Guiteau’s Trial.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1028, 26 January 1882, Page 4

Guiteau’s Trial.

The following is the report of another day’s trial of Guiteau :— Washington, 9th Dec.—The Criminal Court opened promptly at 10, and Dr. McArthur again took the stand. Guiteau shouted out: Your Honor. Scoville: Keep still, please. Guiteau: Well then, you state it at once. If you don’t, I will. Scoville then addressed the Court, and objected to the character of evidence which had been given by the witness, on the ground that evidence as to any other crimes could not be introduced when the prisoner is on trial for this particular offence. He desired that such evidence be stricken out. GUITEAU MAKES A POINT. Guiteau here broke in excitedly and shouted ou: “It is purely in the nature of a confessional. McArthur is not expert, or a lawyer, and I object to his telling the jury and the American people facts which I told him years ago in regard to my history.” The Court ruled that the evidence could be admitted as tending to show the general character of the prisoner. Corkhill: Did you ever see anything in the prisoner to indicate insanity ? Answer: No, sir ; I never did. Guiteau here broke into one of his noisy harangues, and, despite the caution of the Court and expostulations of counsel, proceeded to express his

opinion of Dr. McArthur in terms not delicate. In TURNING TO THE REPORTERS’ TABLE He declaimed for some minutes against the scandalous reports of his character, and singling out the reporter of the Republican, shook his list at him threateningly. Corkhill desired the Court to restrain the prisoner, when Guiteau turned to him and said: “ You go slow, Corkhill. You are spotted, and as soon as this business is over the President will remove you.” Scoville cross-examined witness, and became very angry and much excited at some of his replies. The testimony in chief was not shaken. AV. S. Caldwell, a physician, treated L. IV. Guiteau during his last illness; never detected any evidence of mental unsoundness. George W. Plummer was called, when Guiteau immediately shouted, “ I owe the man twenty dollars, but it has cost the Government 200dol. to get him here. I think the President’s attention should be called to the way you are squandering the Government money [to Corkhill], HE MIGHT BOUNCE YOU AT ONCE. You will cost the Government 200,000 dols. or -300,000d015. at this rate.” Mr Plummer made considerable sport by saying he considered Guiteau able and not at all of unsound mind, but vain and conceited. That, however, was explained by his having “Late from New York City” on his card. Stephen English, editor of the Insurance Times, of New York, took the stand. Guiteau called out: “ This man was in Ludlow-street gaol, and I got him out for 300dols.

It appears that he was in gaol for libel, and Guiteau was his attorney. GUITEAU EJACULATED “LIAR” AND PERJURER,” Several times, interrupting the witness frequently. Witness said Guiteau swindled him out of 300d015., and swindled many poor creatures in gaol by getting their money, promising to help them and never helping them. Guiteau : “ Why, I wouldn’t spit on you in the street, you old scoundrel. I’ll get some insurance men to show’ you up. You are lying all the way through, English, you old fraud.” Witness never saw any insanity in the prisoner. Warren G. Brown, attorney, of New York, counsel for Mrs Guiteau in getting her divorce, testified that he believed the prisoner to be perfectly sane. Guiteau here demanded that the only evidence brought in be of a kind to determine who fired that shot, the Deity or himself. Since the 2nd of July he had had time enough to go crazy several times.