National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-12-24

was inspired by Jud to remove the President. The
nnsWcs Gilhc witness were cIoimedb by Mr: scoville
bs not being responses to the question. which was
repeated several times by the court reporter. The
witness did not assume that the supposed domi-
nation of the prisoners miud the result of in-
sane dclusou lie did not take It thpt the prisoner
had any communication from the Lord lie did
not believe that lac was honestly inspired.
Another ninsphCmous Allegation.
The Prisoncr-wns dishonesty insprcd2 /
either was inspired or was not As matter Of
iact' was inspired. The Lord knows II aud
kngw ~ and great many people In America are
Mir. scovillc-Do you believe at all In the Dieiy's
inspiring people 20 do acts mt the present dHy2
The Witncss-Not Of that character Applause
The Prisonct-That settles you, sir Better send
in your bill and go home.
Mr. scovllo again pressed his question MS to
whctcr the witness assumed that the prisoner
honestly believed he was inspired The witness
replied That ne had assumed that there was no
was under any Insane delusion.
The Prisoner Corkill said, when he came to
my cell that sunday, that IL was grand cOncop-
tul-N grand conception.
Mr. ScOviC-1ht question consists of two
paIts first, whether you believe that there was
any inspiration of the prisoner
The Witness No inspiration. as far as inspira-
tlun Is conccrucd-nu insane dyluson.
Mr.. Scoyillc-The second part Is whether you
assumed thGtthe prisoner had the honest idea that
The Witncss--I suppose that there was no in
Spiralion at all. do not take any stock In that
The Prisoncr-Better find out in the first place
whether tie Doctor believes in the existence Of the
Deity. ! do not think he does.
Az lhiN stage Of the cross. examination the court
took u recess for half Un hour Then the cross
examination was resumed.
Mr. ScoNlilc-lind you any reason 10 suppose, IN
your interviews with The prisoner nj the jail that
he was attempting to deceive you?
No Drcrption Praciiccd In jail.
The Withess-l ala not think he was. have
sometimes thought, however, that he exaggerated
al Nsatl h.Nr la
Mr., Scoville-Whnt natural tendencies?
The Witness-liis natural tendency to egotlsm,
irritnhiiity aud iugrattudc as manifested by his
remarks to you the day before yesterday.
Mr. sCnville then went into a minute cxamina.
ton OF the witness views on the subject of delu-
was weary, aud, ns MIR scovillc himself expressed
IT, went no further thnn TO admit that the killing
Of the President :" was under an Insane dcluson,
| 1.-THE dcuslon was insane"
The prisoner here expressed his desire TO put
| question: and asked "Can man be insane IN
The commission of an act aud sane before and after
| that aCtg'
The witness-No, sir; don't think so.
The Prisoner with dsguSD-Ihat is enough on
| you. You had better get your money and go home
| You were friend of mine when You came to my
! cell month ago, but have been hanging around
| for the Government waiting for your pay
| Mr.. Scovile-Do you believe once insane always
| insane?
The Witness-No. sir.
! Mr.. Scoville--Do you believe that q person Is
| ever cured of insanity?
The WitneSs-Ycs
Inc PHsontr-Do you believe in spiritologyY
Mr. Porter Ito wtness)-No.
The Prisoner (lmpcrtnenty)-I have n ri ght to
be heard, Mr.. Porter esq. am here as my own
counsel.
GuIicnu Not II Member orthc BAR.
Mr. rorlor-Thc prisoneris is under mistake. He
| Is not member OF the bar.
The Prisoner-That don't matter. can speak,
Mi, Scovillo-I suppose that It is not right to
Catech2C the witness rs 10 his spiritual belief
The PrisOmGr-iou are doing first rate this even
ing, MT Scoville; the best you have done yet. Mr..
| Porter says am not here as my own counsel.
Under the law of every State of the universe every
| man can prosecute or defend his own case. That
| Is sufficient answer to him. The Court has no dis
| crcion whatever in the matter. Under that law
| come here as my own counsel
DR.. Harry 7. Stearns was the next witness. Had
been pructiCng physician for twenty three yenrS;
| was superintendent of the Hartford Comm Re.
! treat for the Insane, and from eight hundred To
| made four examinations Of the prisoner in Jail In
regard TO his physical and mental condition.
Those examinations were ,mGde on November 90,
| ~, nnd 2S and on one day last week.
| The Prisoner-Allow Inc to sny here that you
came to me about month ago ms my friend, and
! told you very frankly all about my mentalogy,
splritology, and everything on that line. / sup.
| posed that Twas talking TO you rs my witness,
but i seems Corkhill has been too much foryou.
And want to say thGtI do not pretend that am
any more insane now than Davidge--1 want to
say Corkhil, for think he is clGnkCd. Laugh
or e ON nO the y "a e
| and for thirty days prior to that, | don't want
| any talk about my being insane now. l refer tu
| and shoot down the President of the United States,
| as did, surrounded by the Cabinet and personal
friends, when was liable to be torn to pieces the
| next moment?
The Deity Fathcred the Shooting.
I say the Deity inspired the act--that He forced
me to do IL; and say that the Deity has fathered
elusive evidence that the Deity is taking care OF
my case. / win walt until gel before the jury for
the rest Of my argument n The position Of the ex.
| of the condition of my mind on the ID OF July
| That Is what want To find out
The District Attorney TO the witness)-Go on
The Witness-I went to the prison in company
with Drs Earl, Calender, and one or two others
We examined the prisoner first in regard to the
shape Of the head, and we noticed the asymetry OF
the head; We examined his eyes, aud it was
noticed that there was difference in the size o
| the pupils, and that the iris responded more
quickly TO the effect of light In one eye than in the
other. We also noticed that there was slight de-
Walton in the axis of one ofthe eyes The face was
examined. The mouth was examined. The
tongue was examined in regard TO its condition
its cleanliness, and whether there was any trente
lousncss on the surface There was none discoy'
cred. II was noticed that there was II slight dc.
Election of the tongue, on the left side, but thai
is not an uncommon thing. The prisoner re-
moved his clothing and undertaking. w,
examined as to his heart. There wa,
sound in the beat of the heart. There was N,
disease noticed, The pulse was, on the first occR
sion, above the normal condition-eighty:ei :eigh
| seventy eight or eighty The prisoner explained
that he had not been well for the last three days
attributng his feverishness to change OF diet, II
connection with the Thanksgiving anniversary.
Guitcnu In Good Physical Condition.
The degree of senstiveness of the skin was ais,
examined, and we found that there was no differ
ence IN the sensitiyeneSs OF the skin. That EN-
braced all the examination in regard to his phys
cal condition. He said that Lis appetite wa
unusually good and had been always good; tina
he was in the habit Of sleeping well and regplarl.
"A a
in the habit OF sleeping well, and tha
the condition Of his stomach was good
tai condition, His memory seemed to be remark.
ably good in relation to all his histor!
and 70 the transactions of his life, AM
seemed to comprehend with the utmost reNdi
ness and quickness the meaning of all quees
mind at once He showed equal quickness of per
cepLion. He seemed to comprehend fully al
questions put TO him and their bearing in relation
We're remarkably quick, accurate, and ready
His language was remarkably good In certain
cases, and In the use of certain words, there was
slight defect in articulation but perhaps not NOR
so than is frequently the case with perfectly SCUM
persons.
The District Attorney-Did he In those inter
views say anything about his having committed
the murder under the inspiration of the Deity?
| the act under the belief that he was inspired b
God TO do It, he was entitled 10 an acquittnl If tn
jury believed thnt he believed he was inspired
could not take the statement of an individual I'm
der indictment for crime in itself and by itsclf, a
/. an evidence of insanity. From my observation
and examinations ] think tho prisoner is sane. j
the propositions laid down in the hypothetict
case put by the District Attorney see no evidcnc
OF insanity.
The cross examination was continued at grea
length, and was rather tedious. Mr. Scoyille pro
pounded some questions as to witness belief 1
irresistible impulses, when the prisoner bun
forth again: "Whcn you get into the domain {
spiritology you are in the dark, DOctors lo
can't tell what kind of spirit viii take posSeSsio
of mans mind and impel him TO an act, don
E uhnnt ~ antpppnautg The Nyhnl