Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-28

ne WNueS8 was 41Aco II BOGu RC1bOn
would feel any apprehension Of bodily in
jury VI would take any precaution to guard
against danger. He replied: Inspiration al
ways overrides all fear of bodily harm or in
jury, and renoers person who believes he
is acting under an inspiration wholly obvious
to such considerations.
The witness was asked if such q person us
uallv planned with deiberatioE, and replied
On the contrary, their acts sudden in both
conception and inspiration, as a rule. and
they seldom attempt to avoid consequences
in any way
There are two kinds Of insanity, doctor,
suggested the prisoner; the crank insan-
ity and the Abraham insanity The latter is
the school belong to. Tell US what you
think Of Abraham, doctor.
The witness described what was common
~ called temporary insanity, where man
commits an act which is the only evidence of
his insanity, and where the person is to all
appearance perfectly sane in all other re-
spects, both before and after the act.
Guiteau-That's just my case, exactly.
wiiness-I do not believe in such insanity.
and in all my experience have never seen an
instance of il.
Col. Corkhill-Doctor, We had young
man here from Chicago, an sgnostic, who
testified that one person in every five was
tor!
Scovilie asked TO have the question read
by the reporter, and sharply rebuked the dis
irict attorney for this persistent attempt to
iBiure the character and TO east slurs on the
witness for the defence. II do not care, he
continued, Ito be continually Directing to
such matters. He may continue TO do
so If he chooses, we will wait till get to
the jury.
Corkhill-Well, suppose you wait.
Witness lin reply to question)-ln the
group Of which that young man makes one
the other four will be pretty safe laughter. J
As a matter Of fact, statistics show that IN
the whole United States the proportion
of insane to sane is only one to every 900 {;
in New York State. one to 500 in New
York City, one to 800, and in England, one
to 800 persons.
Witness thought person acting unde! an
inspiration 10 commit certain acts would not
be restrained from commission Of that act
through any consideration Of personal harm
to other persons.
Guiteau-Oh you are talking about cranks,
nowI don't belong to that school.
w illness was asked, Why vas DIR. kiernon
discharged from his position as apothecary at
Wards Island?
Objection was made by Col. Reed and az
u
Reed upon one side and Corkhill and Davidge
upon the other, the latter Withdrew the ques-
ton.
Witness visited the prisoner In his cell al
the Jail. remaining two hours and making the
usual mental examination in such cases lie
talked over with the prisoner all the incl
dents Of his life, up to and including the
shooting of the president. The prisoner al
| ways spoke of the act "a ''my conception and
soon after II conceived the removal of the
| president.
Witness asked the prisoner why, II the
act was the Almighty's, and he was simply
| the agent he was particular as to
| practice his aim. and why he did not trust
| details to the Almighty. The prisoner hes
| itated flushed little and said: 1.-THE Al
| mighty often trusts details to his agents.
Witness talked at considerable length with
| the prisoner in regard to the crime, and
| asked him what plans or expectations he had
| for the future, and his reply was to the effect
| that while he did not consider himself insane
he studied up the subject of insanity, and
| believed he would be found by jury to be
| legally insane at the time of the commission
| of the act, and would be acquitted. He was
asked What do you suppose will be done
| with you'
Al will be sent to the insane asylum and
find under the law can, after a few months
| have the commission of lunacy TO pass upon
my case and | will BE- discharged.
The witness believed, from his examina
ton and observation of the prisoner in court
that he is perfectly sane man. Witness then
proceeded at some length to give his reasons
for his opinion usiag the expression: l have
| frequently noticed that his most violent in.
terruptions have been made when the weight OF
evidence has been against him.
Counsel for the defence objected that the
witness was usurping the functions of the
Jury, who aloue could pass upon the fact
that the evidence was for OF against the
| prisoner
The court overruled and exception was
| filed by the defence.
Guiteau. who had kept unusually quiet all
through the morning, here addressed the
witness, speaking without any show of excite
ment: You are making great ado about
nothing, Doctor. don't pretend that an
insane now. Tell us what you know about
Abraham, and get your money and start fol
home.
Witness continuing. closely analysed the
conduct and remarks of the prisoner during
the trial, and concluded that he had beer
| PLAYING a part ever since the first day, at the
outset.
The prisoner. he continued, had directed
wards against all of them.
Well, you see Doctor, Corkhill has cor
rupted the rest of them. Evil comm uni
cations corrupt good manners"
The first Hypothetical question of the pros.
ecution was read, and objection made by the
defence to the clause. ''assume that he raised
an axe to his sister, which act the prisoner
himself Denies on the ground that the wit
ness could not be asked to pass upon hypo-
thetical question containing two propositions
Numerically opposite.
After argument, the court restraining the
objection. the prosecution modified the form
in which it was put to the witness.
Witness-f believe the prisoner to have
been sane.
Exception to the question and reply wa,
noted BY the defence.
Recess.
After the recess Dr. Mcdonald again took
the stand.
Guiteau who had just taken his seat, look
ed over to the jury and said: These experts
are doing this business with good deal OF
parrot like talk.
DIR. Mcdonald deviatei somewhat from the
course pursued by the rest Of them. l deem
il but justice to myself to say that did not
saw TO him that had examined law in rela-