Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-02-01
PORTER'S SPEECH.
STARTLING PORTRAYAL OF THE ASSAS-
SIN AND HIS CRIME-THE DEFENSE
TORN TO TATTERS.

was about to begin his speech, wher
the prisoner forestalled him and calleC
out from the dock, i desire to say
that some crank has signed my name
to letter that appeared in the paper;
this morning. 1t was without my
authority and l repudiate it. also
want to say in regard to a couple o
cranks which | understand have beer
arrested for hanging around here, that
if they undertake to harm me they
will be shot down. l want every one
to understand this.
Judge Porter, who had paused to
permit this preliminary announcement,
began by saying that the prisoner, as
usual, had made the opening speech
After thanking the court and jury for
their consideration yesterday, which
had made it possible for him to appear
before them to-day, Judge Porter said.
THE DEFENSE A SHAM.
This whole defense has been sham
and imposture, an imposture which
was supposed to have gained strength
of -credence from reiteration. The
truth asserted by this defense is that
truth uttered with etfrontery, enforced
by persistency and reduplicated oy
reiteration. This is the truth which
they assert in opposition to that truth
which you are to ascertain and declare.
In my remarks OF yesterday l showed
you how the prisoner has belied, by
his acts, bis profession how he has
belied, by his acts, the character given
him by his counsel. / showed you
that he had been liar, a swindler, q
murderer at heart from the beginning.
That this man has grown worse every
year of his life we have all seen and
know
Guiteau-That's all bosb. and you
know it, Porter
Judge Porter continued to depict
the character of the prisoner and the
fallacies of his defense, when Guiteau
again and again interrupted him, at
one time calling out, Attorney General
MacVeugh wouldn't have anything to
do with it.
Judge Porter, half replying to the
prisoner, said And this Christian
gentleman would have you even be-
lieve that Attorney General Mac
veagh had dipped his hands in Gar
fields blood
Guiteau-Oh, that's very fine.
A moment later, alluslon having
been made by Judge Porter to the
present Attorney General, Guiteau
bawled out, He's high-toned gentle
man, and you're winebibber. l have
got your record Mr. Porter
Judge Porter with deliberation)-
Well, perhaps | am.
Guiteau with q drawling accent)-
Well, l guess you are, Mr.. Judge
Porter.
Continuing, Judge Porter said,
This Christian gentleman, who prays
every night and every morning, would
have you believe l am winebibber.'
With great effect and impressive
earnestness of manner, Judge Porter
emphasized by an anecdote which be
related the distinction between spirit
of love and a spirit of woe, the latter
being expressed in the life and charac.
ter of the prisoner.
THE KILLING OF GARFIELD.
Returning again to the crime and
its commission, Judge Porter said
Who killed Garfield
Guiteau-The doctors.
Judge Porter-The doctors
Guiteau-Yes, the Lord let them
do it to confirm my act.
Judge Porter-Secretary Blaine was
responsible
Guiteau-I said morally responsible
Judge Porter-Mr. Blaine saved his
life on that night before the murder
simply by his presence with him as
they walked together. He might Fave
saved his life on that fatal I'd day OF
July, but from the fact that the mur-
derer stole up from behind. Then
Blaine is morally responsible for not
preventing the crime. The prisoner
confessed that Mrs. Gar6eld's presence
with her husband on former occasion
had prevented him from shooting. He
was asked if Mrs. Garfield had been
leaning upon his arm instead OF Mr..
Blaine on that fatal morning. would
you have shot him ? and he answered,
mo- Then Mrs Garfield is RESPONSE
BILE for her husbands death, according
to the fallacies of this wretchedly
fallacious defense.
Referring to the oratorical flight ol
the counsel for the defense when he
painted the Presidents widow at her
daily prayers. praying for the acquittal
of the prisoner in the name of justice,
Judge Porter in burning language
showed up the profanity and inconsis.
tency of such assertions and rebuked
the assumption of the man who had
never exchanged q word with Mrs
Garfield in presuming to credit her
with such monstrous sentiments.
GUITEAU's RESPONSIBILITY.
Continuing, Judge Porter said
Who else is responsible John IL
Noyes, he is responsible. lie killed
UuTUelu, % OHu H. 1NOfCo, hOhi WhohI
the prisoner stole his lecture
Guiteau-That is false. l rely on
my own brains for my productions
Judge Porter-Who else !? His
father is responsible. That father
whom he struck when eighteen years
old. He killed President Garfield
that father, whom he says he car
never forgive, and with whom he hat
not for the last fifteen years of bis
konored life exchanged word. Who
else is responsible? Why, the mother
the mother whom he scarcely remem
bers; who was guilty of the montrosl
ty of having an attack of erysipelas Sc
as to necessitate the cutting off of hel
hair some weeks before his birth, anc
who for this reason, it is asserted
transmitted congenital insanity to tht
murderer. Who else is responsible