The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-12-01
GUITEAU'S TRIAL.
The Testimony Being Offered
For the Defense.
6uteau Expresses His Opinion of Beecher
Evidence of Guiteau's Brother
and Sister.

WASHINGTON, November 26.-The pro-
ceedlngs In the Guiteau case opened
with the continued crOss-examimatiOn
of Thomas North, formerly of FreepOrt,
ILL.,, who was Methodist minister, and
left the church because he was a Demo-
crat. When Luther Gui,eau advocated
human sacrifices, he thought he was
honest in his belief Did not think the
elder Guiteau's horror of Niagara was
evidence of an unsOund mind. During
the examination of the witnesses, Gui-
teau remained quiet, making but one
interruption.
DaYidge crOss-eXamined North sharply
regarding his record during the war,
and witness was then excused.
Guiteau made a speech attacking
Henry Ward Beecher, saying he used to
be member of his church; that Beecher
was liar, and Mrs. TiltOn told tie
truth.
Senator John A. Logan, of Illinois,
was the next witness. Testified that
Guiteau came to his rooms in March
last, showed him a speech which he
claimed elected Garfield, and asked for
a recommendation to office. Was lightly
clad, and wore sandals, but no socks.
Said Blaine had promised him place if
Logan would recommend him. Subse-
quently Guiteau became one of the
boarders at the establishment where
Logan was, but at LOgan's suggestion
was elected. No crOss-eXaminatlOn.
Mrs. ScOyille testified that she was
The sister of the prisoner. That moth
ers was confirmed invaliditOr for two
years before her brother was born, and
during this period of confinement to
her room prisoner was born. In later
years two other children were born, one
of which had crooked foot, and died at
the age of two years. The other died of
consumption, aged 20 months. The
mother died of consumption. Her
brother as a boy was irritable and
troublesome, and could not talk until
after six years of age. He was whipped
for the defect. Was of very Affection
ate disposition. Witness then told of
the endeavOrs to keep Guiteau out of
the Oneida community which were in
effectual; also his egOtism when adj
mitted to the Chicago bar. Guiteau
once threatened her with an axe and
appeared crazy. At 1920 the court adj
jOurnea until Monday.
Judge Cox receives communications,
some anonymous, others signed with ic-
titiOus names, uttering threats and
making suggestions as to the proper
conduct of the trial. Such persons
must recOllect that the Constitution
guarantees to the prisoner the right to
confront witnesses brought against
interfere with the proceedings he can,
in measure, act as his own counsel.
The only thing possible in case he be-
comes unruly would be to gag him, and
that act would only serve to create SYM
pathy for him.
MONDAY.
WASHINGTON, November 2S.-The trial
opened at the usual hour this morning.
The room was packed to sutfOcatlOn,
many ladies being in attendance. Gui-
teau paid little attention to the testi-
mOny, and read newspapers. Among
the spectators were General Ewing, and
Private Dalzell, of Ohio. Mrs. ScOville,
Guiteau's sister, resumed the stand, and
recOunted various instances of apparent
alteration of mind on visionary
schemes about buying newspapers, per-
sOnal abuse and ebuilitiOns of temper.
He once overheard her tell lady friend
he was crazy and should be sent to an
asylum. He was enraged and threat
ened her, and said it was she who
should go to an asylum. He once
threw her pet dog down stairs breaking
its leg. She sent him to soap apple
trees and instead he sOapedfOrest trees;
had a fit of terror once while boat
riding, although there was no danger.
He spent most of his time reading
newspapers and the Bible.
Mrs. ScOville related another incident
of theological discussion in which
Guiteau took part in, and was very abu-
sive. She was asked to produce the
hair cut from her mothers head before
her brothers birth. The prosecution
objected, and ScOville produced the
word. This closed the exam
inatiOn of Mrs. ScOYille. The
prosecution did not crOss-eXamine.
Guiteau announced that he wished the
newspaper cTanks in court to understand
that he appeared in part as his own
counsel, which was a sufficient answer
to silly stuff they wrote about him. G.
S. Jostin of New York, testified he had
considered Guiteau egOtistical, crack
Drained, etc. John W. Guiteau of BOs-
ton, brother of the prisoner, next testi-
fed. He was constantly with his brother
up to ten years ago, when the family
was broken up by the death of the
mother. In 1868 witness saw the pris-
Oner in Chicago, after he had left the
Oneida community. He refused to pay
debt he owed ScOyille, and witness
thought him either a fool or crazy. He
afterwards boarded with witness in New
York but paid no board. Guiteau in
terTGpted that he did pay board. Quit
eau'sf brother testified further to fire.
quent interviews with the prisoner in
Washington. At first, thought him dan
gerOus, but subsequently, harmless.
The prisoner talked freely about the
shooting, saying he believed Christ di-
Tected him to do it, and was willing to
suffer for it; that the name of Guiteau
would be hOnOred in this world instead
of being regarded as an assassin. But
when witness asked him whether he
would prefer to be hanged by the court
or shot by mob, the prisoner become
| violent, jumped to his feet, ran behind
table and said: II won't have either
Witness after that had no doubt of his
insanity. At this point Scoyille intro
duced a family Bible to show that one
Francis Guiteau, born in 1900, died in
1929 in BlOOmingdale insane asylum.
Witness crOss-eXamined, said he cOnclu-
ded his brother was insane after read
ing certain letters of his, last month,
written years ago. When asked if he
had not stated to Barron of Boston, that
the act was one of pure cussedness, he
said mo-" but believed his brother was
possessed of a devil that caused his
crime. Witness had attended DR.. Con-