Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-30
GUITEAUS TRIAL.

HIS bCANDALOUb CONDUCT CONIINUED-HE
MAKES NO CLAIM TO BEING INSANE NOW
DAMAGING EXPERT TEsTMoNY-TH PRISON
Err PLACED IN THE DOCK
Guiteau's behavior in court was rather
more scandalous than usual on Friday last.
As soon as the court opened he addressed q
few patronizing remarks to Mr.. Scoville and
then asked that "hs friend" Chas. H. Reed
of Chicago, be allowed to take part in his de-
fence. Mr.. Scoville explained his difficulty
in finding help and asked the court to allow
Mr.. Reed to become his associate counsel.
No objection was made and the request was
allowed. Reed is a criminal lawyer who was
summoned ~ witness for Guiteau.
After Reed was admitted TO the case and
Guiteau had introduced him to "the court,
the jury and the American people,, Col. Cork
hill was about to summon witness, when
Guiteau shouted "If can't get Justice here,
l expect an act Of God for my protection He
has taken away the wife Of one of the jurors
for which / am very sorry-and If neces-
sary He will take one of those jurors right
out of the box, to save my life in the interest
of truth and Justice" William A. Edwards
or Brooklyn testified that he was. a clerk in
Mr.. Shaw's law office and overheard the con-
versation in which Guiteau said he would
some day kill some big man, las Booth had
done" Dr. Spencer II. Talcott, medical su.
perintendent of the homeopathic insane asyl um
at Middletown, N. Y, testified to his belief
in the prisoners sanity. Glow much do you
expect to get for that opinion ?" shouted
Guiteau, 81 suppose you'll want $500, but
don't care snap for your expert testimony.
l don't care il you bring in 500 such witness
es." Judge Cox interrupted the harangue
and commanded the prisoner to keep quiet.
'All right, your honor. I'll be quiet now"
said Guiteau.
Mr.. Davidge-Your honor will please note
that the free agency" quoted by the prison
err operates all right now, as he can keep quiet
when he wants to.
Guiteau-I don't pretend to say that am
insane now any more than you are, but on
the I'd of July and for 80 days prior was in
sane. That's the issue.
Later in the day Guiteau again became an
cry at the testimony of an expert that he be-
lieved him sane on July I'd, and shouted out /:
81 want to say here that don't pretend that
l am any more insane at this minute than
Davidge is. ! wont say Corkhill, for think
he is cracked. But L rest my case right on
this claim That was insane on the I'd of
july when my inspiration and the state Of
my mind impeed me upon the President.
To make it very short, that's all there Is to it.
1 don't care what these experts say about my
sanity now that's got nothing to do with
it."
On Saturday DR.. Shaw of the Connecticut
insane asylum at Middletown added his testi-
mony to that of others to the effect that
Guteau was sane on the "a Of July. He had
examined him twice ut Jail and had seen him
on trial since November 90, and thought his
actions in the courtroom were purely ac-
cording TO his natural characteristics. " Guteau
was contumacious especially toward Judge
Porter for abiding to him once as 1.-THE Grim
inal," but at the close of the court wished
everybody happy Christmas. I'm happy,
aud hope every one else will be-" he said
Mrs. Scoville was placed on the stand and
identified letter of 1875 in which her father
expressed the opinion that Charles was crazy
and ought to be in an asylum. Mention was
made of a rambling talk which Mrs. Scoville
had had with United States Marshal Henry in
regard to the protection OF her husbands life
which, she claimed is being constantly
threatened by letter and otherwise She
thinks it Of importance to establish her broth
er's insanity in order ito show that we have
not reached the historical point in the down
fall of all republics when the people assassin
ate their rulers"
The adjournment of the court was from
Saturday to Tuesday. The only witness
called to the stand on Tuesday was DIR. A. H.
Macdonald superintendent Of the New York
has seen GOO0 cases of insanity. His testi-
mony was one of the greatest importance
and was exceedingly damaging to the defence.
DIR. Macdonald said that he did not believe in
the existence of moral insanity. This, he
said, was merely another name invented for
wickedness of craft. He did not hesitate to
pronounce the assassin sane and to say that
he has peen playing part in the courtroom.
The most important part of DIR. Macdonald's
- IL n -.
eau before the trial began This contained
some points never disclosed before. The
most sensational of these was that Guiteau
said he did not expect to spend his life in a
lunRtic asylum after being acquitted on the
ground Of insanity. He had been looking up
the law on that subject, and found that he
would have the right to demand examination
by commission. Then he would be pro-
nounced sane and be freed. This statement,
revealing unsupported depths Of depravity
and cunning in the assassin's plot made a
visible stir in the court room. Guiteau said
nothing at the time, but evidently felt its
damaging nature, and after the recess, he ad-
dressed the court the moment he had taken
his seat and denied DIR. Macdonalds state
ment.
On Wednesday the cross-examination of
DR.. Macdonald was concluded and DIR. Ran
dolph Barksdale of Virginia, and DIR. John II.
Calender, Of Tennessee, were called to the
witness-stand. Both of these physicians ex-
pressed the belief that Guiteau is sane now,
and was sane on July 9. After the usual re-
cess, Guiteau, who had been comparatively
quiet, became insulting to Judge Porter, and
precipitated a demand that the criminal
should be remanded to the. dock. After some
remarks by counsel Judge Cox ordered
Gditeau into the dock, first taking occasion to
explain that the reason why he was not plAc-
| ed there weeks ago, was that counsel for the
prosecution had agreed with him that prob
ably the ends of Justice would be best pro-
NOTED if he was permitted TO sit beside hig
counsel, and 10 interrupt whenever he pleas
ed. Their object was to give the experts and
| the jury every opportunity to Judge OF the
| mental and moral characteristics of the assas-
sin. Guiteau was utterly astonished when
the Judge ordered his removal in emphatic
terms. He turned Immediately pale with fear
and at once expressed his entire ability to
control himself at will by assuring the Judge
that if he would allow him to retain his posi-
ton at the counsel table he would refrain
| from all further interruptions. The Judge
shook his head and Guiteau was taken into
the dock, where he remained comparatively
| quiet, though he attempted some Interrupt
tons, and when the crier announced the ad-
journment he shouted out. "Oh, I'll get in
my work over here don't you worry about
| that"
On Thursday GuiteAu was as noisy as ever
in his place in the dock. The expert testi-
mony was continued.
FOREIGN.