Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1881 — FROM WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

FROM WASHINGTON.

Washington, December 14. SCOVILLE’S LECTURE. The indications are that Scoville’s lecture this evening wijl be well attended. The people here have a good deal of sympathy for him, but none forbis cause. The tide of sentiment, which was two weeks ago with Guit*au, is now setting very strongly against him. THE CROWD. The crowd about the Criminal Court an 'hour before the openiag, w’as greater than ever before. The first witness .was Dr. John L. Withrow, of Boston. Guiteau at once called out “Dr.. Withrow is the honored pastor of Park Street Church, Boston, where I used to attend church when I was there. He is a very fine gentleman.” Witness said the prisoner desired to deliver, a lecture in his (witness’) church’ in answer to Ingersoll, but witness declined to have the church used for that purpose. Witness observed him during the winter at meeting and social gatherings of the church. Never saw the least indication of unsoundness of mind, but, on the contrary, thought he possessed unusual shrewdness (correcting himself) witness added, “I should say cuteness.” Guiteau—What’s the difference, Doctor? Answer—The ond mesfiis brighter than the other. Colonel Corkhill—And of larger caliber? Guiteau —He didn’t say that, Corkhill. You mnst have slept well last night; that’s the smartest thing you have said yet. Witness said the prisoner generally took part in the discussions upon whatever subject might be under discussion; that be was always critical and accusative rather than concilatory and kind. >• Guiteau—l always spoke to the point, incisive and gritty; that’s me. There’s nc nonsense or romance in my composition. If there bad been I might have gone through? the world more smoothly. It is <ery plain to the mind of every one that the sole object of this kind of examination Is to show that I knew the difference between right and wrong. That has nothing whatever to do with this case. The only question is, whether or not my free moral agency* was destroyed when I was impelled upon the President. That’s the point, Judge, and it knocks the bottom out of your theory. After a short pause Guiteau broke out again,.and w’ith increased vehemence: ‘‘l’m not here to save my neck from the gallows. - I’m here for vindication, for justice and for right.’’. Judge Cox —“Well, that will do now—suspend your remarks.” Guiteau —“All right. When I ?get

to tbe jury I am going to talk to'them on this subject. This is just: a little incidental speech.” Charles A. Bryan, of the New York Equitable Life Insurance Company, knew the prisoner in New York. Witness was proceeding to relate the circumstances of Guiteau’s connection with his company, whei Guiteau indignantly shouted: “Well, now, I want to say right here, that when a witness comes here and tells what is false, I shall tell him, you are mistaken, sir—that is false—that Is a lie, and, finally, you are a miserable whelp. That is as far as I shall gc. It’s equivalent to the bar-room expression, 'Godown below,’ but 1 don’t go that far.” ~ . Witness said the prisoner asked a loan on the Consulship he was to have. He considered him eant,. Henry W. Collier, attorney, of New York, took the stand. “I remember you, sir,” shouted Guiteau. “You are the man that put up that Herald job on me. Keep quiet, sir, (turning to Scoville); I will dispose 'of this man in short order. He brought suit against me 'to pay over certain money, and the court ruled I should keep it. That kills his evidence.” Witness related an instance of Guiteau collecting $175 and failing to pay it over. His evidence proved extremely damaging to the prisoner’s oft-asserted claim of having always lived an upright Christian lite, and Guiteau wriggled and expostulated, and vainly attempted to explain the transaction. Witness at one point said: “I informed Judge Donohue, at the time that I considered Guiteau a thief and a scoundrel.” • Guiteau (excitedly)—“You did not dare say so to me; I-would have knocked you down.” —• • A SICK JUROR. One of the jurors statedto the court that he could not possibly concentrate his thoughtsupon the evidence (feeling as ill as he did), and the court ad journed. MEMORIAL SERVICE. The committee of both houses on the memorial services in honor of the late President Garfield is in joint session to fix upon a day and hour for the services in the capitol. Conger and Brown have been added to the committee. •’ BONDS ACCEPTED. Secretary Folger has accepted the entire amount of $5,489,000 bonds ofItrtd in New York to-day.

Ex-Senator Paddock, of Nebraska,’ will succeed Assistant Secretary Cpton, who retires from the Treasury today. IN DOUBT. Speaker Keifer is in hot water over his committees. The west is demanding the Chairmanship of the Appropriation Committee, and he is in doubt what to do. He bad iuteuded giving it to Hiscock, but may reconsider now. RESIGNED. Postmaster General James has sent his resignation to the President, notwithstanding denials. He asks that the resignation take effect about the first of January, and assigns important ; and pressing private business as the reason for resigning. Mr. James Was 1 expected to stay in the Cabinet i through the fiscal year, but recently hdfcreceived information from the Directors of the Lincoln National Bank, of New York, that he was elected President, and that the bank would open for business on the 12th of January, ai d require bis services. Mr. James went to New York to see the Directors, and endeavor to arrange forthem to dispense with his services until next July. The Directors refused to listen to the proposal and insisted upon having his services at the opening of the bank, or that he should resign the Presidency. He then sent his resignation to the President, and it will be accepted. Whether his successor will lie nominated before the holiday recess of Congress, is not yet known. Mr. James’ friends say the Piesident wanted him to remain in the Cabinet until the end of the term. The Senate Committee on Territories this morning directed a favorable report to be mode upon Saunders’ bill to straighten the northern boundary line of Nebraska on the line of the forty-third parallel; also a favorable report upon the bill to legalize the present Legislature of New Mexico, as owing to a non-compliance with an act of Congress, the present Legislature is not legal?

PUBLIC PRINTER. A committee consisting of some twenty-five soldiers has been designated to press the claims of E. W. Oyster for Public Printer against 8. P. Rounds. They began work to-day and state that they have every encouiagement of ultimate success. POSTMASTER GENERAL. The Southern Republican Representatives are solid for Frank Hatton for Postmaster General.’ They say his style of Republicanism Jits their section, and they will be able toupultiply politically under the policy he has adopted for appointments in that section. .Washington, December 15. guiteau’s taffy to the jury. As soon as tbe court was called to order, Guiteau addresstd the court and said: “I want to make a little speech. It will be a great misfortune if anything should happen to this jury. They are very honest, intelligent men, and I want the best care taken of them. There are some of them who are not accustomed to good, wholesome food, and consequently they are liable to have indigestion. I want tbe court to order them out every morning before breakfast for a walk of four or five miles. 1 have two or three more little speeches to make, but this will do fur the present.” - * Judge Cox—Tbe court will attend to the wants of the jury. Henry M. Collier, who testified yesterday, was recalled. Witness never detected any signs of insanity in the prisoner. Mr. Scoville began to cross-examine the witness, when Quiteau, in great rage, shouted: never saw this man but once in my' life, and that was in 1873. Never saw’ him but five minutes. What does he know about me? This shows how little sense you have got, Corkhill, to put up this man as an expert, and you, (to Scoville) haven’t got common horse sense to waste the time of this court examining his character. He was only a clerk in a lawyer’s office, anyway.” Re-examined by Colonel Corkhill.

Witness—ln my opinion, at the time I knew him, he was perfectly competent to distinguish between right and wrong. (Exception taken by Sco/ille.) Mr, Scoville asked: “What is your opinion of the prisoner’s ability to distinguish between right and wrong at the present time?” The question was ruled out, and another exception was noted by Scoville. ■ j '. J. M. Justice, lawyer, of Logansport, Ind.: Met the prisoner in 1878. The prisoner was selling a book t entitled, “Life of Moody.” Guiteau, interruping—You are mixme up with some one else, sir. Witness continued, but was again interrupted by Guiteau, who shouted, “Stop right here. Can you prove me as the man?” Witness—l think I can. - Guiteau —Can you swear it? Witnes— Yes, I can. Guiteau —Well, you are a liar, sir; a miserable liar. That’s the best way to dispose of you. Witness continuing, said the prisoner remained in Logansport about three weeks, selling the book. Guiteau continually interjected abusive comments, and finally shouted:

“You miserable whelp, to come in here and make me out a? a book agent. I was preaching the gospel, and sold my own productions. In a few minutes he turned to Scoville with intense disgust and said: “Oh, cut this fool short; he is lying all through; don’t waste time on him.” Scoville asked: “What was the appearance of the prisoner when you knew him?” Answer—He looked about the same as now, except about the eyes. Scoville—What was the difference in the expression of the eyes? Answer —At that time he had a free expression; now the expression seems suppressed. Guiteau—l don’t think I am much suppressed this morning. It seems to me I’m pretty lively. Guiteau gradually worked himself into a towering rage, end vituperated against the witness, the prosecution and the “cranks,” who. he claimed, threatened him with violence, his billingsgate being especially directed against the prosecuting attorney. Referring to Colonel Coikbill he said: “He is getting too dirty and to stinking to live, and the first thing he knows God Almighty will take him oft and send him down below.” Rev. Rush R. Shippen, pastor of All Souls’Church, Washington, boarded at the same house and occupied a seat at the same table with the prisoner from April last until the day before the murder of the President, when he (the prisoner) disappeared. Witness had frequently conversed with the prisoner. Both had lived in. Chicago, and that formed a basis of conversati- ns, which led t > quite lamiliar acquaintanceship. The prisoner w r as chatty and polite, a little quick or nervous in utterance, but not sufficiently so as to indicate marKed peculiarity. Witness never detected anything to indicate insanity. The usual topics of conversation between himself and the prisoner at the tab’e Conkling, Garfield and the New Testament revision. On no occasion did the prisoner exhibit more excitement than any other prisoner might. Mrs. Duumire, formerly the wife of Guiteau, then took the stand. She was married to the prisoner in July, 1869. Scoville objected to the tesiimony unless the record or proof of divorce was shown. The witness was then withdrawn, Mr. Corkhill remarking that he would introduce the witness later, after he had obtained the necessary copy of the court record. ♦ Dr. Noble Young, physician at the jail where Guiteau is confined, related the particulars of several conversations with the prisoner. At one time he asked the prisoner why he “removed” (using prisoner’s term) the President. His reply was, “Because I was inspired to do so,” and a little after he said: “If the President should die, L would be convinced my inspiration was from the Deity, but if he should recover 1 would be in doubt about it.” Witness was asked if he considered the prisoner sane, and he “A perfectly sane man, sir, and as bright, quick and intelligent a man ds you would see in a summer’s day. is not tl_e slightest indication of insanity about , him—a little impatient of restraint at times, a little nervous, as men in his position would naturally be, but peifectly sane.” Mrs. Scoville suddenly rose in her place and said: .“Your honor, I would like to ask a question of the witness. I consider it of vital importance to the case.”

Guiteau (impatiently)—Now, don’t, sister, it is all these people can do to stand me without your talking; you are no lawyer. Mrs. Scoville—The question is of vital importance. Scoville—l prefer, yoty Honor, that permission should not be given. Davidge—Let Mrs. Scoville suggest thb question to her husband, and we will not object. Mrs. Scoville (sotto voce)—Well, he don’t know how to ask any questions, anyway. Scoville asked if it were possible to place in the prisoner’s coffee any drugs that would make him appear brighter or more quiet, as the case might be. Guiteau (with a contemptuous expression) exclaimed, “You are examining the witness for the other side, ain’t you, Scoville? I never saw anything so stupid as your manner of examining witnesses this morning. I think your lecture last night must have been too much for you.” Mrs. Scoville wrote her question and reached over to hand it to her husband when Guiteau sharply said to her: ‘ Now you just mind your own business, and attend to your own affairs. You are making yourself altogether too officious in this case.” ' Pending the colloquy between Guiteau and his sister, witness was permitted to depart, much to the disappointment, apparently, of Mrs. Scoville. The next witness was General Jos. 8. Reynolds, lawyer, of Chicago. He knew the prisoner first about May, 1868, in Chicago. -Witness visited the prisoner in jail twelve days after the assassination. Prisoner asked m e

“where were you on the day of the' assassination?” Corkhill—Did he use the word assassination? Witness—Yes, that iv the precise word he used. Witness made memorandum notes of his conversation with the prisoner at this interview, and to refresh his memory, was allowed to read from them. Witness read tw r o or three times, quoting the prisoner’s w’ords, and used the word “assassination.” Corkhill—Did he use that term? Witness—He used that woid and never spoke in reference to any divine inspiration at this interview. After this, at subsequent interviews, he always spoke of the murder as the “removal” of the President. At this point Guiteaushouted; “This man came to me as an old friend from Chicago, when really he was nothing but a spy employed by Corkbill. I want to thunder this to the American people, to let them understand what this man’s character is. (Turning to Corkhill, j This is yoijr work, Corkhill, and God Almighty will damn you for it. You have deceived all through, and stolen my thoughts and betrayed them.” - Witness continued to read from the notes he had taken at the second interview with the prisoner. Allusion being made to something which appeared in the Washington Republican, Guiteau pounded upon the desk and shouted out: “That’s just what that little whelp Gorham was writmgat that time. Now he is ready to eat his own words. He is hanging around Arthur now, and trying to get some lit ties office. He ought to be ashamed of himself, if he has any decency. I have got a speech on this fellow. I only want to get a chance athim.”

Witness stated he read to the prisoner jvhat Grant and Conkling and some of his (the prisoner's) alleged friends said of him (Guiteau) and his crime, and he, walking the 'floor, excitediy said: “What does it. mean? I would have staked my life that they would have defended me. They knew they wanted Garfield removed, and yet they denounce me, and can only see in it the bloody act.” Witness also showed him some papers in which he (Guiteau) was bitterly denounced for the crime, and his (the prisoners) comtneut was that the true facts had been suppressed, and be had not had any defense. Witness continued: “He asked me,” referring to Grant, Conkling and other prominent Stalwarts, “Do they know I have stated that I have no accomplices?” . and told him yes. He seemed dazed, and said, repeating the words several times, “Most astonding,” “Most astonding.” ’ Guiteau here broke in and said with a sneer, “You Was a pretty smart detective, wasn’t you. General? 'You will probably get more business in this line now.” Recess.