The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-12-29
GUITEAU'S TRIAL.
More Expert Evidence Says Gui-
teau is Sane.
Testimony of Drs. Jamin Strong, Dimond
and TaIcott- Attorney Reed, of Chi
cagO, Assisting the Defense,
THURSDAY.

J
DR.. DimOnd, of Chicago, late superin-
tendent of the asylum at Auburn, n. Y,
said he had made personal eXamina-
tiOn of Guiteau in Jail, and had Observ-
| ed him carefully IN court. Had heard
all the testimony and all the declara-
tiOns made in court by the prisoner, and
to judge from it all, he was sane" This
| judgment was based entirely on such
evidence as Guiteau himself had fur
nished. He also believed Guiteau's san
| ity proved by the history of his life dur
ing the trial. Did not think Guiteau
had been shamming, but had merely
been acting part natural to his char
acter and circumstances. Witness gen
orally had no difficulty in detecting
similatiOns of insanity. A bad charac-
ter did not indicate insanity. Insane
persons were often more cunning and
| wicked than others. 1t was not likely a
man of Guiteau's physical health, who
| had enjoyed the same health from birth,
would become insane at 40 without
some exciting cause. Witness took lit
tie stock in what was called hereditary
insanity. Children of insane parents
might have a predispositiOn to the dis
ease. There was no such thing as un-
sOundness of mind. Insanity was a
disease that showed itself through Oper-
atiOns of the mind, which itself was inn
material. EgOtism was not insanity.
but common excessive idea Of a mans
Importance and of all that concerns
him, and an absence of the idea of the
injurious effect of his conduct upon
others.
DR.. DimOnd said insane people might
or might not have absence of moral re-
sponsibility. Guiteau's conduct in leav-
ing the Oneida community to start the
TheOcrat, without any capital, but his
alleged faith in God and his partner
"Jesus Christ" hoping to reyOlutiOniZe
the world, rather proved fanaticism
than insanity. 1t was simple fanati-
cism, which was merely strong faith
in religious matters. Other men did
not believe at all. Guiteau's lecturing
adventures did not prove insanity. Even
his running off the stage in the middle
of his lecture might have had some rea-
son. The declaration of the family ply
Sician, that man is insane, is not good
evidence of insanity. He might only be
a common observer. ScOville questioned
witness very close as to ''insane delu-
siOns," with a view of getting admis-
siOns that if a man supposed himself
commissioned by the Diety to commit
certain acts he was insane. Guiteau
continually interrupted, bTOw-beating
Scoville, and abusing the witness. He
said: 81 opened my mail personally this
morning the first time since the trial.
large number of letters, asking for
autograph, and making suggestions
only, or from frank requests for auto
graphs, were coming from high-tOned
ladies in Washington society" Laugh
ter. ScOville questioned at length,
with view of showing Guiteau's char
acteristics before the trial were indica-
tive Of insanity. PurpOrt of the testi-
mOny was against this idea. Guiteau
interrupted, that among the letters was
one from DR.. SpitZka OF New York, say
ing he had received over $780, cOngTat-
ulatlng and cOmmendlng his testimony;
also three anonymous threats and two
letters from cranks, and Guiteau said
further that he had a letter of cOmmen-
datiOn from Cincinnati. ScOville re-
mOnstrated, and was ordered to shut
up by Guiteau. The court said he had
no time to listen to the reading of the
documents. Guiteau replied: THAT
was for the benefit of outside publica-
tiOn"
Witness was carried through all the
propositions of the Hypothetical case,
and asked If the acts described therein
were inconsistent with the conduct of
man of unsOund mind. The witnesses
replies were in the affirmative, with an
occasional qualification that certain acts
indicated cunning and criminality.
Suppose" continued counsel, that a
person acting under Divine command,
according to his conviction, and i'll ODE
dience to that command, he should kill
the President of the United States; and
suppose that this person, being of ma
tuTe years, did honestly believe, in con-
nectiOn with that act, that the people of
the United States, as soon as they were
informed of his motive and advised of
his belief, would not only advise but ap-
plaud him for the act, in your opinion
would that be any indication of un-
sOundness of mind in the indlvidual?"
1T would" said the witness. "HOn-
est belief, sincere belief, and dOmina-
tiOn of his will by that belief, is what
mean by that answer" [Laughter.l
FRIDAY.
When court opened Guiteau said:
"ScOville is doing we'll considering his
theory, but he is not a criminal lawyer.
His business is examining abstracts of
titles. He is a good fellow and first
class real estate lawyer, but cannot |
have him here compromising my case. |
There is not lawyer here but knows |
he has asked a great many questions for |
my defense that have been positive in |
jury to me, and l cannot sit here quietly |
with my life at stake and be cOmprO- |
missed in that way. Mr.. Reed, of Chicago,
a first class criminal lawyer in every |
respect, who knows all about this busf- |
ness, has consented to attend to my de- |
fense, and now introduce him to- this |
court, the jury and the public. Reed
and ScOville are both good fellows, and |
want them to help each other. 1 will |
not talk in this case any more, except 1 |
will not allow my witness to tell what l |
know to be false, without correcting |
him on the spot. want the trial con- |
Quoted in praper spirit; but get greatly |
excited when ScOville, through mex
perience, puts damaging questions. He |
elbOwed Mr.. John 1. Townsend and other |
prominent lawyers off the case" SEQ |
vile asksd the court to recognize Mr.. |
Reed as counsel for the defense, although |
he had been witness. The prosecution |
had no objection, provided he was ad- |
mitted subject to proper criticism for |
having been a witness and constant |
attendant; and the court said he would |
be so subject. letter from DR.. Spitzka |
was read, advising the production of the
cast of Guiteau's head to show malfOr-
nation. During the lull the prisoner
OH x,el