Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-28
GENERAL News.
LAST NIGHTS DISPATCHES TO THE RECORD
UNION.
THE TRIAL AT WASHINGTON.
Continued Interruptions of Guiteau in
the Proceedings.
A CATASTROPHE IN VIRGINIA.
Nineteen Lives Lost by the Burning of
Steamer.
A FIRE WIPES OUT A wIscoNsI VILLAGE.
Connection Between the Southern Overland
Railroads Completed.
MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN NEWS ITEMS.
Russian Scientific Expedition to the Mouth
Of Lena River.
Observation-Disclosures Etc Etc
DOMESTIC.

Etc...................E Etc ..................E Etc
DOMESTIC.
The Trial OF Guiteau Resumed.
WASHINGTON, December 27sh.-The Court
was densely packed to-day.
Upon reaching his seat, Guiteau looked
around smilingly and said: 81 had Christ
mas dinner, and hope that every body else did
had lots Of fruits, flowers and lady visitors
and good time generally"
Wards Island Insane Hospital, testified thai
during his practice he had 6, 600 cases of in.
sanity; had given special attention to the
study of insanity. Witness stated the diff.
ference between "delusions" and "insane
delusions," one being subject of correction by
the judgment and the senses (; the latter not
being correctable, and for that reason de.
nominated an insane delusion. He also de.
fined delusions and hallucinatioLs, giving
illustrations from his own experience He
believed, judging from experience, that the
claim Of inspiration frequently asserted by
insane persons proceeded from a source Of
hallucination. or insane delusion, affecting
the senses. The witness was then asked il
persons acting under the claim OF inspiration
would indicate it, under any other ways than
by their assertions, and replied: ''Their
actions and behavior would indicate it as well
as their assertions. To illustrate it, person
claiming to be Jesus Christ, and acting unde,
an inspiration, clothed himself like the
Saviour, gave away bis property and slept
out of doors, because the Saviour had mol
where to lay his head"
Witness was asked if such persons would
feel any apprehension of bodily injury, or
would take any precautions to guard against
danger?
He replied, Inspiration always is fear.
less"
There are two kinds of insanity, doctor, u
suggested the prisoner; "the crank ips anity
and the Abraham insanity. The latter is the
school / belong to. Tell us what you think
of Abraham, doctor"
Witness described what was commonly
called temporary insanity, where man com
mitted an act which is the only evidence of
insanity, ami where the person is in appear
ance perfectly sane, in all respects, both be-
fore and after the act.
Guiteau-Thats just my case exactly.
Witness-I do not believe in such insanity.
and in all my experience / have never seen
an instance of it.
Corkhil-Doctor, we had young man
here from Chicago. an agnostic, who testified
that one person in every five is insane.
What would you say to that
Scoville asked to have the question read
by the reporter, and sharply rebuked the
District Attorney for his persistent attempts
to injure the character and cast slurs upon
the witnesses for the defense. - do not
care" he continued, to be continually OBJ.
jecting to such matters. He may continue &c
do SO ii he chooses. We will wait till we gel
to the Jury"
Corkhill-Well, then, suppose you wait
The witness, in reply to the question, said
sin the group of which that young man
makes one, the other four will be pretty
safe"
The witness thought person acting under
the inspiration to commit certain deeds would
not be deferred from the commission of that
act through any consideration of personal
harm to another.
Witness was asked if such persons usually
planned with deliberatiop, and replied son
the contrary, their acts are sudden in both
conception and execution, as rule, and they
seldom attempt to avoid the consequences
in any way"
Guiteau-Oh! you are talking about
cranks, now. 1 don't belong to that school.
Witness then proceeded at some length to
give reasons for his opinion, using the express
sion, Il have frequently noticed that his
most violent interruptions have been made
when the weight of evidence has been against
him."
Counsel for the defense objected, that wit
ness was usurpiug the functions of the jury,
who alone conld pass upon the fact that the
evidence was for or against the prisoner.
The Court overruied the objection, and an
exception was noted by the defense.
Guiteau, who had kept unusually quiet all
through the morning, here addressed the
witness ('peaking without a show Of excite
ment): : You are making a great ado about
nothing, doctor. don't pretend that am
insane now. Tell us what you know about
Abraham, set your money and go home.'
Witness, continuing, Closely analysed the
conduct and remarks of the prisoner during
the trial, and concluded that he had been
playing part ever since the fist day. AT
the outset the prisoner, he said, had directed
all Of Lis abuse against o-e Of the counsel.
Afterwards against all of them.
Guiteau-Well, you see, doctor. Corkhill
has corrupted the rest of them. Evil CON-
ners.
The first hypothetical question of the
prosecution was read, and objection made by
the defense TO the clause "assume that he
raised an ak to his sister, which act the
prisoner himself denies," on the ground that
the witness could not be asked to pass upon
hypothetical question containing two propc-
sitions diametrically opposite.
After argument, the Court sustaining the
objection, the prosecution modified their
question, aud in the modified form it was put
to the witness. He replied :" believe the
prisoner to have been sane"
The objection to the question and the reply
was noted by the defense.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
After recess, DIR. Mcdonald again took
the stand.
Guiteau, who had just taken his seat,
looked over 10 the jury and said: "These
experts are doing this business with good
deal of parrot-like talk. DIR. Mcdonald hiss
deviated son. .ewhat from the course pursued
by the rest of them. deem it bat justice to
myself to say that l did not say TO him l had
examined the law in relation to this matter. u
Reed proposed series of hypothetical
questions based upon the acts and conduct of
the prisoner, to show that they would not be
consistent with the theory of insanity.
Witness admitted that insane persons were
more liable to bs judged sane than sane per.
Sons to be adjudged insane.
Scoville questioned witness relative to the
symptoms ard causes OF insanity.
Witness stated that insanity was the result
of a diseased brain, and was asked, Are you
not confounding cause and effect? And can
not an unusual excitation of emotions or
excessive worry and care and anxiety over
turn reason, and cause disease of the brain ?"
The witness admitted that such might be
the case, with some qualifications that
overwork, care and anxiety might produce
dyspepsia, which with other causes might
lead to insanity, and that would make neces.
sary disease of the brain, ana disease Of the
brain would at length turn into insanity.
Question--Well. now, is it not fact that
you learn that brain is diseased from evil
depce of the unsoundness of the mind?
Answer-From that and from physical
indications also.
Adjourned.
Guiseau's Christmas Greeting to the Amer.
lean People.
WASHINGTON. December 27th-Following
is document prepared by Guiteau Monday,
and furnished for publication to night:
CHRISTMAS GREETING. 1881. By CHARLES
GUIfEAU.
To-day Is Christmas. and greet the American
people with merry Christmas. Inst Christmas