The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-12-08
GuIteau's Trial.

WASuIKGTON, December O.-Gultcau was
| brought to the courthouse little later
than usual and the court was not opened
till II O'Clock. An immense crowd had
gathered on the sidewalk, and when
Guiteau alighted from the van
| he showed unusual trepidation
and begged the officers to take him around
| to the back entrance. He was assured that
his escort Wa ample for his safety, and
| with trent lg steps and cringing gait
quickly 81 ,-d through the angry crowd.
| Fear was duIcteu ON his sallow countenance
and it was several minutes after he reached
| his room before he resained his usual com
| posure. Ey.Speaker Randall appeared in
answer to Il subpoena, but was at loss to
| know why he had been summoned.
Immediate after the opening OF
court Scov g called t? the stand Doctor
question conId. be asked witness, Guiteau
desired to n, iress the court, and without
waiting for PERMISSION or dissent on the
part of the court, said in a quick, nervous
tone: II w..nt these expert witnesses to
pass on this point: Where a man is
compelled Ia 10 an unlawful act, by a power
which he cannot possibly control or
agency is dominated, is he to be consid-
cred sane or insane"
Judge Cox" We will have that question
discussed"
Witness said he was managing editor of
the Chicago Medical Review, and lee
turer on mental diseases at the
Chicago Medical School. He delivered his
first lecture last April. Witness replied to
hypothetical question predicated on the
trustworthiness Of evidence to which he had
listened that he had no doubt of the pris-
Oner's insanity.
Witness admitted that when man COM
mited crime while acting under the delu-
sion of Divine inspiration, and then con-
ducts s1a;na hi% Mond precisely do, it as would
oe presumptive evidence against his insan-
ity. Guiteau, who had been quietly but
intently following witness, here broke in
rather excitedly saying: Nothing of the
kind in this case"
Judge Davidge-"W we will see."
Guiteau-( Angrily)-'Y are going too
fast in this matter, we want facts not your
Judgment"
Witness-"Here understand one thing
right. The Lord injects inspiration and
lets the man use his own judgment
to work it, and that's just my case;
that's the way l got inspiration.
The Lord don't employ fools to do his
work. He gets the best material.
Davidge put still stronger hypothetical
case, using the term Like common, vul-
gar criminal"
Guiteau turned to Davidge with the air
of immense superiority and said There is
nothing vulgar about this case, and it is all
heightened" [Laughter,quickly suppressed
by the court.
Witness thought an insane man in carry
Il ing out inspiration would act accord
ing to the peculiarities Of his
manners and temperament, although
oSNf, 10
general character became changed.
the Washington Gazette, had
seen the prisoner at the Republican head
quarters in New York and he had
formed the opinion that he was
exceedingly lily balanced, cranky
egotist Witness was asked what he
thought Of prisoners: speech, Garfield and
Hancock" and replied that in his opinion
it was ridiculous, disjointed affair
Guiteau, who had smiled complacently
when the witness came upon the stand,
became very much incensed and shouted
out
"Well, it was not anything of the kind.
You don't know what you are talking
about. My speech received the endorse
ment of the best men in the country"
Witness resumed by saying the prisoner
seemed to be perfect nuisance about the
rooms, but was interrupted by Guiteau,
who stated,
"You were nuisance yourself. I'd rather
be hanged as man than acquitted as a
fool, and won't have any more of this kind
of evidence"
Witness added he was laughing stock so
far as he could see.
Guiteau became greatly enraged and
turning to Scoville shouted at you put
any more of these crank fellows on the
stand I'll scare you again. 1t was great
piece of impudence on your part to put
Judge Davis ON the stand without consult
ing me.