The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-12-30

Insane Asylum, M1ddletOwn, N. i
He had treated about 1000 cases of insanity
Several of his patients had attempted homi-
eide. 81 have seen some cases where patients
had attempted murder under the insane delu-
sion that they were inspired by the Lord. TIE
were great excltability, and they
have spoken of their intentions before attempt
ing their murderous work. l have never known
a case where patient claimed insanity as al
excuse for crime. Upon the assumption tina
the prisoner was telling the truth SO far as hi
knew with regard to the actual transaction
and upon the assumption that the
record of his life emGcded the mali
facts of his life, should be of opinion that OF
the I'd of July, when he shot the President, tn,
prisoner was sane"
There was demonstration of applause here
which was speedily suppressed by the coul eli
GERS.
Witness said he had heard the Hypothetical
case read, and, assuming the proposltlons true
he had no hesitation in saying the prisoner wa
sane.
Scoville cross examined witness, and asked
F." Do you believe in the Deity's inspiring peopl
to do things at the present day ?"
mot of that character" came the rromp
reply, followed by an outburst of applause. !
Witness did not believe the prisoners CLAIM
of inspiration to be an insane d fusion. 6.
inspired"
He said he thought Guiteau in court at
tempted to exaggerate his natural tendencies
egotism and irritability, for the purpose O
producing an impression OF insanity that i
was possible for man to commIt murder wnel
honestly feeling inpelled by power he was un
able to resist, and when the act was against his
natural feeling, and that such act did not prov
insanity, so far as the brain was concerned
lnstanting the case Of Abraham and Isaac anC
the people Of the Ganges.
DR.. Henry p. Stearns, Superintendent of th
Hartford Retreat for the Insane, was the mex,
witness; from 500 to LOCO cases of INSANITY
had come under his supervision during tue
eight years he has been connected with the
Retreat. The witness had made four examint-
tons of the prisoner at the jail, directed to his
physical and mental condition.
Gmteau interrupted, saying: "IOu came to
me, doctor, as friend, and |, supposing you
were going to testify for the de ense, talked
very freely with you about my relig Gus feelings
and ali about myself, but Corkhills money was
too much for you. 1 want to say here
that 1 don't pretend that l am any
Is II won't say CorkhlIl - for
think he is cracked [laughtel], but rest my
case right on this claim-that l was insane or
the I'd OF July, when my inspiration and the
state of my mind impelled me upon the Presi-
dent. To make it short, that is all there l.
about it. don't care what these experts say
about my sanity now; that's got nothing to do
with it."
The witness detailed at great length the re-
suits OF his examinations and interviews with
Guiteau. Pending the cross-examlnation the
court adjourned.
THIRTY FIRST DAY.
fiJ1IfpaII'S kbo
lngS were more outrageous, if possible, than al
any previous time since the beginning
Of the trial. He insulted witnesses de.
fed the court, and abused the law,
yers for the prosecution without stint,
When at length the Judge admonished him
That II these performances were continued be
should feel Obliged to contfe him IN tho doUf,
the assassin promised to behave himself, and
he did restrain himself to some extent. The
witnesses were all doctors, and their tes-
timony went to show that the prisoner
was legally sane. DR.. Stearns of the Hartford
asylum, DR.. Janip Strong of the Cleveland in
Stitution, and DR.. Thew, of Middletown, CT,
united in declaring that their investigations
had led them to believe the prisoner sane. DIR.
Thew was considered the best witness of all
the experts thus far called by the prosecution.
Turning from the prisoner and lawyers,
ne faced the jury and explained his
views with singular clearness and force. When
Strong, OF Cleveland, who hadvisited the Jail
and investigated the mental and bodily cond-
ton of the prisoner, was about to state the re-
suit OF his examination, Guiteau looked up and
said: doctor let me cut this short by saving
that I'm in good physical condition, and as sane
as you are" Guiteau's actions in court Satur-
day were outrageous.
THIRTY SECOND DAY.
The assassin opened court with the announce
ment that he chad a nice Christmas dinner,
with lots of fruits, flowers and lady visitors,
and a good time generally"
DR.. A. E. Mcdonald, Superintendent OF
Wards Island Insane Hospital, testified that
during his practice he had attended 5000 cases
Of insanity, and given special attention to the
study of insanity. Witness stated the difference
between decisions and "insane decisions "
the one being subject of correction by Judgment
and the senses, and the latter not being cor
rectible, and for that reason denominated an
insane delusion-aso illusions and hallucina-
tons, giving illustrations from his own expe-
rience. He believed, judging from experience,
that the claim OF inspiration frequently
asserted by insane persons proceeded from q
source of halluclnation or insane deluslon, an
affection of the senses.
Witness was then asked if persons action,
under claim of inspiration" would indicate
it III any other way than by their assertions,
and replied "Their actions and behavior
would indicate it, as well as their asser tlons.
To illustrate it. person claiming to be Jesus
Christ and acting under an inspiration, clothed
himself like the Savior, gave away his property
and slept out of doors, because the Savior had
not where to lay his head"
Witness was asked if such persons would
feel any apprehension of bodily injury, OF
would take any precaution to guard against
danger. He replied F." Inspiration always over
rides all fear, bodily pain or injury, and rem
ders the person who believes he Is acting under
wholly obliyious to such consldera-
tons"
planned with dehberation, and replied: son
the contrary, their acts are sudden IN both CON
ceptlon and execution, as rule, and they sell
dom attempt to avoid consequences III any
way"
"There are two kinds of insanity, doctor, u
suggested the prisoner, ''the crank insanity and
the Abraham insanity. The latter is the school
l belong to. Tell us what you think Of Abra-
ham, doctorY
Witness described what is commonly called
temporary insanity, as where a man commits an
act which is the only evidence of his INSANITY,
and where person is to all appearances per-
fectly sane in all other respects, both before
and after the act.
Guiteau-" That's just my case exactly"
Witness 81 do not believe i'll such INSANITY,
and IN all my experience have never sem all III
stance of it.
Witness thought a person acting under an
inspiration to commit a certain deed would lot
be deferred from the commission Of that act
through any consideration OF personal harm to
other persons.
Guiteau-"Oh, you are talking about cranks.
Now, don't belong to that school"
Witness visited the prisoner in his cell at the
JAIL remaining two hours, and making the
usual mental examination in such cases He
believed, from his examination and obserya-
ton of the prisoner in court, that he is a TER
fectly sane man.
Guiteau, who had kept unusually quiet all
through the morning, here addressed witness
(speaklng without any show of excitement) :
3" You are making a great ado about nothing.
Doctor. don't pretend that am insane now.
Tell us what yoI know about Abraham. Get
your money and go home.
Witness, continuing, closely analyzed the
conduct and remarks of the prisoner during
the trial, and concluded that he had aeen play
ing part ever since the first day. At the out
set the prisoner, he said, had directed all his
abuse against one of the counsel, and after
ward against all of them.
Guiteau-s' Well, you see, Doctor, Corkhill
has corrupted the rest of them Evil comnu-
nications, you know, corrupt good manners"
The assassin, looking over to the jury, con-
tinued: "These experts are doing thus bust
ness with good deal of parrot-like talk. DIR.
Mcdonald has deviated somewhat from the
course pursued by the rest OF them. l deem il
but justice to myself to say ihat did not say
to hum that had examined the law in regard
to this Natter
Mr.. Reed conducted a lone ernss-erarnina.