Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1881-12-28
TRIAL OF rae ASSASSIN.
Guiteau Says He Had . Good Time
Generally on Chrlstmas--He Don't
Pretend TO be Insane Now.

Guiteau Bays ne hao . 60o0 Time
Generally on Chrlstmas--He Don't
Pretend to be Insane Now.
WASHINGTON. December 81 Ths
courtroom was denssly packed THU
morning. Upon reaching his seat th'
prisoner locked around. smilingly. and
said: ~ had q nice Christmas dinner,
and hope everybody else did. I had lott
Of fruit. flowers and lady visitors. and
good time generally"
DR.. A. E. Mcdonald, Supsrintsnden'
OF Wards Island Insane Hospital. testi'
fed that during his practice he had COCO
cases Of insanity. he had given special
attention TO the study Of insanity. Wit
ness stated the difference between de-
lusions" and "insane d~elusions," one
being subject to correction BY judgment
and tho senses, the latter not being cor
rectabls. aud for that reason Is dsnon'
mated an insane dslusiop. he believed,
judging from his experience, that's claim
to inspiration was frequently asserted
by insane persons. proceeding from the
source Of Authorization or insane delu-
sion affecting the senses.
Witness was then asked II Q persons
actions under the claim Of inspiration
would indicate II in any other way than
by their assertions, and replied: ''Their
actions and behavior would indicate II
az we'll as their assertions. To illus
trate-a person claiming to DO Jesus
Christ, and acting under that inspira.
ton, would cloths himself like the
Saviour, give away his property and
sleep out OF doors, because the Saviour
had not where to lay his head"
Witness was asked II such persons
would feel any apprehension OF bodily
injury or would take any precautions to
guard against danger. He replied: IAN
Inspiration always ovsrridss all fear OF
bodily pain or injury. and renders the
person who believes he is acting under
an inspiration wholly oblivious to such
considerations"
Witness was asked II such persons
usually planned with celebration, and
replied: ION the contrary, their acts
are sudden In beth conception and exc
cution, % o rule. and they seldom At
tempt TO avoid the consequences In any
way" Witness described what ID COM
monty called temporary insanity-as
where q man commits an act which IL
the emily evidence OF bis insanity. and
where q person Is In appearance per.
fectly sane in all respects both before
and after the act.
Guitsau-Thst's just my case exactly.
Witness Il do not believe in such In
sanity, and in oil my expsrisnce have
never seen an instance Of 1t.
Corkhill-Doctor. We had Q young
man here from Chicago. or Aguostic,
who testified that one person In every
Eve was insane. What do you say to
that2
Scoville asked to have the question
read by the reporter. and sharply re-
buked the District Attorney for his per-
sistsnt attempts to injure the character
and cast slurs upon tho witness for the
defense. 81 do not care" he said, etc
be continually objscting to such matters,
and he may continue to do 90 II he
chooses. We will wait till we get to the
jury"
Corkhill - Well. then suppose you
wait.
witness, In reply to the question,
said: '.Iu the group OF which tina
Young man makes n the other iou'
will be pretty SAFE" Witness thought {
person acting under an inspiration tt
commit q certain deed would not be do
tered from the commission OF that acI
through any consideration OF persona
harm to another.
Witness then proceeded ct some length
to give reasons for his opinion. usini
the expression: ~ have frequently no
tio.d that his most violent interruptions
have been made when the weight OF evil
dence has been against him."
Counsel for defense objected to Wit
ness usurping the functions OF the jury
who alone could pass upon the fact tina
the evidence was for or against the pris
oner.
The Court overruled the objection
and an exception wal noted BY defense
Guitsau, who had kept unusually quis
all through the morning, here addressed
witness, speaking With q show OF excite
ment: "You are making q great ado
about nothing, Doctor. don't pretent
am insane. Now tell Us what yor
know about Abraham. get your money
and 60 home"
Witness continued. He had closely
analysed the conduct and remarks o.
the prisoner during the trial; and copclu
ded he had been playing o part svel
since the frst day. At the outset. thu
prisoner, hs said, had directed oil hi
abuse against one Of the counsel, and af
terward against oil Of them.
Guiteau-Well. you see. doctor. Cork
hill has corrupted the rest OF them. Evil
communications, you know, corrupt soot
manners.
The first Hypothetical question OF tht
prosecution was read and objection wal
made by the defense TO the clause, "As
sumo that hs raised IN AZ to his sister,
which got the prisoner himself Denies
on the ground that witness could not b.
asked to pass upon Q hypothetical ques'
ton containing two propositions dia'
mstrieally opposite.
After argument, the Court sustaining
the objection. the prosecution modified
the question. and In q modified form Il
was put to the witness. He replied: ~
believe the prisoner to have been sane
Objection TO the question and reply
was noted by the defense.
Witness said he visited Guitssu In
prison and examined him on the main
insidsnts OF his life, including the assss.
sination. which the prisoner called his
'inspiration." Witness asked him Why,
u the act was Gods. he didn't leave the
details to the Almighty and not practices
with q pistol. The prisoner flushed q
little aud said: ''Ths Almighty often
I~.-.. aok.st. 80 III. .o.rk. IT.. IL.