U.S. v. Guiteau

1. U.S. v. Guiteau From Complete History of the Trial of Guiteau (1882) Federal Trials and Great Debates in United States History

2. President Garfield • President James Garfield was elected in 1880. • He had been a general during the Civil War and had represented Ohio in Congress. • He became President when the Republican party was divided between two factions. President James Garfield

3. Stalwarts and Half-Breeds • “Stalwarts” wanted to continue existing policies and supported former President Ulysses Grant in 1880. • “Half-breeds” favored reform of the civil service and reconciliation with the South. They supported former House Speaker James Blaine. • Garfield was seen as a “compromise” candidate. • However, he angered many Stalwarts by refusing to appoint their preferred candidates. James Blaine

4. Charles Guiteau • Charles Guiteau was a failed lawyer and preacher from Illinois. • Many people who knew him believed he was “cranked,” or insane. • Guiteau tried to break into Republican politics in the 1880 election. • He delivered a minor speech supporting Garfield, but made little other impact. Charles Guiteau, ca. 1881

5. Charles Guiteau • Despite his lack of success, Guiteau believed he was responsible for Garfield’s victory. • He demanded important jobs from Garfield and Blaine (whom Garfield appointed Secretary of State). • Guiteau became obsessed with the divide in the party and believed Blaine had manipulated Garfield to betray the Stalwarts. Guiteau as a “model office seeker”

6. The Shooting • Guiteau claimed that God “pressured” him to “remove” Garfield. • On July 2, 1881, he shot Garfield twice in a Washington, D.C. train station. • The second shot entered Garfield’s back and lodged near his pancreas. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper (1881)

7. Garfield’s Sickness • Garfield did not die immediately, but he was bedridden for the next few months. • Garfield’s doctors gave him questionable medical care. • The nation followed news of the President’s health closely, but much of this news was false. Doctors attending to Garfield

8. Garfield’s Sickness • In an attempt to allow Garfield to recover away from the heat in Washington, Garfield’s doctors moved him to the New Jersey shore. • He died there on Sept. 19 1881. Doctors attending to Garfield

9. Indictment and Lawyers • A Washington, D.C. grand jury indicted Guiteau on October 8, 1881. • Guiteau’s trial was held in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, which heard both federal and local cases. • He was represented by his brother-in-law, Illinois attorney George Scoville. • The case was prosecuted by leading attorneys from Washington and New York City. George Scoville

10. The Judge • Associate Justice Walter Cox presided over the trial. • Cox was concerned that Guiteau receive a fair trial. • He did not want the court to “rush” Guiteau“to the gallows.” • Many observers were initially critical of Cox, believing he should be firmer with Guiteau. Justice Walter Cox

11. The Prosecution Case • The prosecution called several eye witnesses who described the shooting. • The prosecution also introduced the testimony of several doctors and Guiteau’sacquaintences to rebut claims that he was insane. • At times, the prosecution was very aggressive. • One prosecutor called Guiteau “the most cold-blooded and selfish murderer of the last sixty centuries.” Prosecution attorney John Porter Courtesy: New York Court of Appeals

12. Guiteau’s Insanity Defense • Guiteau’s main argument was that he was pressured by God to kill Garfield. • He frequently interrupted court with wild outbursts. • Scoville argued that Guiteau was insane. • Although one leading doctor testified strongly on Guiteau’s behalf, this claim was strongly contested by the prosecution’s experts. Caricature of Guiteau’s defense

13. Justice Cox’s Insanity Ruling • Justice Cox applied a standard borrowed from English law to determine whether Guiteau was sane. • Under this standard, the jury had to determine whether Guiteau understood his actions and knew that what he doing was wrong. • Since Guiteau planned the attack and admitted he had some doubts about whether it was justified, he likely failed this test. Guiteau often behaved irrationally in court

14. Verdict and Sentence • After months of testimony and argument, the jury returned a “guilty” verdict in approximately an hour. • Justice Cox sentenced Guiteau to death. • Guiteau cursed the jury, the prosecution and Scoville. • He declared he would be President himself one day. Guiteau was hanged at the district jail in Washington, D.C.

15. Appeal and Execution • Both an appeal to three other judges and a habeas corpus petition to the Supreme Court failed. • Guiteau believed President Chester Arthur would pardon him because the assassination had “made” Arthur. • Arthur refused to pardon Guiteau, and he was hanged on June 30, 1882. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Bradley denied Guiteau’s writ for habeas corpus

16. Aftermath and Legacy • Many observers at the time celebrated the verdict in Guiteau and lauded Justice Cox’s fairness. • Nevertheless, some modern medical experts believe that Guiteau was insane. • A postmortem suggested that Guiteau may have suffered from syphilis, a disease that can affect the brain. • Some point to the trial as an example of the difficulty of dealing fairly with unpopular or controversial defendants.