Jury Verdict in the Charles Guiteau Trial
(January 25, 1882)
At 4 o'clock and 35 minutes P.M. the jury retired to deliberate.
At 5 o'clock and 40 minutes the jury, accompanied with the marshal and bailiffs, returned to the box and were called, all answering to their names, as follows:
John P. Hamlin, Frederick W. Brandenburg, Henry J. Bright, Charles T. Stewart, Thomas H. Langley, Michael Sheehan, Samuel F. Hobbs, George W. Gates, Ralph Wormley, William H. Brawner, Thomas Heinline, and Joseph Prather.
The Clerk. Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon a verdict?
Mr. Hamlin, (the foreman.) We have.
The Clerk. What say you? Is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
Mr. Hamlin, (the foreman.) Guilty as indicted, sir.
Mr. Scoville. If the court please --
[Great applause, with cries of "Silence!" from the bailiffs.]
Mr. Davidge. (Interposing excitedly.) Let the verdict of the jury be recorded first.
The Clerk. Gentlemen of the jury, hear your verdict as recorded. Your foreman says that the defendant, Charles J. Guiteau, is guilty as indicted. So say you all?
The Jury. (Omnes.) So say we all.
Mr. Scoville. If the court please, I desire to have the jury polled.
The Court. Let the jury be polled.
The Clerk. (Calling the roll.) John P. Hamlin, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
John P. Hamlin. Guilty.
The Clerk. Frederick W. Brandenburg, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
Frederick W. Brandenburg. Guilty.
The Clerk. Henry J. Bright, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
Henry J. Bright. Guilty.
The Clerk. Charles F. Stewart, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
Charles F. Stewart. Guilty.
The Clerk. Thomas H. Langley, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
Thomas H. Langley. Guilty.
The Clerk. Michael Sheehan, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
Michael Sheehan. Guilty.
The Clerk. Samuel F. Hobbs, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
Samuel F. Hobbs. Guilty.
The Clerk. George W. Gates, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
George W. Gates. Guilty.
The Clerk. Ralph Wormley, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
Ralph Wormley. Guilty.
The Clerk. William H. Brawner, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
William H. Brawner. Guilty.
The Clerk. Thomas Heinline, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
Thomas Heinline. Guilty.
The Clerk. Joseph Prather, is the defendant guilty or not guilty?
Joseph Prather. Guilty.
The Prisoner. (Excitedly.) My blood be on the head of that jury; don't you forget it. That is my answer.
Mr. Scoville. I understand I have the time to file a motion.
The Court. You have four days within which to file the motion.
Mr. Scoville. If there is anything else that I ought to do just now, your honor, I hope I will not be cut off.
The Court. If you have a desire to move in arrest of judgment, you can file your motion for a new trial, and in arrest of judgment, and if that should be overruled, be heard afterwards.
Mr. Scoville. That is, the motion for a new trial will be first heard.
The Court. The motion for a new trial must be first heard, and in case you then think proper, a motion in arrest of judgment. But they must both be filed in four days. You reserve an exception to the refusal to granting your instructions and to the charge.
Mr. Scoville. Yes. And to the charge. I expect to have that in the morning, and I desire to express that more particularly.
The Court. Yes.
The Prisoner. (Excitedly.) God will avenge this outrage.
The Court. Gentlemen of the jury, I cannot express too much thanks to you, both in my own name and in the name of the public, for the diligence and fidelity with which you have discharged your duties; for the patience with which you have listened to this long mass of testimony, and the lengthy discussion by counsel; and for the patience with which you have borne with the privations and inconveniences incident to this trial. I am sure that you will take home with you the approval of your own consciences as you will have that of your fellow-citizens. With thanks and good wishes, I discharge you from any further service at this term of the Court.
At 5 o'clock and 55 minutes P.M. the court adjourned.