past six thousand years, Judge Porter said,
Could Judas Iscariot himself have passed
more sinister judgment:
! Guiteau-Judas Iscariot would have en-
ployed you as his attorney, you big liar.
His whole life. said Judge Porter, was in
accord, and all the evidence substantiated the
assumption that revenge and the morbid de-
sire for notoriety actuated the prisoner. How
thoroughly he had read up the noted crimes,
and how familiar he had shown himself
to be with their defence. Where
did he get that remove with which
to soften the too harsh definition of his too
hideous crime? From reading Shakespeare,
and his models were those characters in
whose portraiture the great student of human
nature had depicted the very intensity of
human passion.
Judge Porter passed to the discussion Of
the direct issue of the case, whether not the
| prisoner was insane on the End of July. The
prisoner himself, he said, does not claim to
be insane.
Guiteau-I amt now, but l was on the
2nd of July and for 80 days previous. Trans
itory mania, that's what claim.
Replying to this claim, Judge Porter point
ed out its absurdity, that like the stroke of
the lightning all his insanity should vanish in
an instant, that it should envelope him COM
pletely day after day for the purpose of muir
DER that it still chung to him after the first
shot was fired and only left Nm after he was
his his victim sinking helpless to the ground,
and then it instantly worked off and left him
a perfectly sane man.
Guiteau-Well transitory mania was the
plea that Sickles got off on. You was on
the prosecution of the case and got the
very same doctrine you are trying to fool that
jury on,
Judge Porter concluded at 3 o'clock when
Judge Cox begun his charge to the jury.
JUDGE Cox's CHARGE.
The charge by Judge Cox to the jury was
a most impressive, clear and able resume of
the case, defending his conduct on the bench,
and dissipating the sophistries of the counsel
for the defence. He occupied about an hour
in its delivery.
| THE VERDICT.
During the delivery of the Judges: charge
there was perfect stiffness in the crowded
court room; the prisoner kept absolutely
quiet with the exception of one or two simple
Interruptions.
| short recess was taken until $50
| Within ten minutes after the court took
recess the jury motioned to the baiiff who
was in attendance upon them that they were
ready to report. They were informed that
the codrt had recessed and they therefore
waited in their room until the reassemblng
of the court, when they gave the verdict of
guilty as indicted.