New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-09

ohdO uho Bul Amy MdyndIu, II amlcucu
at all by hereditary faint of insanity did not
inherit from her mother. President Arthur's
replies to Mr.. Scoville's written inteTOgatOries
were read in court. The substance of his replies
was that he had only casually spoken with the
assassin, that Guiteau had not rendered the
Republican party any service in the Presi-
Dental campaign, and that he had never
given Guiteau any reason to suppose that he
had personal or political influence with the
writer. The Rev. DR.. Macarthur, of New
York, testified to Guiteau's depraved conduct
while member of his congregation.
THE ASSASSIN'S DEFENCE STILL CRUMBLING.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRTBUYE.I
WAsHINGTON, Dec. S.-The prosecution in tho
Guteau trial concluded to-day their rebuttng tes-
hmOny as TO the alleged hereditary insanity in the
Guteau family and began their testimony to show
that the assassin is not insane, but that he is simply
depraved The case proceeded under much the same
circumstances as usual The officers admitted too
many persons to the courtroom, which was packed
to the very DOORS the dOOrways themselves being
packed. This usual. aud, as usual, there was
too much evity in the crowd and too little sternness
on the bench
Guiteau came in escorted in the now fa-
second one behind him, holding him by
his left arm, under which there IS
always bundle of newspapers, and behind still
another officer. The day was more exciting than
any recent day of the trial, and the mass of evi-
dence taken was exceedingly damaging to the de-
fence. The first witness called a cousin of the
assassin, daughter of the Mrs. Julia Maynard,
whom the defence had sought to make out insane.
Mrs. Maynard a sister of Luther w. Guiteau,
tie assassin's father and the purpose OF the
defence was, of course, TO show parallel
of insanity in that generation of the Guiteaus
The evidence given yesterday utterly disproved tho
claim that Luther w. Guiteau was insane
that given to-day must be regarded as
disproving quite as fully the claim that his
sister was insane. 1t also raised presumption that
the imbeclity of Abby Maynard her daughter. one
of the two members of the Guiteau family who have
been inmates of lunatic asylums, could be traced
to her father, who was not a Guiteau, and to the
eneryatng effect of certain experiences for which
he was responsible 1t need not be suggested that
this point has an important effect in weakening
still further the theory of hereditary insanity.
The witness mentioned, Mrs. Julia VI. Wilson, Of
Leadville Cot, Is a lady Of peculiar refinement Of
manner and utterance. She spoke with rare dis
tinctness and in a strangely sympathetic voice.
Her dictiOn was elegant, without the least
affcctatiOn. Mrs. Wilson evidently felt keenly the
fact that she was appearing witness against her
own kin, and was barely able to repress her tears
when she first appeared upon the stand. When she
spoke of her mother, she did in terms of devoted
affection, her voice vibrated with such feeling that
the eyes of many filled with tears. The testimony
of this daughter to the Christian character and
mental health of one who, as she said, had been
more like her sister than her mother, was heard in
l.. ,Tt..,t ,,Nf
the influence single personality may have
upon a crowd. The quiet that prevailed during her
testimony was such as should have characterized
the whole course of this trial. 1t little drama
from real life TO see the soul rise within the woman,
in spte OF her genteness of demeanOr to repel tho
charge that her mother had been OF uns0und mind.
Her testimony on this point was as positive -
words could make it, She was her mothers COM
panion and for many years, and testified that
she had never the slightest hightiness on her
part even in fever. When she described the DEATH
bed of her mother, and the promises that they
should all meet in heaven, many among the spec
tators were not able to restrain their tears. She
showed no desire to damage the defence, and ad-
dressed Mr.. Scoville in afectlOnate tone as
Cousin George"
Her testimony with regard TO Abby Maynard was
imnortapt II was shown that she was found at an
called mesmeric Influences and was made the sub
iect of constant experiments by her father and
clairyoyant: that this affected her mind TO a certain
degree. finally bringing on mild imbecilIty; that
she was few years ago only placed in an asylum,
not because it had ever been found neces-
gary TO restrain or watch her, but be-
cause satisfactory arrangements could not be
made 10 care for her in an old lady's
home or some institution of that kind; lastly, that
her insane and with softenng Of the BRAIN
This left the possibility, at least clearly in view of
tbe iury. that whatever there may have been OF
hereditary taInt in Abby Maynard came from her
father and not from her mother. Much of this testi-
mony seemed peculiarly affecting to the members OF
the family who were present. Once Mrs. Scovilie,
who seldom allows her emotions TO conquer her.
went convulsively behind her fan, and John W. Gui-
teau also showed much feeling, while the assassin
most of the time leaned his head on his hand in
hstless way. Mrs. Wilson also spoke of Luther
w. Guiteau as having appeared TO her during
n visit only few years ago to be one of the love-
heat of Christian gentlemen" she had ever met.
She stated that in of her uncles and aunts the
brothers and sisters of Luther W. Guiteau, had she
ever seen any sga of mental unsoundness
When Mrs. Wilson made the statement that her
fotber was insane before he died. John w. Guiteau
ros, and addressing the Court asked that tho
ouestion aud answer be stricken out as Irrelevant
He nrotestsd against having things of this kind not
not affecting any blood relation of the prisoner go
out TO the world. The Distrct-AttOrney intimated
that the testimony was valuable as showing that IL
Abby MAYNARD was insane, she probably inherited
insanity from her father Mr.. Scoylle was now onhs
feet angrly objccting to any interference by Jonn
w. Guiteau This fired the assassin at once Il
think he's perfect nuisance" he shouted banging
hi A. ON the table In front of him, while his eyes
,.-.u ua,d better 90 back to-