The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-29
THE TRlAa De euITeAu.

along through weeks and even meuths-
till the tension Of the natoin's nerves be-
came well-n;gh unbea-ahie.
That trial vii: always haunt the rsrsous
who witnessed X. ainest as q nightmare
Guiteau was ua6o.bteGly insane. il the
ordinary popular sense. but the difference
between his sort CT insanity and ire
sDcl.sibn.ty was ke.t steadily = view by
both judge and jury Nc fully sane mar
could possibly nave Written sucl proc
ialnation 20 the American pubic As Wes
found with other papers on his person IN
mediately after the shooting OF President
Garfield, al appropriately marked, with
that metaodical care with which ne pre-
pared himself n ever way Tor the con-
summation Of his tragic purpose a part
Of the proclamation ran thus:
/ conceived he idea OF removing the
president four weeks ago. Not SOW
knew Of my purpose I Fead the papers
carefully for and against the adninistra-
ton, and gradually the conviction settled
upon me that the presidents removal was
a political necessity. because he proved q
traitoS 10 the men thet made him. and
thereby unperilled the life OF the republic.
insratitude Is the basest ef crimes. That
the president. under the manipulation OF
the secretary Of state. has been guilty
of the basest ingrautu6e 70 the Stall
warts admits OF no denieL The express
purpose Of the president has been to crush
General Grant and Senator Conkling. and
thereby open the way for his renomina-
ton n 1854. II the presidents madness.
he has wrecked The once grand old Re
publican party. and for this he dies. The
men that saved the republic must govern
II. and not the man who sought IT'S life.
] had TO I'll VIII 10 the president This is
not murder. II is a political necessity. 1t
viii make my friend Arthur president
cnd save the republic ] have sacrificed
only one I shot the president as I would
rebel If 1 saw him pulling down the
American flag. I leave my Justification
10 God and the American people.
And in another document. addressed to
the White house. he said:
Life is feetiRg dream. and il matters
little when one goes. human life is OF
small value. 1 presume the president was
a Christian. and he viii be happier in
Paradise than here. am law
yer, theologian and politician. 1 am a
Stalwart of the Stalwarts.
Justice Cox OF the district supreme
court. before whom the case was tried.
was magistrate of much natural dignity
of bearing. and ordinarily had d keen eye
to the decorum of his heart; yet ne per
mitted Guiteau TO interrupt the proceed
inGs. beTate his own counsel and the
others, make remarks TO the bench, take
part audibly in the examination of wit
nesses and perform host of antics which
would never have been tolerated for an
instant in any ordinary prisoner. For
this he has been severely assaiied.
The trial was held in the old city hall
in a room which was dingy enough 70
start with, but which looked ali the more
so as a background for the gay costumes
of the feminine spectators. All the cranks
and odd characters in Washington were
grouped there daily also. Some Of them
used to bring flowers for Guiteau, and
press forward at the close Of each day $
session to shake his hand and obtain his
or ask his opinion on some
questoin-anything 10 furnish an excuse
for scraping acquaintance with a man
who had become fer the nonce the target
for q whole worlds eyes If anything de-
manded rebuke il was the indecency OF
the spectators out Of hours. There was a
deal more laxity than should have been
permitted. moreover, in the admission OF
visitors to the Jail where the creature
was confined. dis sale of souvenirs Of his
own making was ostensibly for the pur-
pose Of raising money TO pay counsel
and court fees; but as his counsel cost
him nothing and the district stood ready
10 meet ali other expenses. there was
J
was only to heap fuel on the fame Of his
nOtoriety. Indeed not a few good citizens
found Il hard TO blame severely, ia spite
of their lawlessness, the acts OF the sol
der who fired at the assassin through mis-
cell window and the huckster who tried
TO Kill him in the prison van. These men.
at least, were moved to their mistaken
deeds by a vigorous spirit Of repugnance
TO Guiteau's crime. a feeling which seem
ed with so many to have become diluted
in a slosh Of sensationaiism.
The incidents last mentioned had one
salutaTy effect upon the murderer in re-
oucing his egotistic temperature His
experiences with the public were
such as to convince him that he was al
last the hero ne had set out TO be. these
shots cOwed him for a while. and gave
him some inkling Of the real state of pub
lie sentiment toward him. So did the little
bit Of drama enacted every afternoon
when ne was about 10 start back 20 the
jail for the night \ squad Of police would
divide into two lines, leading from the
basement door Of the court building 70
the curbstone. with their backs 10 each
other. and their faces toward the crowd
on the sidewalk. Every officer
carried his weapon in Iun view. ready
for a charge il need be. Then. without
any warning at signal from the ser
gesnt IN command. q hollow square Of
officers with Guiteu in the midst Of them.
would make a double-quick run from the
building 10 the black Mara. the door
of which would be slammed shut almost
while the prisoner was passing through
the aperture, two officers would jump
aboard outside. the driver would lay the
lash 10 his horses. and the vehicle would
60 rafting down the Hill ~ fuil speed.
al this precaution could not faii 70 make
an impression upon Guiteau, and temper
his vanitv with terror Tor the moment.
The last scene at the tran was euin-
entity fitting in view Of all that had gone
before Ut was FIVE 81 che afternoon ct
the 18th Of January. 1SS2 when the judge
charge vas finished and the court tcok
recess Of a half hour. The man WINDOWS
OF the dinEy rom looked out upon cor
dingy enclosure. which the
sun penetrated for only little Wlile each
dav. and or this winter evening the dusk
came early. The room had 70 proper pro
vision for lighting, and when the court
rnassemblcd IL was necessary 70 bring -
lamps and candies. which serFed only o
add - the general air - gr1eeor0e ress
ruiteau has been especially defiant ard
oratorical that day. ard when he stood ~
to face his jury D. stan nnatt1ai his
5ravado ~ manner Eut ire Fefdic7.
Guilty as indicted and rs cana
don IS the polling II TIE jury. shock his
seif-rosszsaion FOR an instant. as tie sici-
81 tho destroyer closing 81 ugcn . mo-
ncutariiy terrlfes thc rat driven - bay
b a corner Ther waving he risht arm
sflsi7. WITH TIRE skianv iadex arEsr er-
-a-dl~z. ard rhe f'i-kcrtug glare ~
-ar5fe ~ tho -aa below Eirn. enphas-zirs
ui-- deem sha3oTrs n csat9rtieus ~ his
5r7rtish face. Re arriet-ed-
-srv blood wIi - open the beads ~
.hsf f1ry sont gaa forget - la @l
ls eHee this outrage
vy-her go esrraia vss runs aoua u1an
.hn CHASTITY Guaie. the waoie fien
-a.ss-s-r q deep ssh ~ rfllef- are 81