Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-28
A NATIONAL DISGRACE.
CONTINUATION OF THE MUR0EReR'S
TRIAL.
The Usual Squabbles Between the Prisoner
and the Counsel on Both Sides
Still Loading the Record With
Expert Testimony.
A LARGE AUDIENCE AT THE SHOW.

tKpef lestlmony'
A LARGE AUDIENCE AT THE SHOW.
No intelligent American citizen can
read the report of what goes on day after
day in that courtroom at Washington
without feeling not only of disgust but
of humiliation. If the trial was one Of
merely local interest, its shameful mis-
management, though sufficiently exas-
perating, would be less deplorable and
important. Americans have the salts
faction of knowing that such proceed
ings as those daily reported are wholly
without any parallel or precedent. Our
own people know well enough that JUS
tice is not usually SO administered in
American courts of law They know
that the extraordinary latitude which is
allowed to this loathsome felon is alto
gether exceptional; that criminals on
trial in our courts are not usually per-
mitted, rs this unutterable miscreant is
being permitted, to violate all decency,
to outrage all order, to affront Chris
tian community with his ribald bias
phemies, to assail at his pleasure with
his foul and wicked tongue all those
whose misfortune it is to be brought
within the reach Of his attacks, and TO
spit his filth in the very face of Justice.
We are well aware that a Guiteau
anda Judge Cox are alike ntheir differ
ent ways phenomenal developments,
and we can take some consolation in
the thought. But the trial is one Of in
ternatiOnal Importance. Its course Is
being watched abroadscarcelyl less close
ly than il is at home. The London
Times, with more than its wanted enter
prise,!s printingall thei eirevolting and dis
creditable details, and its readers, or in
other words that portion of the British
public whose good opinion is most worth
having, are led to believe that the pro-
ceedings in this Guiteau trial afford a
fair example of how justice is admins
tered i'm the courts of this Republic.
The cnly proper place for prisoner
on trial is the dock, and why should an
exception be made in this creatures
favor" 1t is true that in the dock he
would be more exposed to the bullet Of
some wrong-headed avcngcr. That
would be so much the worse for him,
but il is no valid excuse for the continu-
ance of the present indulgence. Put
him in the dock, and if he persists in his
indecencie~, let him be fed on bread and
water and confined to the dark cell re-
served for refractory prisoners. There
are WAYS and means of maintaining or
der which Judge Cox can employ if he
sees fit, and which he cannot afford any
longer TO neglect.
WASHINGTON. December 27.-Thc court
was denscly packed to-day. Upon reach
ing his seat Guiteau looked around smil-
ingly and said: ! had a nice Christmas
dinner and hope everybody else did. had
lots OF fruit, flowers and lady visitors. and
a good time generally.
Doctor A. T.. Mcdonald, Superintendent
OF the Wards Island Insane Hospital, tes-
titled that during his practice he had six
thousand cases of insanity, and had given
specia! attention To- the study OF insanity.
Witness stated that the difference between
delusOnS and insane dclusions was that
ths, ,ags whf wId dfEbbie%Gs bi % Of G9EreGti9n by igdg:
an insane delusion. also illusions and hal
lucnatOns, giving illustrations from his
own experience. lie believed Judging
from experience
The Claim OF Inspiration.
frequently asserted Ivy insane persons, pro
Cecdcd from source of hallucination or
insane dcluson affecting the senses. The
witness was then asked if persons acting
under the claim of inspiration would indi-
cate it in any other way than by their as
scrtiunS, and the reply was: Their actions
and behavior would indicate it as well as
their assertions. To illustrate: If a per-
son claimed 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 no where to
lay his head, the witness was asked II such
person would feel any apprehension OF
bodily injury or would take any precau-
tions 10 guard against danger, he replied:
"InspiratiOn always OycrridcS all fear OF
bodii iy pain or injury, and renders the per
son who believes he is acting under inspi-
ration wholly oblyious 10 such cOnSidera-
tiOns."
The witness was asked il such persons
usually planned with deliberation. and re-
plicd ON the contrary, their acts are sud
den in both conception and execution, AZ .
rule, add they seldom attempt To avoid con-
sequences in any way
There are two kinds OF insanity doc
tor suggested the prisoner
THE Crank Insanity
and the Abraham insanity. The latter is
the school belong 10. Tell uS what you
think Of Abraham, doctor.
The witness described what is commonly
called temporary insanity, where man
commits al act which is the only evidence
Of his insanity. and where person IS to all
appearances perfectly sane in all other re-
spcCtS. both before and after the act.
Guitcau-That' just my case, exactly.
Witness--I don believe in such insanity,
and in all my experience have never seen
an instance Of IT,.
Colonel Corkhill-DoctOr. We had young
man here from Chicago, an Agpnistic, who
testified that one person in every hve was
insane What would you say 10 that.
Scnyile asked to have the question read
nv the reporter, and sharply rebuked the
District Attorney for his persistent at
tcmptS at injuring the character, and 20
cast slurs upon the witnesses for the de-
fensr. II do not care" he continued. ito
he continually ObjeCting tO such matters.
He NAV continue to do 30 if he chooses
We will wait till we get to the jury"
Conkhill-Wcll. then, suppose you wait.
Witness, in reply to question, said: In
the group Of which that young man makes
one the other four will be pretty safe.
Witness thought the person acting under
all inspiration to commit n certain art
would not be deferred from the commission
Of that act through any consideration oi
personal harm 10 other persons.
Guiteau-Oh, you are
Talking About Cranks-
Now don't belong 10 that school.
Witness visited the prisoner in his cell
at the Jail, remaining two hours and max
ing the usual mental exam nation in such
cases He talked over with the prisoner all
the main incidents OF his iife up 10 and in
cluding the shooting Of the President. The
prisoner always spoke Of the act as my
conception" and soon after ! conceived
| the removal Of the President. Witness asked;
why il the act was the Almighty's and
| he was simply the agent, and he was -
particular to practice his aim, and why ne
| did not trust details to the Almighty, and
| the prisoner hesitated, flushed little, and
| said: The Almighty often trusts details to
| His agents. The witness talked at consid.
| erable length with the prisoner in regard
to the crime and asked what plans or ei-
1 L. lad for ha futnra and his