Morning journal and courier., 1881-11-23
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. CUITEAU'S DEFENSE Efforts to Prove the As
 sassin Insane. scovlLLE's TALkTo THEcoURT A Sketch of His Clients
 Career. A STRONG PLEA ADVANCED. The Prosecution Alarmed at
 ScoviIIe's Success.
A STRONG PLEA ADVANCED
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
 The Assassin's TriaI-ScoviIIe Continues
 Letters Read-A Strong Plea of Insani-
 ty-The Prosecutions Alarmed at Sco-
 viIle's Work-Ben Butler Expected to
 Take a Hand.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 22-The same enor nous crowd was in attendance this morning at Guiteau's trial, but the police arrange ments are now improved so that order is maintained outside as well as in the court to the two who rode upon the van, accompa- nied it from the jail to the court house, and Guiteau was much pleased with this precau- tion. Guiteau was brought into the court room soon after ten o'clock, and at once bus jed himself with his papers and mail. His personal appearance has undergone marked change since the first days of the trial, and this morning he had evidently devoted unu- sual care to his toilet. He still wore the coat with the torn sleeve, but his linen was spot less, and his beard, which heretofore had ap- peared ''scraggy," seemed to have been carefully brushed. The wild, frightened look of the eyes had disappeared, as also his hab- it of looking up and casting covert glances about him without raising his head. He glanced confidently about the room; bowed pleasantly to some one at some distance from him. and but for the tightly drawn lines about the mouth and the unmistakable indi- cation of anxiety and deep thought when his features are in repose, casual observer might select as the prisoner anyone of 8 half dozen who sit near him. Several medi- cal experts, who have been summoned by the defence, were in attendance this morning among them Dr. Rice, of Wisconsin, who has long known the prisoner and who, it is said, advised his commitment to an insane asylum four years ago on the ground of emo- tional insanity.
 When the court was opened Mr. Scoyille resumed his speech, dwelling on the charac- ter of the defense, insanity which he pro- posed. He reviewed the history of the re- form in the legal treatment of insanity, and urged the court and the jury to deal with the prisoner in the light of modern science and humanity. In the course of his remarks he made one significant statement at which the lawyers for the prosecution pricked up their ears. He cited authorities to show that the burden of proof in an insanity case rests with the prosecution. In an earlier stage of the case he had advanced this theory, but it had been received with contemptuous indif- ference by the prosecution. MT. Scoville made out very strong showing for a heredi- tary taint of insanity in the Guiteau family Of the ten children of the prisoners grand father four at least were insane and the taint appeared in many of their offsprings. Gui- teau's father was subject to delusions. some of very irrational character. MT. Scoville alluded to the prejudice which undoubtedly tba T11a of and especially in the case of the prisoner. He said the newspapers had intimated that Guiteau was only feigning insanity, and such seemed to be the general theory of the pub lie.
 Guiteau turned uneasily in the chair and with quick, nervous articulation said, s1 never feign. act myself, sane or insane"
 Without noting the interruption Mir. Sco- vile alluded to the arrest of a man at the time of President Hayes inauguration, who was sent to the insane asylum. This man, he said, had as carefully made all his arrange ments to kill President Hayes as did Guiteau to kill President Garfield, and but for his ar rest mighthave succeeded. There was just as much ground to indicate Guiteau's insan- ity. '"Why," said Mir. ScoviIle, sseven Presi- dent Garfield said, Why did this man do it :? He must be insane MT. Blaine must have believed Guiteau insane"
 Colonel Corkhill here arose, and with 0mpQdSl5, Sdlu II you VIII dllOW u6, NIT. Scoville, the President never said he thought he was insane He thought him sane all the time MT Blaine never thought him insane Fe has said under oath that he believes him to be sane"
 MT Scovil1e explained that he spoke from information derived from the newspapers, and would not take issue on the statement. He then took up the history of the Gui- teau family, who were of Huguepot extraction, and who had, he said, retained to the present day as 8 marked characteristic the sturdy adherence to religious convictions which caused the repatriation of the Hugue- nots He asserted that insanity was heredi- tary in the family, and had to some degree affected Guiteau's father. He next dwelt at great length upon Guiteau's history and ex- ploits from childhood to the day on which he shot the President.
 Guiteau appeared generally satisfied with Mr. Scoville's account of his life and experi- ences. Frequently an amused smile indi- cated his appreciation of the humorous, notably when the whippings he received as boy were described as having been given with s'that vigor which can be shown by a man of strong religious convictions.' .' His ad- mission to the bar and the circumstances at- tending his supposed examination, which really consisted of three questions, two of which he answered. amused Guiteau i'm mensely as MT. Scoville related them to the jury. He frequently shrugged his shoulders and appeared to be perfectly satisfied until MT. Scoville plainly intimated that lack of capacity on Guiteau's part had reduced his law practice to the collection of bad debts Guiteau winced and broke out with: ''I brought great many suits, and generally gave them all they wanted on the other side" After a moment of Squasi explanation to the prisoner, Mir. Scoville was about to proceed, when Guiteau, ap- parently appeased, waved his hand pleasantly to MT. Scovilie and said "Go on, Mir. Scoville; that's an interesting story, and it is correct in detail" Continu- ing. MT. Seoville said in effect. that Guiteau made 8 good living and supported his family at this time and paid his debts. Guiteau again broke in with q had frst-olass ref erences, as well as my personal appearance, and SO got the business Besides that, I had no bad habits of any kind.'' To illus trate Guiteau's freaks, and as an indication of his insanity, MT. Scoville related his rambling attempt to make speech upon @ certain occasion when he had been assigned by the court as counsel for prisoner on trial Guiteau again interrupted in an ex. cited manner and shouted s'That's abso- 1utely false; never tried case with Char lie Reed in my life. I don't want to inter- fere with your theory, but your facts are false. Iwant the jury to understand my pe- culiarities. That's all right. There are good many people who will swear that am insane"
 A recess of thirty minutes was then taken.
 The letters read by Scoville at the after noon session of the court were written by Guiteau to his friends in 185S-9, or while he was at school. From these it appeared he was living quietly at home for a time before going into the community. After that the letters were full of the subjects confidence in the truths of the communists and details of the depths of his theological studies and his subseuuent fanatical actions Guitesu kept perfect silence during the reading of most of the letters, part of the time resting his head upon his hand. At the conclusion of one he said T had forgotten that ever