Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-12-31
THE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.
Incidents of the Case and Testimony
Given.

Given.
Mr.. Scoville began business Wednes-
day morning by requesting the exclu-
sion of other experts while one of
their number is testifying. Objection
being made by Mr.. Davidge on tie
ground of both precedent and principle,
Judge Cox concurred in this view, and
Mr.. Seovilles request was denied. The
latter then resumed the cross-examina-
ton of the expert DR.. Hamilton, which
began Friday, striking at once into
metaphysics. Mr.. Scoville attempted to
draw from the witness a statement that
mans mental state is made known to
others only by his communications
Apparently, however, he lost the thread
of his argument before he had clearly
made his point, and he branched off to
the subject of inspiration without any
special result. He next inquired about
spiritual influences, and then took up
the subjects of physical impulse and
will, but no new light was thrown upon
them.
During the proceedings on Wednes-
day the assassin apparently realized his
growing danger of being hanged, and
threw the responsibility upon Mr.. SEQ
vile, whom he annoyed and Inundated
by his abuse. He called his counsel con-
summate idiot, said he had no sense and
no wit, asserted that he was compromls
ing the case, and ordered him to get out
Of it. He said: eff / were indicted of
manslaughter and Scovilie defended me,
l would be hanged for MURDER and 81
expect that the Almighty, notwithstand-
ing Scoville's asinine character, will see
that | am protected.
The first witness examined on Thurs
day was DR.. Theodore Diamond, of the
Auburn Insane Asylum. lie was asked
(having said that he had examined Gut
team in the Jail and observed him in the
COURT whether he considered
him sane or insane. ne said: 81 con-
slider him perfectly sane. The answer
is based upon a careful personal exami
nation OF the prisoner in the cell i'll the
jail, upon q careful personal observa-
ton of the prisoner in court and upon
his own evidence which heard" Upon
cross examination Dr. Diamond again
declared that he considered Guiteau
perfectly sane.
During the trial on Thursday, after
some discussion between counsel rela-
tive to striking out certain portions of
Dr. Damon's testimony, Col. Corkhill
was about to call a witness, when Gut
team broke out excitedly "There's
a vast amount Of rubbish getting into
this case that has nothing to do with
it. l want to know what all this
has got to do with the condition OF
my mind on the Cd of July? You can't
mans mind or Judge Cox's. How can
you tell what was in mine on the ID of
July? All this nonsense about wheth-
er I'm insane now, or was five years
ago, has nothing whatever to do with
this case"
Striking the table and becoming more
and more excited, he continued: eff I
can't get justice here, expect an act of
God for my protection. He has taken
away the wife of one of the iurors-for
which l am very sorry-and if necessary
he will take one of those juror right
ont of tie box to save my life in the in
terest of truth and justice"
Mr.. Reed, of Chicago, was installed
rs associate counsel for the prisoner,
though not without some grumbling by
District Attorney Corkhill, because
Reed, who was a. witness for the de-
Tense, has heretofore aided Mr.. SEQ
vile, without acting openly as one of
the counsel in the case. William A.
Edwards, formerly n clerk for Shaw,
the lawyer who testified that in 1872
Guiteau told him he would initiate
Wilkes Booth, said he overheard that
conversation, but it didn't make any
impression upon him at the time,
because Guiteau said so many queer
things. DR.. Talcott, Medical Super
intendent of the Homeopathic Asylum
| for the insane at Middletown,
who had examined the prisoner and
heard him testify, thought. even on
his own showing, he was sane. DIR.
| Stearns, Superintendent Of the Hart
| ford Retreat for the Insane, also thought
Guiteau was sane. The prisoner evil
IDENTIFY felt the force of the testimony
against him, and he insulted the wit
nesses, and INTERCEPTED remarks about his
free agency being destroyed on July 2.
He didn't claim to be insane now. He
wanted to know whether any sane man
would have shot the President, sur
rounded by his Cabinet and Personal
friends, as he did, when he was liable to
be torn TO pieces the next moment, In
his present state of mind he wouldn't
do it for million dollars.
On Saturday Guiteau was more than
usually savage. He abused the wit
nesses and interfered with the proceed
ings to such an extent that his counsel
threatened to leave the case, and Judge
Porter demanded that the prisoner be
placed in his proper place, the dock,
Finally Judge Cox threatened to put
Guiteau in the prisoners dock if he did
not deslst, and he kept more quiet.