Evening star., 1932-01-24
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Charles j. Guiteau, on trial for the
murder of President Garfield, was not
Guiteau Talks to addressing &C re ing the the
Court and Jury. final sGnl' stass m of the the
case. In advance of its delivery in
court he gave out for publication an
extensive address, which was generally
printed throughout the country on the
morning of January 16 1882. The Star
of the next day. in its account of the
trial, says:
There was no diminution in the at
tendance at the trial this morning, de-
spite the very disa greeable weather.
Mr.. Scoville was on hand early, ready
to resume his talk to the jury. When
the court opened Guiteau appeared in
the dock with a manuscript in his
hand. There was some delay, due to
the non-arrival of the prosecuting Of
ficers. When the district attorney
came in he was accompanied by MFR.
Lawrence Barrett, the tragedian. Mr..
Scoville was about to begin talking
when Guiteau said, holding up his
manuscript: Hadn't better deliver
this, Mr.. Scoville?' Mr.. Scoville, turn
ing to the court, said that the prisoner
had statement to make which he did
having consented to his making a
speech, Guiteau delivered the following,
with an attempt at pompous deelania-
tion:
"If your honor please, 7 desire to
say word about delivering my speech.
I intend no disrespect to this honorable
court. I desire no controversy With
this honorable court. In general ] am
satisfied with the law as proposed by
your honor, but have suggested still
broader view, which I ask your honor
to follow. to-wit That II the jury be-
lieve that I believed it was right for
me to remove the President because l
had special divine authority so to do
and was forced to do it by the Deity.
they will acquit on the ground OF
and Hiscock were acquitted on the
ground of transitory mania. In my
speech, published in all the leading
American papers yesterday, and which
presume your honor has read, gave
my reasons for asking your homer so
to charge. Mr.. Reed made a brilliant
and laWyer-like plea for the defense
and Mr.. Scoville is making a strong
argument for his theory. But neither
Mr.. Scoville nor Mr.. Reed represent
me in this defense. I am here an my
own counsel and, as stated at the open
ing of the case, no one can represent
me to that jury. 7 know my feelings
and my inspiration in removing the
President and have set 1t forth to my
satisfaction in my speech published
yesterday. And I ask your honor in
the name of justice, In the name of the
American judiciary and in the name of
the American people to allow me to
address the jury Of my oountrymen
where my life may be at stake. II a
man on that jury has doubt as to
his duty in acquitting me my speech
will probably settle him in my favor,
and therefore in the interest of justice
1t is of the greatest Importance that
they hear me in my defense. Your
honor can decide the matter If you
have any doubt as to your duty"
Guiteau read his speech before the
jury on the Saturday following, by
permission Of the court.
Counsel Scoville created q sensation
in the court ON Wednesday, January 10,
Persecution Charged by tack - upon m
Guiteau's Counsel. o 20 n KING
Arthur. The Stars report of that
date says:
Back of all this prosecution there
was something which I have had to
contend with and which you will feel
the pressure of before you end with
this case. I say without fear that the
men behind this prosecution are those
persons who seek to hide their own
infamy by casting the blame upon this
insane man. I say that such men as
Conkling and Grant and Arthur
those who made war on the dead |
President, who fomented the strife and
instigated that state of things and |
manufactured such q public feeling |
that it preyed upon this mans weak |
mind until reason left its throne-are |
behind this prosecution. I perhaps |
would not have said this; T did not !
intend to when 7 opened this trial. T |
expected fair and impartial trial. 7 |
supposed at the time would have the |
benefit I asked for, which every man |
charged with crime Is entitled to; I |
supposed we should have that bare pit
tance to wit, simply fair and impair
tial trial of this case. Since I have |
found the evidence has been suppressed |
and every advantage taken that could
be taken OF this poor man have come
to the conclusion that will not SPARE
those men and permit them to make
scapegoat Of this man, 30 that they
may still b revered and honored. In
- ,tlir Stnnn