New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-10
mnEYILLSH DEPRAEITY.o

Whatever doubts may have existed as to
the sanity of the assassin Guiteau at the
beginning of the trial-and il cannot be denied
that there were doubts in the minds of many
intelligent persons-must have been dispelled
by this time by the conduct of the prisoner
himself. What the most charitable judgment
was disposed to charge to the unhealthy opera
tons of a disordered intellect and unarranged
mind is now seen to be due, as the prosecut-
ing officer said on Thursday, not to insanity,
but to devilish depravity.' In saying this, we
do not wish to be understood as prejudg-
ing the case or assuming the functions of the
Jury and of course, rs the jury are precluded
from either reading newspaper common is
on the case or engaging in conversation re-
garding it, we have neither the desire nor the
expectation of influencing their verdict. In
case Of such great public interest, comment
upon the testimony, upon the chief features of
the trial and the effect of the evidence upon
the public outside the jury-bOx, falls within
the legitimate province of the press as the
chronicler of current history. This is a case
in which there was strong liability to hasty
and passionate judgment. All the circum-
stances of the crime cOnsDiTed to invest it
with uncommon horror. The civilized world stood
appalled, at it. Nor was there anything in the
character, antecedents, associations, motives or
purposes of the murderer to lend the color of
mitigation to his brutal and cOwardy crime.
1t was a state of facts that reused at once in
the minds of the great majority passionate
anger and thirst for vengeance. But it was a
state of facts, also, that from the very absence
of any extenuating feature induced in the
/ e 4. {, ,,,,,l,n o,lv =.
ate conviction that the crime must have been
the act of an insane and irresponsible person.
They could not conceive Of the possibility of
such devilish depravity as this man-granting
that he was sane and esponsible-exhibited
It so happened that the story of the assas-
sins life, the peculiar circumstances which
were said to have attended his birth, the Incl
dents of his vagabOnd career, his character
and habits, all tended to strengthen the theory
of an unbalanced mind though there was
nothing in any part of the whole of it to sus-
tain the theory of his irresponsbility. 1t may
be said that ut the beginning of the trial pub
lie opinion was divided upon the question of
his sanity, though the vast majority believed
him "sane enough to be hung" The few who
doubted his sanity, and, giving him the benefit
OF tne uOuDt, JuOu9nJ nc SuOulU DC imprisoned
for life as dangerous mailman, have had all
their doubts removed, as we believe, by the
conduct of the assassin in court, and his own
testimony on the stand So long as any cues
ton of his sanity remained we in sisted that
he should have the benefit of it, not only as
matter of abstract justice to the prisoner him.
self, but in order that the law might be vim
dicated, the dignity of free institutions MAIN
tanned, and the rule of righteousness over
passion asserted. lie has had and is having a
trial of the fairness of which certainly neither
he nor his friends can complain, whatever
may be said of it as a"decent and dignfed
judicial proceeding. All his rights as a citi-
zen, and more, have been extended to him,
and even his whims and fancies have been
humored TO an extent without parallel
in the history of criminal trials. After ample
time for preparation, assisted by counsel
whose skill and ability have been subjects of
frequent compliment in high quarters, and
aided by the Government in summoning wit
nesses and collecting testimony, he has laid
before the jury his whole defence upon the
ground of insanity. And the judgment OF the