Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-30


insane delusions, and defined what he
insane delusions to be.
Guiteau shouted to him:0"Oh, you are
talking about cranks. Tell US something
about Abraham. and then there would be
some sense to your remarks
The witness was then asked IL he had
ever seen a case where person committed
q crime and claimed Divine inspiration,
and IL so, bow such persons deported them
selves before and after the act.
He replied that in such cases the delu-
sion, or Inspiration, as they claimed 1t to
be, comes TO them suddenly and with in
tense pressure, and that such persons act
quickly and upon sudden impulse, delay
ing neither TO consider
Opportunity Nor weapons.
That il would be impossible to conceive,
without actually witnessing it, the energy.
and impetuosity, and determination with
which persons acting under an insane de-
lusion carry out their purposes. That IT
would be equally impossible to describe IL
with language.
Guitea1-You don't agree with Abraham,
doctor He took plenty Of time to make
his arrangements.
lieye in distinct type of insanity, which
could be called moral insanity. IL was
simply convenient term which had been
invented to excuse the commission oil
heinous crimes. The witness had never
seen case where an insane man, after
crime.
Paraded His Insanity,
and urged il as an excuse for his crime.
Insane murderers do not boast OF their
acts. but on the contrary they very rarely
allude to them, unless a good deal OF inge-
nuity Is used to draw them out. The wit.
ness. until he entered this court room, had
never heard OF case Of alleged inspiration
that came from within. Always such per.
sons claimed TO have heard the voice OF
God. or seen his image or something OF
that sort. Such inspiration is never con-
viction arrived at after mature reflection
on the part of the person so affected:
The witness was asked il the belief ofthe
prisoners father. J.. W. Guiteau, that dis
ease could he cured by prayer, as evidence
OF insanity. and he replied:
by no means
I'VE all know that thousands OF sane
people prayed daily for the salvation OF
President Garfieldis life. They would
hardly have done so il they had not enter.
,taned some belief in the efficiency OF
prayer"
G.iteau-"It shows that the Lord and
the people don't agree on this business.
The people are beginning to come over 10
my side and the Lords =,
Col Corkhill then read the Hypothetical
questions OF the prosecution, and the W.T.
ness replied to each:
Taking the facts set forth to he true, in
my opinion he was sane"
Recess.
After Recess
Guiteau opened the proceedings with re-
quest for pen and ink. "lf your honor
please" he remarked, 81 have good many
letters here that require to be answered
il could have paper, pen and ink could
put in great deal Of time TO advantage
The throng that besieged the doors OF the
court room, this afternoon, was greater
than upon any previous occasion. and hun
dreds were unable 10 gsin admission.
Another Expert
for the defense has been discovered through
the following telegram, which Col. Reec
received this morning:
JACKSONVILLE, Ills.
To Hon. Chds. Reed, Washington, ID. c.:
Doctor Mcfarland has treated member
Of the Guiteau family. He is q thorough
expert, and believes the prisoner is insane
You remember him in the Hops case
Subpoena him here"
DR.. Kempster again took the stand. HI
kad visited the Jail and examined thu
prisoner, with view to determining hi
mental condition. The witness detailed, a
some length, conversation he had with
the prisoner, with occasional contradiction
by Guiteau.
The witness asked the prisoner II III
thought hc was insane, and his reply was
Not what you experts call insane, but
Legally Insane"
When asked what he meant be that term
the prisoner said II he could get the jury u
believe that he was acting under inspira
ton from the Lord when he shot the Pres
ident. that would be all he wanted, anI
it would acquit him.
ALegai squabble.
Col. Corkhill-hhoctor, there was
young man here, horse doctor, who"
Col Reed dumping to his feet|-"I sub
nit, Your Honor, such language Is en-
tirely improper"
Judge Cox so ruled. and Col. Corkhill
somewhat contcmptuously, added: well
then, Doctor, in horse college"
Col. Reed-"l submit the same objec
ton"
Judge Cox-The form Of the question 1.
not admirable,
Col. Corkhill-I did not intend It as q re-
lection, but merely 10 distinguish the wit.
ness in question from those medical gen.
tlemen who have testified here. and have
a knowledge of what they testify.
Scoville-Sou meant il rs a reflection,
and speak in that way because the gentle
man is not here to answer you.
(nl ('nrl bill---I gaiH the s1ma Ia him
when he was here
Scoville--ies, and you were well answer
ed. too" General Laughter.)
Judge Porter thought the preface TO the
question manifestly improper---a mistake,
however. he iPOrter) might have made had
he been in the place Of his colleague.
Guitcau had been engaged with his mail
for some minutes, and here called out: ~
would like 10 have you know, ladies and
gentlemen. that my letters now come al.
dressed, Hon. Chas. Guiteau-quite a
change from last summer"
Witness was cross-eKamined by Col
Reed. who produced n pamphlet report
prepared by witness as Superintendent Of
the Wisconsin Insane Asylum, and read
extracts from il. During the reading dis
pute arose between counsel who seem to
have gradually developed vast
Amount OF bitterness.
Judge Porter several times insisted that
Col Reed was falsely reading for the pur-
pose Of deceiying the jury, and upon the
latter's indignant denial and demand that
the reporters notes be read in his yindica-
ton asserted that the counsel could defend
himself IL he desired 20 put himself on trial
in place OF the prisoner.
Col. Reed, with an effort kept his temper.
despite the badgering Of the opposing
counsA, and insisted upon reading the
notes. The reporter read them and his
notes compared, with the exception Of two
words. which were quoted in the report,
which the counsel had not mentioned.
Some fifteen minutes had been consup-
ed in the dispute, and the Court admon
ished counsel that the trial must proceed
without consuming 50 much time discus
sing an
Immatepfa1 Dinerenee.
Guitean shouted from the dock: II want
IL understood Judge Porter is making all
this fuss, and interrupting simply 10 divert
the minds Of the jury from the point which
he sees Reed has made. 1t simply shows
the contemplate meanness that only such
fztIo,.-s a. bo a,.d Corthtt can fnd,,I0a if, ~