The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-12-08

himself entIfely~ 10 his private ailal;5. Hc
l9mor of lis going as Minister to England
has no foundation whatever.
witness to Cuiteau's Insanity.
WAsulxaToN, November 2S.-The GRIM
ipal court room was densely crowded this
morning by tea o'clock. Mrs. Seoville
resumed her testimony. She described
Gutcau's actions during his visit to her
in 1873 and said she was then convinced
that he was insane and should be put in
Qn asylum. Frequent objections were
raised by counsel for the prosecution to
the character Of the questions propounded
bv Scovile, and Il continuous discussion
eneued between the counsel upon the ad-
mission Of certain evidence, and at times
some irritability was manifested.
The cr0ss-examination was postponed to
allow George .. Burroughs, Of Chicago
to testify, as he desired to leave to-day
This witness boarded with ScoVille at the
time of Guiteau's visit in 1878, and made
up his mind that the prisoner was either a
fool or crazy. He was satisfied that Gui-
teau WAS unsettled in his intellect.
There was q brief interval before the
next witness appeared, and Guiteau took
advantage Of the opportunity, ana.Droke
out with, u desire to tell these sanEy
newspaper .n2en that Eappaar her, az ny
own counsel. Thatig my ansWert0 @tl the
silly stuff they have been delivering Them
selves Of for some days past. some Of
these newspaper men have gone crazy. /
appear here III part as my own counsel. as
have q right to under the law and the
constitution Of America"
C. S. Joselyn, of Oneida, thought Gui-
teau's marked Characteristic was intense
egotism.
John w. Guiteau, brother Of the prison.
er. was next examined. He had not been
on good terms with his brother for some
years, but had no doubt Of his sanity, un-
til he received some letters from him il
October. Since he had come on here and
had seen his brother in the court room ana
at the jail, he had become satisfied that ne
was insane. On being cross-examined,
the witness admitted that before he bad
come to Washington he had always, in
talking Of the case, said he believed his
brother was responsible, but not sane; re-
Sponsibie, because he thought that at some(1
period Of his life the prisoner had Volun-
tariy surrendered himself to evil practices,
rather than good Gniteau WINGED underI
these statements, evidently fearing that
his brothers. candor would iniure his case,
and with considerable bitterness, he said
"MY brother and have not been on good
terms for fifteen years. He always SYM
pathized with my father in that Oneida
business. while Seoyille and my sister sym
pathized with me. The last time saw my
brother in Boston we had some angry |
words; so he does not come here to testify
for me with the ordinary force that a
brother usually does come with, but | am
gi4d to find he has changed his views, I
however, inmy case. want the public to
understand this"
Guiteau continued to interrupt, explain /
and correct the witness. Once Judge.D DaF-
idge attempted to-stop linn, but he waved T
his hand imperiously, saving: "1ou keep
quiet, Judge, if you please" Shortly al
ter, the witness was asked, in connection
with an incident he had related, if at that
time he thought the prisoner insane, Gui-
teau quickly anticipated his reply by say
ing; "Why, of course! He has always
thought / was badly cracked" The wit
ness said he had never detected the slight
esttraces Of insanity il bis father
After recess the witness was questioned L
at some length Is to the Guiteau Family,
and Instances Of alleged insanity 10 his
family lie did not know Of the insanity
In lis aunt and two uncles except by re-
port. On being asked by Scoyille to eS-
plain what lie meant by saying his brother
was morally responsible and that ne was.
under influence of the devil, the witness
explained the peculiar belief Of his brother
as to the counter influences Of Christ and
the devil which were being exercised upon
mankind, and that one OF the other always
gained the ascendaney. He agreed with
his father and believed that at some time
his brother had, through his intense ego
tIsn and Willfulness surrendered himself
70 the influences Of the devil, and that,
pelng a free moral agent. he was morafl II
responsible TO God for his crime. Ihat
vas his understanding of the responsible
ny IN the case.