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.”