Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-06-29
GUITEAU's AWFUL CURSE.
It Has Not Particularly Affected
Men Who Tried Him.

apu gloomy, that there filed into
their box in the old criminal court
room of Washington twelve jurymen,
who had listened for months to the
testimony and arguments in the case
Of the trial of Guiteau for the mur-
der of President Garfield, and an
nounced their verdict, "Guilty; as
indicted" Without, a drizzling rain
aud snow was falling, and the large,
dingy old courtroom was lighted
by some half dozen candles placed on
the judges desk and on the tables of
counsel, giving but little light and
adding TO the weird darkness of the
room. Judge Cox took his place on
the bench.
AT one table sat Judge John K
Porter, Mr.. Davidge and District At
torney Corkhill, representing the
government. Mr.. Scoville, the pris-
oner's brother-in-law and his leading
counsel, the prisoners brother aud
his sister, Mrs. Scoville, and some
personal friends of Guiteau, sat with
him at an adjoining table. AS the
verdict was announced, the prisoner
exclaimed in loud and defiant tone /:
"MY blood be OH the head of that
jury. Don't you forget it.. That is
my answer"
And when afterwdrd on February
4, 1882, the court asked him if he had
anything to say why sentence should
not be passed upon him, he replied /:
Every officer, judicial or other
wise, from the President, taking in
every man on that jury and every
member of this bench, will pay forit."
And when the sentence was pro-
nounced lie repeated vehemently:
God Almighty will curse every
man who has had anything to do
with this case"
Various statements have from
time to time during the last fouryears
appeared in the press of the country
calling attention to the realization Of
"Guiteau's curse" and the fullillment
of his prophecy.
A correspondent called on Colonel
Corkhill, the U. S. District Attorney
at the trial, for some of the facts con-
nected with the history of those en-
gagged in it, and whom Guiteau had
specially mathematical. Colonel
Corkhiil was found at his law office
in this city, and he looked little if any
older than lie did during the trial.
When his attention was called by
your correspondent to the subject, he
said:
"Yes, have seen these statements
often, and frequently receive letters
asking me if there is any truth in the
stories that are told There seems to
be an anxiety OH the part of large
number of people to seize upon any
thing that borders on the supersti-
tious, and it only needs the slightest
coincidence of prophecy and a cor
responding occurrence to enable them
to discover an inscrutable mystery in
connection with it.
"As to the Guiteau trial, all the
witnesses for the government that
were called 10 prove the crime before
the grand jury, and whose names
were endorsed on the back of the in
dictment, and who were examined in
chief by the government, are alive
and pursuing their ordinary bust.
ness, except Surgeon General Barnes
who died some time ago. l saw the
foreman of the jury, John p. Hamlin,
of this city, a few days ago, and he
informed me that all the jury who
tried and convicted Guiteau are alive
and engaged in the business they
were before the trial, except one
Michael Sheenan, who was sick al
the time and has since died. As tC
the lawyers, Judge Porter was in
very bad health during the trial, and
the labor told upon him physically
very much. Mr.. Davidge is looking
as well and working as hard as ever
Judge Cox, who presided at the trial
is still on the bench, vigorous and in
good health. The same is true oi
Chief Justice Carter, Justices Mac.
Arthur, James and Hagner, who de.
cided the case sustaining the verdict
of the jury on appeal. Justice Wylit
has been retired under the provis
ions of the law on account of age and
long service. MIR. Justice Bradley
who denied the writ Of habeas corpus
is still on the bench of the Supreme
Court of the United States, though
old enough to be entitled to retire
when he desires. Marshal Henry il
raising corn, potatoes and wheat OF
his farm in Ohio, with probably
more success than when his portly
farmer-llke form was seen shadow
ing the rooms of the courthouse, ant
he was imagining he was perform
ing the duties of U. S. Marshal.
Assistant Surgeon Lamb, who as
sisted at the top Of the autopsy, ant
who triumphantly carried off hi
bones, which he carefully polished
and articulated at government ex
pense, is still caressing Guiteau'
grinning skeleton in the nationa
museum in this city.
"rhe leading experts whom Gui
teau specially cursed-Dr. John p
Gray, Of Utica DR.. A. E. Mcdonald
and Allen Mclean Hamilton, of Ney
York DIR. E. A. Kempster, of Wis
consin, and numerous other physi
clans in charge Of the various insan
asylums Of the country, whose name
cannot now recall-are all alive an
with one or two exceptions, in charg
of the same hospitals they were a
the time of the trial. In fact, thin
it remarkable that among the larg
number Of active participants in ths
somewhat celebrated trial thel
should be but two or three deaths i
over four years. Scoville is in CHI
cago trying to raise the $50 a mont
alimony for his wife, who is trying
have him arrested because he has NJ
succeeded. Guiteau's brother Joh
who was spectator at the hanging
is wrestling with the intricate an
uncertain business of life insuranC
as of old; Hicks, Guiteau's mimi
! terial adviser, has stopped preachin
and has gone to Florida to rails
, oranges. 1t may be added that IL
hangman who adjusted the nool
around his neck is anxiously waitln
: for the opportunity, which he wi
in a few weeks, of performing Il
same service for two other convicte
murderers in the Jail awaiting execl
L.. y