that young Arthur resolved that if he was ever in trouble, or needed the services of a lawyer in a matter of great importance, he would not fail to obtain those of the counsel whom he so much admired, if they were to be had. It was under the influence of this recollection that he called in Judge Porter. The mephitic air of the court-room, the prolonged and responsible work, and the anxiety of the case completed what years of intense labor and advancing disease had begun. He confided to me some circum stances touching that case which enhanced his anxiety, which I do not think it now proper to mention. It will suffice to say that the jury was considered to be composed of very inferior and ignorant men. They had been separated from their families and had not been permitted to see the news papers for more than two months; during which time the wild beast who was on trial was permitted to address the court and jury, to interrupt counsel, and to conduct himself generally in the r<31e of martyr, and in doing this flagrantly to misrepresent to the jury the state of public opinion prevailing outside the court-room walls. One of Guiteau's ex pressions addressed to Judge Porter was: "God Almighty will punish you prosecuting men for the mean, dirty way in which you have done your work. That is the unani mous opinion of the press to-day." On other occasions he read in court let ters from different parts of the country, ap proving his act, of which this is one : — Mr. Charles J. Guiteau, Washington, D. C. All Boston sympathizes with you. You will yet be President. (S'd) A Host of Admirers. The presiding Judge appeared powerless to control and prevent these irregularities. The confidence and positiveness of the pris oner, who took issue with counsel on almost every statement they made, and maintained every day a running fire of insulting dia logue, was liable to have the effect of break
ing down all sense of respect for the court and the prosecution; and Judge Porter was in fear that there would be found upon that jury one or more men weak enough to be induced by this demonstration to believe that there really was in the United States a strong sentiment which condoned the assassination of the President. In this sit uation it was his policy to allow the prisoner to exhibit himself day after day before the jury, believing that his true character would be made apparent when all his acts and declarations came to be remembered and considered in the light of the final argu ment. The daily course of procedure is made apparent from the manner in which Judge Porter resumed his closing argument on the 24th of January. Before he had an opportunity to do this, the prisoner had made various announcements from the dock, and Judge Porter said, — "Gentlemen of the jury : As usual, the court has been opened by the prisoner; but by his permission I am at liberty to add a few words." All this is a part of our judicial history, so shameful and fantastic that the future reader will have difficulty to believe that at the capital of the nation a trial of that sort occupied two months, in the midst of up roar, riot, and defiance of all known rules. When a conviction was obtained, Judge Porter's nervous strength gave way, and he at once retired to his residence in the coun try for recuperation. Within a few weeks, however, he came again to New York; and for the last time the members of Porter, Lowrey, Soren, & Stone were all together. He then announced his purpose to retire definitely, — a purpose to which none could object who knew the reason for it. I have refrained from speaking, except in the most general way, of his professional life as a member of our firm. It would be impossible to do this intelligibly in any short space. During the course of the Beecher trial there was published in the " Albany Law
