![[GARFIELD, James A., ASSASSINATION]. GUITEAU, Charles (1841-1882), assassin. Autograph draft letter to the Court, unsigned, n.d. [ca. Fall 1881]. 4 pages, small folio.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2007/NYR/2007_NYR_01840_0095_000(020218).jpg?w=1)
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[GARFIELD, James A., ASSASSINATION]. GUITEAU, Charles (1841-1882), assassin. Autograph draft letter to the Court, unsigned, n.d. [ca. Fall 1881]. 4 pages, small folio.
"I PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO THE INDICTMENT AND MY DEFENSE IS INSANITY"
A revealing example of Guiteau's disordered mind, as he blames doctors for Garfield's death and summons the Lord to his defense. Before addressing those issues, however, he complains about the press, particularly a statement in the New York Herald terming him a "creature of the greatest vanity" who "craved notoriety." Still, he adds, "It is the first fair hearing I have had in the case." That out of the way he declares "I plead not guilty to the indictment, and my defense is insanity, in that it was God's act and not mine. The Divine pressure on me to remove the President was so enormous that it destroyed my agency & therefore I am not legally responsible for my act."
Guiteau then makes the painfully accurate but hardly exculpatory charge that "The President died from malpractice. About three weeks after he was shot his physicians, after a careful examination, decided that he would recover. Two months after this official verdict he died. Therefore I say he was not fatally shot. If he had been well treated he would have recovered." Just as unhelpful to his cause is the next argument: "The President died in New Jersey, & therefore beyond the jurisdiction of this court." He goes on to say how confident he is in his Divine advocate: "I undertake to say that the Lord is managing my case with eminent ability and that he had a special object in allowing the President to die...The President would not have died had the Lord not wished him to go. I always think of the President's departure as a removal. I have no conception of it as a 'murder' or as an 'assassination.'" The jury did. Guiteau's trial lasted from 13 November 1881 to 5 January 1882, but the jurors took only 65 minutes to convict. His execution took place on 30 June 1882.
"I PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO THE INDICTMENT AND MY DEFENSE IS INSANITY"
A revealing example of Guiteau's disordered mind, as he blames doctors for Garfield's death and summons the Lord to his defense. Before addressing those issues, however, he complains about the press, particularly a statement in the New York Herald terming him a "creature of the greatest vanity" who "craved notoriety." Still, he adds, "It is the first fair hearing I have had in the case." That out of the way he declares "I plead not guilty to the indictment, and my defense is insanity, in that it was God's act and not mine. The Divine pressure on me to remove the President was so enormous that it destroyed my agency & therefore I am not legally responsible for my act."
Guiteau then makes the painfully accurate but hardly exculpatory charge that "The President died from malpractice. About three weeks after he was shot his physicians, after a careful examination, decided that he would recover. Two months after this official verdict he died. Therefore I say he was not fatally shot. If he had been well treated he would have recovered." Just as unhelpful to his cause is the next argument: "The President died in New Jersey, & therefore beyond the jurisdiction of this court." He goes on to say how confident he is in his Divine advocate: "I undertake to say that the Lord is managing my case with eminent ability and that he had a special object in allowing the President to die...The President would not have died had the Lord not wished him to go. I always think of the President's departure as a removal. I have no conception of it as a 'murder' or as an 'assassination.'" The jury did. Guiteau's trial lasted from 13 November 1881 to 5 January 1882, but the jurors took only 65 minutes to convict. His execution took place on 30 June 1882.