Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1882-01-28
GUITEAU FOUND GUILTY.

AT D.4U wednesday dlUefuOUu VIC
inry in the Guiteau case came into
court, after an absence of fifty-five
minutes, with ayerdictof guilty, and
the great trial concluded with the
recording of this finding, which, If
sustained by the Judicial tribunals
and enforced by the Executive, will
bring the prisoner to the gallows.
The trial began in the Criminal
Court for the District of Columbia
before Judge Cox on Nov. IA, 1881,
and was in progress, with occasional
Interruptions, for more than two
months. The prisoner was convicted
on the fifty third day of the actual
sitting of the court for the exclusive
consideration of his case. When
the trial begun the counsel for the
government were United States Dis
trict Attorney Corkhill, VIM. L.
Davidge, Of Washington, and Judge
John X. Porter, of New York, who
remained to the end of the trial.
The prisoners counsel at the begin
ming were George Scoyille, of Chicago,
his brotber-in-law, and Leigh Robin
son, of Washington, who had been
assigned by the court. Mr.. Robin
son soon withdrew from the case, be-
cause he could not concur in the line
of defense adopted by Scoville. For
some weeks Mr.. Scoville conducted
the defense alone, as far as the pro
ceedings in court were concerned,
although he was assisted by Charles
II. Reed, of Chicago IN preparing
! t law points, and after Mr.. Reed
mad testified as a witness he consent
ed to appear in court as assistant
counsel, and thenceforth took an
active part in the management of
the case.
After fairly and fully stating the
theory of the prosecution and of the
defense, Judge Cox said, in conclu-
sion: And now, gentlemen, to sum
up all | have said to you, if you
find from the whole evidence that
at the time OF the commission of the
homicide the prisoner was laboring
under such a defect of his reason
that he was incapable Of understand
ing what he was doing OF seeing
that it was wrong thing to do-as
for example, if he were under the
insane delusion that the Almighty
had commanded him to do the act
then he was not i'll a responsible con-
dition of mind, but was an object of
compassion and should be now ac-
quilted.
"If, on the other hand, you find
that he was under no insane delu-
sion, but had the possession of his
faculties, and had power to know
that his act was wrong, and if, of his
own free will, he deliberately con-
ceived the idea and executed the
homicide, then, whether his motive
were personal yindictiveness, politi-
cal animosity, a desire to avenge
supposed political wrongs, or NOR
bid desire for notoriety, or if you are
unable to discover any motive at all,
the act is simply murder, and it is
your duty to find a verdict Of guilty
as indicted; or latter suggestion
from Mr.. Scoville to that effect,) if
you find that the prisoner is not
guilty by reason of insanity, it is
your duty to say SO. You will now
retire to your room and consider
your verdict"
Before leaving the courtroom,
when the recess was announced,
Guiteau evinced considerable ner-
vousness, but on getting away to
comparative seclusion his usual COM
posture and assurance returned to
him. He sent out for some apples,
with which he treated his attend
ants, meanwhile chatting Familiarity
and good naturally. He was asked
what he thought the jury would do,
and replied, 81 think they will ac-
quit me OF disagree, don't you?n
Within ten minutes after the recess
had been taken the jury called to
the bailiff in waiting that they were
ready with their verdict. They were
informed that recess had been
taken, and that Judge Cox had left
the courtroom, so they remained in
their room until the court reasSem-
bled. The rumor that the jury had
agreed was quickly spread from one
to another, and the excited crowd
swayed back into the courtroom,
and with eager expectancy anxious
ly awaited what all seemed to expect
"a verdict of guilty.
The musty, antique room is devoid
of gas, and the score or more of can
dies which had been placed upon the
desks Of the ind"ee, counsel cd re-
porters impaired a weird and fanci-
fully unnatural aspect to the grim
old place. The shadows thrown
upon the dark background of the
walls seemed like fitting spectres to
usher in the sombre procession Of those
who held in their hands the destiny
Of a human life. First came the
prisoner with quick, nervous step,
and as he seated himself in the dock,
perhaps for the last time, the light of
a solitary candle fell upon his face
and disclosed its more than usual
pallOr. Not tremor of the limbs or
movement of the muscles of the
face was observable as he threw
back his head and fixed his gaze upon
the door through which the jury
were to enter.
equity AS INDICTED
Judge Cox soon afterwards took
his seat, the crier called "Order,n
and the jury at $50 filed slowly into
their seats. Every sound was hush
ed saved the voice of the clerk as he
propounded to the foreman the usual
inquiry.
"What is your verdict, guilty or
not f,niItr9 With acuol distinct