The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-12-31
fact tina, Gultesu's free agency" operated all

"a of July and for 30 days prior was insane. "
The next witness was DR., Henry p. Stearns,
superintendent of the Hartford Retreat for the
Insane. From 800 to 1000 cases of insanity
had come under his supervision during the
eight years he has been connected with the he
treat. The witness had made four eXamlna
tons of the prisoner at the jail, directed TO his
physical and mental condition. He detailed
at great length the results OF ms examinations
and interviews with Gulteau, Pending the
court adjourned to Satur.
day.
On Saturday the somewhat sabdued demean.
or of the prisoner had entirely left him, appar-
entity under his new clam OF being entirely
sane now but that he had been insane on the
I'd of July and tor a month previous. To-day
he became so outrageous and abusive at times
that Judge Porter SAID he should be placed in
a regular prisoners dock
Dr. Stearns again took the stand and was
sexamined by Scoyille, who put the ques
ton "Do you agree with the last witness Cral-
cotD that insanity is always an outward mani
SAID he did substantially, only that there had
been cases where, on examination after death,
there had been no lesion of the brain detected.
The crosseXamination proceeded at some
length, with frequent objections on the part of
the prosecution, requiring the ruling of the
court. As the witness was about to retire, Gui.
teau said; ALLOW me to ask if you hold the
opinion that man can not be insane in spe-
cifc act without having disease of the brain
Scovile assented to the question, and wit.
ness replied: "lnsanity meant disease of the
brain
GuIteau asked another question, but Judge
Porter suggested to the witness that he hold
no colloquy with the criminal.
Guteau (angrily)-l'm no criminal any
more than you are. I'm here as my own coun-
sci, and have as much right to speak as You
have Wait until | am convicted before you
call me a criminal. | stand d great deal bet
ter outside than you do Plenty ofpeople will
gay I'm bigger man than old Porter"
Col. Corkhlll suggested that, il this abuse is
permitted, the prosecution would insist that
the prisoner be removed to the dock.
Judge CoX-The court has already consider,
ed the advisabihty of such course.
Guteau-The court has no discretion IN the
matter. | appear here as my own counsel, IN
accordance with law and usage IN every state
in the country.
The incident was evidently not without its
effect upon the prisoner, who seems to realize,
now that he boldly asserts he is perfectly sane,
| that he will he held amenable to the sane rules
of behavo: as other sane people.
Dr. James b. Strong of Cleveland was next
called, who testified to visiting Guiteau IN Jail
and was about to state the result of his eXami.
nation, when Guiteau looked up and said
Doctor, let me cut this short by saying that
| I'm in good physical condition, and as sane as
you are There is a great deal of useless rub
bsh being dragged into tins case. Let's cut
| 1t short"
| Judge Porter again rose and demanded that
the court should put a stop to these INTERRUPT
tons The judge said he did not desire to act
hastily but if the prisoner again transgressed
| he should punish Tor contempt.
| Gulteau-Very well, your honor, am with,
in the discretion of the court but do not APP
pear here as an ordinary criminal, and your
honor recognizes it. l appear as my own
counsel, and have so acted for the past six
weeks.
Col. Reed then proposed hypothetical case
| for the defense. and asked if the witness could
give an opinion. Witness evaded direct an
reply. 4 sharp colloquy ensued between Por-
ter and Reed with side remarks by Guiteau,
such as, Porter you've got a mouth like an
old catfish" and shortly afterward, Porter
you'll bring up In lunatc asylum yet"
Judge Cox ruled that counsel for defense
could request a categorical answer, and the
question was again and again put, but each
time the witness insisted upon qualifications
which evaded "a direct answer.
4 Gutcau sneerngly remarked: you are the
stupldest fellow we've had yet"
Mr. Reed finally said: "Well, If you can moi
answer the question you may step aside"
! Guteau shouted after the witness: Nov &C
and &c, your $500 and go home"
Il The mex. witness, DR.. Abram NJ. Shew, su
perntendent Of the Connecticut Hospital fol-
the Insane, testified that he had made two ex
Examinations OF the prisoner at the Jail for the
purpose of discovering his mental and physi
cal condition, and had noticed the conduct o.
the prisoner in the courtroom since Nov. 20
and had formed an opinion that the prisoner
Is sane.
DR. Orphcus Evarts, superintendent OF thu
, private asylum at College Hill, Ohio, was mex
called, and testified to having examined thu
prisoner IN Jail with substantially the same re
; suits a. the previous witness-Guiteau fire.
:. nncnily Undermining the witness, as he did th