New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-25
PORTER'S SPEECH NOT ENDED.
ARGUMENT FOR GUITEAU CONTROvERTED.

THE ASSASSIN INTERRUPTS WITH GROSS
| INSULTS
Judge Porter continued his closing argument
to the Guiteau jury yesterday. He asserted
that the defence was founded on shams and
| imposturesj on brazen falseb0od, which was
supposed to acquire force and strength by per-
petual reiterations. "The disciples of the
school of Guiteau,r he said, have great
confidence in a maxim Of Aaron Burr, that
| falsehoods are to be verified by persistency
and reiteration." lie said that Guiteau was a
liar, swindlcr and murderer in heart from
the beginning; that he had grown worse every
year that he had lived; that he was DISC
bedient child, lawless and ungrateful TO his
father, and an unknd brother; that he stung
every man who was bcncfactor to his youth;
that he had nOr1inatc desire for unhOly not0-
ricty and that he grew worse and worse until his
career eliminated in cold -blOodcd assassin
alton. He became, not by disease, but by
culture, moral monstrO>ity-the most cold
| blOoded and savage murderer Of the last six
| thousand years Judge Porter devoted much
| attention to the argument for the defence,
| which he assailed with sarcasm and invcctlve.
| He also replied to Mr. Scoyillcs structures
upon the Stalwart leaders. Guitcau WAS reused
to fury by Judge Portdr's denuncati0n oi him
| and replied with the gros>cSt insults.
| THE ASSASSIN MORE INSOLENT THAN EVER.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE rElBUNE.l
WAsHINGToN Jan. 2i.-The scenes of Yesterday
the eager crowds the keen interest Of the audi
cnce the unabashed insoence of Guiteau-were rr-
pcaed on this the second day of Judge porIer's
speech. As usual Gui,cau opened the Court, break
ing in just as tie venerable advocate adiressed tae
Bench and silenciug him for several minutes. Tho
| assassin Was more abusive and outrageous than he
bad been any previous day of the trial heaping
the fouest Insults on Judge Porters head, without
q word of rebukc or rcmOnstrance from the
Court. The opening portion of the session
he spent in reading bis newspaper, but when Judge
Porter referring to Dr.. Spitzka's Characterization
of Guitcau, spoke of him mot by birth, but by
culture. n moral monstrosty.' the assassin broke
out for the first time That's bosh and you know
il, Porter
This was the beginning of a long series of dis
graceful interruptions. The theory commonly pre-
walls here that Guitcau's courage Is ooZng out Of
hlm now that be has worked Oft the Inspiration
of his great speech Bat such change is apparent
in his demeanOr in court. He is a. much Of an
untamed blackguard in speech eyer-Quick, fer
Tile in abuse, and nsoent to a degree which seems
to grow rather than lessen the shadow OF tho
gaows creepS nearer to HIM. His voice has lost
none of its sharpness. HIS temper has been even
uger than before, during these two days that
Judge Porter has been lash.ng him. Whether he
was sane enough to refrain from murder or not. no
is sane enough not toenjoy dcnuncIationa eloquent
and truthful as that which falls from the lips
of this speaker. His face he turns
half way around from his favOrite attitude Of lean
! ing on the dock rail with his elbows aud looking
| out OF the windows is \ picture of sneer!ng anger
| and malice, with the red scroiulOns botch on the
forehead seemingly redder and angricr than ever.
On orc or two occasions his insnits Judge Porter
were such a. showed the depths OF his bcstiai
nature. II lie is Il lunatc he is 40, the mild and
moral lunatc depicted by ScOyille but the brutal
and foul-mouthed lunatic who shot Garfield and
believes that every man, and. above all,
every gentleman. is in the habit
of committing all the crimes and ndeccncies of
which he has been guilty. Judge ror.cr thoughtt
best TO notice of his insults but tAc result was
merely that they were rcdOubleI.
Early in his argument Judge Porter took mp the
charge that the prosecution had suppressed evi.
dence, which he described as a claim that the Gov.
cmment was bound to sustain the false defence Of
insanity and sustain il by the declarations Of the
prisoner. The Government had simply exercised
the right OF every Government, 10 send persons
talk with the prisoner for the purpose of detect
ing and proving the crime, AMI the record for tho
Government OF these converse IONS was no lIoro
subject to the order of the defence than the private
consultations between tdc District-Attomey and his
stcnographer, or between lawyer aud client Here
came the exciting passage of the day. Judge POr-
ter told the jury that be lad read every word
of the transcript which the defence charged
had been suppressed, and declared that if
it had been introduced il would have
been coniunatory final evidence OF every
fact contcnded for by the prosecution. There was
allegation in it that the assassin committed that
crime by inspiration. Mr. Scoyille was his feet
in an instant, angIiy protesting against Judge
Porter's being allowed 70 testify to the jury. Il
oppos, my statement 10 Eis,' cried the speaker in
tone OF thunder " / deny IT,"
Here followed 4 running fire of words between the
Justice. Mr.. Porter and Mr. ScOyiie. Justice Cox
said that Judge Porters argument respecting the
production of the papers was perfectly coy
rect but it was Objectionable for him
to state the contents of the paper 20 the jury Judge
Porter was standing at the edge OF she witness
box looking across il full INTO Justice Cox, face.
THE point is here" said he, son pcrni: not only
the prisoner, bHt bis counsel to assert that the
per contains references To the comman Is OF God, -
bringing his hand down with ringing force on the
edge of he desk.
Ju,tic, CoN>ad that the prisoner was a witness
under OATH
% He was IN the dock, not AZ a witness and hr.
Scoyille wa, not Witness retoried Judge Porter.
Justice Cos adhered to his decision,
and Judge Porter Turning away
AMI walking toward the table Of the prosecution,
said in a loud deliberate tone d" / deny that it is
the law. have prac,isrd Law longer than your
Honor, and deny that it is the law
Meanwhile Mr. Scoyille was bu,.ly protesting and
Nj. Reed. in his seat in audible tone, said, " II
were the Judge Id punish him for Insoence and
contempt of Court
the point for which Judge Porter was contcnding