Publication information |
Source: Atlanta Constitution Source type: newspaper Document type: article Document title: “Guiteau Daft; Czolgosz Sane” Author(s): anonymous City of publication: Atlanta, Georgia Date of publication: 22 September 1901 Volume number: 34 Issue number: none Part/Section: 1 Pagination: 4 |
Citation |
“Guiteau Daft; Czolgosz Sane.” Atlanta Constitution 22 Sept. 1901 v34: part 1, p. 4. |
Transcription |
full text |
Keywords |
George Scoville; George Scoville (public statements); presidential assassinations (comparison). |
Named persons |
William Jennings Bryan; Leon Czolgosz; James A. Garfield; Charles J. Guiteau; Loran L. Lewis [first name misspelled below]; William McKinley; George Scoville; Robert C. Titus [first name misspelled below]. |
Notes |
An image of Scoville accompanies this article on the same page, with a caption reading as follows: “George Scoville. Attorney for Guiteau, Who Killed President Garfield.” |
Document |
Guiteau Daft; Czolgosz Sane
So Says Attorney Scoville, Who Defended Assassin of Garfield.
GUITEAU STOOD FOR SELF; CZOLGOSZ FOR A CLASS
No Man Believed as Guiteau, but Scoville Says That There Are Thousands
Who Agree with the Man Who Shot McKinley.
Logansport, Ind., September 21.—(Special.)—The
dramatic features surrounding the plans for providing Czolgosz with counsel
recall the circumstances attending the defense of Guiteau, the only other man
ever brought to justice for the assassination of a president of the United States.
While Czolgosz will have the services of two eminent
jurists in the persons of Hon. Loren L. Lewis and Hon. Rover C. Titus, ex-justices
of the supreme court of New York, Garfield’s slayer had only one attorney—George
Scoville—on whom was visited the censure which the performance of such an unpleasant
task might be expected to invite, However, Attorney Scoville discharged his
duty with an ability and a dignity which earned the respect and admiration of
the members of the legal profession. He is an old man now and resides at Bass
Lake, a short distance north of here. He has made that place his home for many
years and is one of the most highly respected citizens of Starke county. In
politics he is a democrat and during Bryan’s first campaign stumped the county
in behalf of his choice. He is a courtly, polished gentleman with a high sense
of the duties of citizenship.
When seen by your correspondent yesterday he talked
freely about his connection with Guiteau, and in discussing the McKinley assassination
said:
“As far as comparison between Guiteau and Czolgosz
is concerned, I think no similarity in the two cases exists, so far as I have
been able to judge from newspaper clippings of the latter case. Guiteau was
impelled to his deed by overweening selfishness, amounting to insane egotism,
whereas Czolgosz seems to be only a type and executor of opinions founded upon
social conditions unsatisfactory to, and oppressive of, certain classes of the
people. Guiteau supposed he was commissioned, and was able, in his own person
and alone, to change an administration of the government which was antagonistic
to his views, but was only a temporary condition, by removing the president,
and that the people at large would applaud his act. No one person coincided
with that opinion. Czolgosz acted as the exponent of a theory, founded upon
a degree of truth quite extensively admitted, that large classes of the people
are oppressed by existing conditions, social and political, for which there
is no remedy except force. Whatever may be said for or against such a conclusion,
no doubt there are rational views on each side held by sane persons—honest people,
and good citizens. Opinions cannot be successfully combatted by force. But when
the exponents of a theory individually resort to force and commit crime, they
should and must suffer punishment. If, numerically, and not otherwise sufficiently
powerful, their act would be revolution, and if successful, would neither merit
nor receive punishment. The murderer of President McKinley is only one man of
an army, not yet at war, and so not subject to the rules of war, but all reasoning
and acting together. There is no insanity in their ranks. If others can be connected
with him in plot or deed, they should and will be punished as he will be. They
all realize that, and accept the consequences. That the forms and spirit of
the law may prevail, and that nothing may be done through revenge which impartial
history will record to our shame is my earnest prayer.”