Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-13
News by Telegraph
 FROM ALL QUARTERS. A Morbid Project Guiteau's Act of Shooting
 the President. TIE TESTIMONY 0F AN EXPERT. 4 Witness That Pleased the
 Assassin. \ NEW SENSATION PROMISED.
The Mercy Letter Laid
 at Guiteau's Door.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. A Man of Morbid Projects-An Experts
 Opinion of Guiteau-Some Sharp Pass
 ages with Counsel--The Assassin
 Pleased with His Testimony-The Au-
 fhorshfp of the Famous Mercy Letter
 Kfss Striking Simuarity to GuiLeau's Writing.
 WAsHNeroN, Dec. 12.-Public opinion here is unanimous that the prosecution suc- ceeded last week in seriously damaging MT. Scoville's theory of hereditary Insanity on the part of his client. A scrutiny of Gui- teau's record shows that during the last ten years he has been dishonorable, dishonest and interruptions as 8 man. As lawyer he has been what legal gentlemen call 'ta shys- ter" Of the twelve witnesses who were on the stand last Friday, and whose testimony covered the period between the fall of 1879 and the spring of 1881, eleven testified to his dishonesty. The only exception among them was Dr. Caldwell, of Freeport, H., who was questioned only in regard to Luther w. Gui- teau The assassin became very restive un- der this impertinent raking up of his unsav- ory past, and repeatedly declared his inabili- ty to see what it all had to do with the politi- cal situation last June. The more damaging the testimony was the more he reviled the witnesses. his language showing his recent pretensions as a religious teacher to. be hy- pocrisy disg usting in kind and phenomenal in degree. The argument implied by MT. Sco- ville's cross examinations was that these var ious gentlemen failed to discover Guiteau's insanity, because they never talked with him on the subject of religion.
 An hour before the opening this morning the court room was crowded to overfowing and the greatest eagerness prevailed to hear Dr. Spitzka's testimony. Dr. Spitzka was called as the first witness by MT. Scoville His speciality is nervous and mental diseases having pursued his studies in this country and Vienna. His competitive paper on this subject obtained prize in 1878. He testi- fled that he examined the prisoner yesterday that he might speak intelligentlyif compelled to testify his decision was that the prisoner is insane; Guiteau's tendency is toward men, tai delusions the formation of delusive opinions and. morbid projects is moral monstrosity with imbecility of judgment. 1T judged him insane before had asked him 8 question" said the witness. 'His eyes and his expression of face are as well marked for insanity as any ever saw" MT. Scoville then put @ hypothetical question similar, but not identical with the one used few days ago, summarizing incidents in the prisoners history and asking finally if in witness opin- ion the prisoner was insane when he shot the President. The doctor thought them man was probably insane at that time.
 Mir. Davidge opened the cross-examina- ton by asking a definition of insanity. The doctor declined to formulate 8 definition, but gave an approximate reply. MT. Davidge made some attempts to probe Dr. Spitzkas professional record and standing to the in tent to throw discredit upon him. This led to 8 passage of wits between them in which both suffered to some extent. As far back as October 31st the doctor had, he said, 8 fixed opinion that Guiteau was insane, found ed on his writings, on his picture and on the published opinions of various lay people who had seen the prisoner; on this account he declined to testify for the prosecu- tion when approached by Judge Por- ter, and he was unwilling to testify on either side Witness had examined the pris- oner representing himself to be phrenolo- gist, that the prisoner might not know him and act part. Dr. Spitzka thought Guiteau exhibited the usual characteristics of insane people, and narrated the substance of his talk with him. He thought the. prisoner knew the ordinary legal consequences of criminal acts, but was morbidly egotistical, morbid projects. For instance, the prisoner told him the American people would never see him die a disgraceful death; that he would go to Europe for three months and then return and lecture with great success. Witness thought his act of shooting to be morbid project. The discussion between MT. Davidge and the witness as to the latters distinction between morbid and criminal pro- jects was interesting and was continued till 12:3O D. m., when the court adjourned for one hour on account of the illness of Juror Wormley, who has erysipelas of the scalp, is in constant pain and liable to grow incapaci- tated for service. He wears bandage, and his physician hopes to keep the disease under control and prevent the embarrassment that would ensue from his inabilaty to sit.
 Court was resumed at half-past one. and when the prisoner in his place he exclaimed: There are good many poodle dogs in the newspaper business and want to express my contempt for of those dogs. am glad to notice that the high-toned, con be stain the American people to hang 8 man who was in the condition of mind was court ssAn right" said Guiteau sThat's enough Bah, shoot him now" This created intense excite ment and officers sought in vain for the offender. and was asked his opinion about mesmerism. He stated that the subjectng of persons to mesmerism was done frequently or for long time. He thought out of every ten persons were susceptible of mes phrenology and said he regarded it as earlatanism and said that the difference in the sides of the hu- There were certain craniai ormations indicative of moral monstrosity, but 1t would be impossible to sion was more to be relied upon than the shape of the head in forming opin- teaus head. the widness of thought and certain oth physical evidence, such his defect in speech, said the doctor, the had only the mean face he has should say he has &eprayed mind or was |. moral monstrosity. Besides Guiteau has iop-sided His tongue also goes to the left side when puts it out and that another evidence of unsoundness of
 At this point Dr. spitzka asked permission to sit right heel sAh, said Mr. Davidge, ..it is your heel is it thought it higher up" EGreat laughter Witness was not allowed to remain seated long, as Colonel Corkhill stated that he could not see the understanding his replies Search was made for 8 ness had to stand which he did cheerfuIly, saying that the pain in his foot was unimportant when pared with Colonel CorkhilIs convenience.
 Continuing his testimony Dr. Spitzka said he be- Iieved moral insanity occasionally existed. He thought that while Guiteau's remarks and conduct sometimes logical there doubt of his in- sanity.
 After Mir. Davidge had put q number of questions to get Spitzka's ideas of insanity sanity doctor still quick in his replies Colonel Corkhin the witness sHe is causing trouble, Corkiu," said Guiteau- "I'm sorry to see you keep this thing up You had better close and let us go home.H Qaugk-
 witness after interrogatories retecting on his called as an expert, Said T have no Collections to answering such questions but their object to be to run me down professionally. dare anyone to
 make such aspersions outside the court room.n sYou gre right" exclaimed the prisoner sThe witness is one of the scientific men in America. Corkhin has right to do this thing. He does not come here to be insulted by little tramp like you. He would not spik you If he met outside of the court room" This ebution caused ripple of excitement MT. Cork hill did not seem to note the denunciation and con tnued his questions calmly Did you in any article published in the Medical Journal refer to officer of the prosecution as narrow minded, incompetent of fcial 2' ssYes.n said Spitzka. s'To whom did you refer ?D the next question q referred to youD promptly replied the witness. The audience laughed The prisoner turned to his counsel approvingly and appeared to enjoy the retort. MT. Cork hill, however was unmoved He pressed the witness to his prejudices in favor of the defense Spitzka, who getting 8 tride excited, answered: q mean to say I am gan honest, unprejudiced witness. won't go further, us go home" shouted Guiteau to Corkh Its nearly o'clock. want to tell you that you repudiated by every member of the bar and will tell President Arthur publicly to remove you at once. You an unmitigated nuisance, and if President Arthur has any respect for his administration he can't do you better thing than dismiss you from this and office at once.
 The court-You have said that before. Prisoner We'll, want this matter acted upon at Corkhll lied to me all summer and has shown himself to be 6 man of no conscience principle, and the adInns- tration ought to have him shut up. It's p. n. Let's go homen Witness stated that he would not tachment issued for him At the time he want ed it understood that be uot afraid to give his testimony. Then the prisoner repeatedly