Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-09
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

LATER.-It is now estimated that the loss ! of life is upward of five hundred.
 THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. l Knocking Down Guiteau's Insanity Plea Strong Testimony in Favor of His Sanity-FIis Relatives Going Back on Him-Prestdent Arthur's Answer to SeoviIle's Queries.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-The proceedings of
 the past few days have had perceptible eff feet and are showing in the court room. In
 the talk among lawyers, reporters and the regular attendants one finds distinctly un- favorable turn for the defense, and the pris- oner himself seems to feel it. The rebutting 1 testimony brought in yesterday by the prose- cution was very strong. A succession of solid business men of Freeport gave evidence as to the ability, intelligence and sanity of Luther Guiteau and of the family in general, and MT. Scoville's efforts to break down the \ force of this testimony were of small avail The turn in the tide, if so it may be called, ! has given new interest to the case, and I there is greater eagerness than ever to hear the expert testimony to be introduced by the government This morning every foot of space in the court room was taken, long be- fore 10 o'clock, by throng of most intelli- gent-lookng people.
 | The first witness in rebuttal was Mrs Julia M. Wilson, of Leadville, Col, niece of I Luther W. Guiteau. She recollected her uncle, Julius Guiteau, and that he died of consumption. She said: ':My mother was lovely Christian woman, small of stature, and inherited tendency to pulmonary dis ease she died of pneumonia in 1856 she nov ifa1o onU of oI 1n rangement." In regard to the testimony of MT. Davis, for the defence that her mother exhibited symptoms of insanity, she said she never heard her mother say the cratic things ascribed to her. The witness sister Abby was in her right mind until ten years old, when she fell under the influence of mesmer ism practitioner of this art would put her into 8 cataleptic state, and others could con trol her will very easily; her parents for bade the exercise of this power upon her afterward the vigor and integrity of her mind seemed somewhat impaired. Witness did not know this man Davis In regard to her mother, again, witness described herself as having been her mothers confidante and nurse Witness failed to corroborate the testimony of MT. Turner for the defence in re- gard to the insanity of her aunt, Mrs. Parker. She spoke of her sister Abby as ''weak-mind- ! ed or not very bright, perhaps, her trouble increasing with advancing years, so that at ! last she was placed in the insane asylum at Kalamazoo, and afterward at Pontiac, Mich, where she now is. Witness visited her there two years ago and found her as one having ! childs mind in an old body, and gave illus trations of her innocent and pathetic child ishness. Witness bore testimony to the san- ' ity of various members of the .Guiteau fam | fly with whom she had been acquainted, harmoniZing with the statements made by Freeport citizens yesterday. She did not re- ' member the mental peculiarities of Grandma ! Guiteau: In regard to her sister Abby again witness said she had stopped her on ! the street by simply raising her finger when | half block distant, and her father could do ! the same the bent of Abby's mind was toward matrimony instead of religion. John Guiteau, brother of the prisoner, de- string that statements in regard to the mental affection of his uncle, MT. Maynard, should ! be stricken out, both MT. Scoville and his client protested against his interference, and the latter violently repudiated him.
 George c. Maynard, cousin of Mrs. Wilson,
 who was daughter of Guiteau's fathers brother, was next called. He testified | in 8 line with the other witnesses for the re- buttal in regard to the characteristics of the ! Guiteau family.
 One of the jurors being indisposed the l court then took a recess for an hour.
 The afternoon session opened by calling Mr. Frank Bartlett. The prisoner interrupted to charge Mr. ! Corkhil with wasting s2OO of the governments
 money in bringing on this witness Witnesst estied
 that he met the prisoner at Scovies country seat in 1878, where, in company with the prisoner and | others, he amused himseH with tub on the lake
 The prisoner took his dueling in good Iart when 1t
 conduct that indicated insanity. Guiteau here ed: ''Thats got nothing to do with what occurred last May and June. might have gone crazy dozen ! times since he saw me"
 regard to incidents the same place. She related
 the dog story referred to in MT. Burrows testimony
 She related incident about boating connection
 with the prisoner, and card party in which he words conduct that indicated insanity.
 Howard c. Durham, of Boston, called. stThis prisoner. "He thought I was badly eranked about
 my book. He looked upon it as literary curiosity"
 Boston stating that he would abandon theology and get out cards announcing himself counsellor and
 h@ not Hr seo1s o5eeed fsla
 denee being introduced at this stage the sanity testimony should have been introduced in chief. The co1rt-eI overrule the objection. It is not
 vi1e-ssThen I would ike sane an exception entered
 against testimony offered on the part of the pros
 er." Witness did not regard the prisoner insane.
 and he did not like ny theology. Besides I had no money then and he did not like my style" (Laugh-
 ton with John W Guiteau, who remarked that there ! was well authenticated of insanity in the
 has % Pes that Reua be
 disgrsee to the & auisea1 family to proye that any member John duiteau saying he would rather see ! the prisoner hung than have insanity proved. The prisoner-"Twe of my cousins In lunatic asy- ! luna, and probably will be in one soon." tLaugh- terl.
 | CorkhilI presented communication from President
 Arthur in to the nterrogations of the defense ! The document was not read but submitted to Mr. Scovi1Ie for examination.
 ! John Farmer, of Saratoga Springs, was the next
 witness. Before he questioned the prisoner said
 q this man $1o for board. It cost the govern
 ment $100 to bring him here. might have admitted
 this fact and spared this to the naton Wit
 ness related the difficulty he had in collecting his ' board Dill from the prisoner.
 | Meantime Guiteau had read President Arthur's an
 swer to Mir. ScovTe's questions and declared in ar I emphatic manner that they should be published \ at once. The document was then read by ! MT. Scovfl1e. The first question was
 sDo you know the prisoner in this President \ him ten or probably twenty times around the Repub
 Hcan headquarters in the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New
 York. but had had no conversation with him except ! in returning the ordinary sslutations of the day
 What political service did the prisoner render the
 Republican party during the last campaign T" the ! next interrogation "None that I know of,n the
 President wrote in response, sand don't know that
 there anything in his relations to myse Genera
 Grant or Senator Conkng that would entitle him to
 believe would assist in his political preferment. l The prisoner-"That is matter of opinion" The
 President added by way of postscript that he had
 ceived letter from the prisoner asking for the post ponement of his trial in order to allow him to pre-
 pare for his defense
 l church. in New York, then called. He testified
 that the prisoner brought letters of dismission to hin
 l from Chicago church. Guiteau complained of pow
 erty resulting from the Chicago fire and the witness heart went out towards him and he loaned him $95
 There was nothing in the prisoners manner to indi
 cate insanity. Guiteau became very excited durint
 the testimony, and while admitting that he borrowe(
 \ the money correcteG witness as to the manner