Guiteau's Trial.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4021, 17 November 1881, Page 3

Guiteau's Trial.

The Chicago Evening Journal thus refers to the above:—" If there is anything which eclipses Guiteau's crime, it is his stupendous insolence and bravado. The idea of sitting there in his cell and coolly looking over the list of lawyers in the United States to find somebody good enough and smart enough to defend him, and, above all, the idea of selecting our own matchless Storrs to act as his personal champion, is a degree of impudence and brazen effrontery quite sufficient to make all sensible men howl with mingled shame and rage. Who in the world does this contemptible villian and worthless scamp imagine himself to be P One would think he fancied himself some distinguished

prisoner of State condemned on certain doubtful charges of official malfeasance, ''■ rather than a poor, ignorant, streetwandering vagabond whom notorious circumstances had lifted for the time

being into infamous prominence. To be sure, he is a man (in one senss of the word), and a citizen of the United States, and as such is entitled, doubtless, to a fair, legal trial, which he will unquestionably hare. But only this, and nothing more. Any. attempt to manufacture sympathy for this rascal on the part of his friends or councillors, and any disposition to show leniency towards him on the part of the court, will not only result disastrously on the part of the prisoner, but will arouse a storm of angry indignation with the people which will be almost sure to caluminate in manifestations of open hostility. The bitterness of grief has not yet passed away. The nation stills feels sore OTer its great personal loss, as well as OTer the tremendous and outrageous wrong which bad been committed. And they will be sure to demand an administration of justice in this matter which shall be "short, sharp, and decisive." We say these things in advance of any actual manifestations in the direction indicated, but it will be well for all parties concerned to understand clearly what the feeling and expection of the country is in this matter before any steps are taten. "While there need not be any undue vindictiveness displayed, there should not be, on the other hand, any tampering with the strict line of duty. The fate of this fellow is not of sufficient consequence to occupy the attention of the country, but for a short space of time. Far weightier matters are pressing for consideration than the trial and disposal of this deluded fool. Let the forms of law be gone through without any unnecessary delay, and the memory of the wretch be consigned to speedy oblivion. Nothing short of this will satisfy the public demand, and nothing more than this can Guiteau himself reasonably expect. ■