Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-01-26

am a wicked man. Mi. ScOVllie Il
the rest think l am a lunatic, and |
presume you think l am. Icertainly
was a iunatic on the End day OF july,
when | fired Oh the President and
the American people generally, and
| presume you think / was. Can YOU
imagine anything more insane than
my going to that depot and shooting
the President of the United States?
You are here to say whether | was
sane or insane at the moment [ fired
that shot. You have nothing to do
with my condition before or since |
fired that shot. You must say by
your verdict sane or insane at the
moment the shot was fired. If you
have any doubt of my sanity at that
moment you must give me the benefit
Of the doubt and acquit me that is,
if you have any doubt whether l fired
that shot or was the agent of the
Deity. If l fired it on my own ac-
count | was sane. If | fired it sup
posing myself the agent of the Deity
[ was insane, and you must acquit
me. This is the law given in the re-
cent decision of the New York Court
of Appeals. 1t revers:st the old rules
and is a great step forward in the law
Of insanity. 1t is worthy of this age
of railroads, electricity and teie-
phones, and it well comes from the
progressive state of New York. |
have no hesitation in saying that it
is a special Providence in my favor
aud | ask this court and jury SO to
consider it. Some eminent people OF
America think me the greatest mar
of the age, and this feeling is grow
ing. They believe in my Inspiration
and that Providence and | have
really saved the nation another war.
My speech, setting forth in detail my
defense, was autographed to all the
leading papers and published Mon
day morning, and now | am permit
ted by his Honor to deliver it to
you"
With this introduction the prisoner
took up a newspaper and proceeded
to read to the jury his published
speech. His manner, to a casual OBJ
server, seemed perfectly self-poiscd,
as usual, but behind the ostentatious
affection OF composure was an in
tense feeling, which was only held in
control through undOubted strength
of will. His excitement was betray-
ed by a slight hectic spot high upon
! each cheek of his usually cOlorless
face, and the unusual dcliberation
with which he began and for some
time continued to speak. Whether
this excitement was from mere SUI
perficial effect on his emotions, nat
urally incident to the occasion, or
whether it proceeded from u deeper
or more powerful influence, the true
| realization of his position as almost Il
9 convicted murderer pleading for his
life, it were difficult to divine.
Whatever the original character of
feeling, it finally gained ascendancy
over his power of control, and as he
reached that part of his speech, 81
have always served the Lord. and
whether | live or die" he broke
down at once completely, stopped.
tried to choke down the rising lump
in his throat, but found it impossible
to keep back IA genuine sob. Taking
out his handkerchief he buried his
face in it a few seconds. wiped his
eyes, and, with a determined effort,
went on again. He seemed to re-
cover his cOnlpOsure SO quickly,
some believe the whole effect was
manufactured. His sister, (Mrs. SEQ
ville,) however, apparently thought
otherwise. She was deeply affected,
and wept and sobbed bitterly for
some minutes. After this incident
Guiteau continued to read, occasion
allv adding briet comments upon the
text. AS he proceeded with the
reading, all appearance OF nervous
ness gradually wore off and with the
utmost composure and with an unc-
ton that bordered upon the ludi-
crous, the prisoner read on with an
attempt at every conceivable form OF
oratoricaI, rhetorical and dramatic
, effect. His description of the taking
off of the President was given with
striking effect. AT times he closed
his eyes or turned them heavenward,
waved his body back and forth,
sunk his voice to a whisper OF raised
it TO d high treble. At times the in
tensity of his ntterings seemed TO re-
act upon himself, but the effect was
but transitorv, and, with the eXcep-
ton of one instance, there was no
indication of breaking down. AT
frequent intervals he paused to en-
plastic some sentence or sentiment
by repeating it or commenting upon
it.
In the most natural ann imag-
Unable Gui!eau explained again that
the reason he did not "take Garfield
away two weeks before he did, was
because he had no authority to re-
move Mrs. Garfield. When the time
did come, he said, in an airy tone.
81 removed him gently and graceful
ly.' 1.-The jury may put my body
in the ground, but my soul will go
marching on. The shareholders put
John Browns body in the ground,
but his .oul goes marching on"
Here he chanted, most weirdly, one
stanza Of "John Browns Body
closing with "Glory, glory, hallelu-
jail" twice repeated.
At one time pausing, he leaned to-
wards the jury,and emphasizing with
his head and hands, said, with an
attempt at great solemnity of utter
ance:
81 tell you, gentlemen, as sure as
there is Il God i'll heaven. if you harm
a hair of my head this nation will go
down in blood. You can put my
body in the grave, but there will be
a day Of reckoning.'