The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-12-28
GEOGRAPHIC NEWS.
THE TRIAL.
Another Dsy Nearer the End.

Washington, 28.-The court was
densely packed. Upon reaching his
seat Guiteau looked around smil.
ingiy and said: Il had a nice
Christmas dinner, and hope every
body else did. l had lots Of fruit
flowers and lady visitors, and a good
time generally"
DR.. a. E. Mcdonald, superintend-
ent of Wards Island insane hos
pltal, testified that during his prac-
tice he had six thousand cases of in
sanity. He had given special at
tentlon to the study Of INSANITY.
Witness stated the difference
between "delusions" and insane
deluslonS." One being the subject
OF connectiOn by judgment and the
senses, the latter not being correct
able, and for that reason an insane
deluSion; also illusions and hallu.
clnations, giving illustrations from
his own experience. He believed.
Judging from experience, that the
claim of inspiration frequently as
serted by insane persons, proceeded
from the source of hallucination or
insane delusion affecting the senses.
Witness was then asked if persons
actions under the claim of inspira-
ton would indicate it under any
other ways than by their assertions,
and replied: "Their actions and be-
havior would indicate as well as
their assertions. To illustrate it. a
person claiming to be Jesus Christ.
and acting under an inspiration.
clothed himself like the Savior, gave
away property, slept out of doors
because the Savior had not whereon
to lay his head" Witness was
asked if such persons would feel
any apprehension of bodily injury,
or would take any precautions to
guard against any danger. He re-
piled, inspiration always protects.
"There are two kinds Of insanity.
doctor" suggested the prisoner, the
crank insanity and the Abraham
insanity, The latter is the school to
which L belong. Tell us what you
think of Abraham, doctor?"
Witness described what was COM
monty called temporary insanity,
where Il man commits one act which
is the only evidence of insanity,
and where the person is in appear
ance perfectly sane, in all respects,
both before and after the act.
Guiteau-That'S just my case, eX-
actly.
Witness do not believe in such
insanity, and in all my experience
have never seen an instance of it.
COrkhill-DOctOr, we had a young
man here from Chicago, an dgnostic,
who testified that one person in
every five is insane; what would you
say to that.
Scoville asked to have the ques-
tiGn read by the reporter, and
sharply rebuked the district attor-
ney for persistent attempts to injure
the character and cast slurS upon
witnesses for the defense.
Il don't care" he continued, "to be
continually objecting to such mat
ters. He may continue to do SO if
he chooses. We will wait till we
get to the jury"
Corkhill-Well then, suppose you
wait.
Witness, in replying to the ques
tion-In the group of which that
young man 4 axes one, the other
four will be pretty safe. Witness
thOught,a person acting under III
5piration to commit a certain deed,
would not be deferred from the
of that act through any
of personal harm to
another. Inspiration OyerrideS all
lear Of bodily pain or injury, and
renders the person who believes he
IS acting under inspiration wholly
DbliviOuS TO such consideration
Witness was asked if such persons
planned with elaboration,
md replied: On the contrary, their
acts are sudden in both conception
md execution. Usually they seldom
to avoid the consequences
IN any way.
Guiteau-Oh; you are talking
about crankS now. l don't belong
% that school.
The first hypothetical question Of
JIG prosecution w oS 1CCtIt CSiAO OOJOO-
ion was made by the defense to the
clause, "Assume that he raised an
axe to his sister, which act the pris-
3per himself Denies" on the ground
hat witness could not be asked to
pass upon a hypothetical question |
two propositions diamet-1
really opposite. After argument |
he court sustained the objection.
The prosecution modified their ques-
ion, and in the modified form it |
was put to the witness. He replied,
II believe the prisoner to have been
,ane."
An objection to the question and
reply was noted by the defense.
Witness then proceeded at some
ength to. give his reasons for his
opinion, using the expression, Il
nave frequently noticed that his
most violent Interruptions have
been made when the weight of evil
lence has been against him."
Counsel for the defense objected |
hat witness was usurping the func-
ions of the jury, who alone could
BASS upon the fact that the evidence
was for or against the prisoner.
The court OYerruled the objection
md an exception was noted by the
1efenSe.
Guiteau, who hadskept unusually |
IL L L L