The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-23
THE LINE OF DEFENSE.
Mr.. scovILLEs PLEA FOR eulTEAv
IHTaaIty Alleged to be Wee In the Constitution
Ofthe ANRs.in's Family y-ThS COncsIt Of Gul.
tSAu Cropping Out in Ills Interrupt
tIOHI Of His CounSsrs Speech.


WASHINGTON, November 22.-The prise
van in which Guiteau was conveyed I
coutt this morning was escorted by 81
mounted policemen in addition to tw
officers who rode upon the van. The tri
was made without incident, and afte
reaching the prisoners room Guiteau pal
took OF u hearty breakfast, aud expreSse,
himself rs satisfied with the police arrange
ments madeto insure issatety, He though
the same precautions should have been oh
served ut the outset, The court room wa
crowded in every nook and corner. Johl
Guiteau was in the court room soon after
O'Clock, and obtained subpunrs for Six ad
ditional witnesses.
None Of the gentlemen publicly invited
by Guiteau to assist in the defense havI
yet responded. 1t Is understood, however
that Scoville expects to secure the ser
vices OF Mr.. Trude, of Chicago, later in thC
week.
Several medical experts summoned BY
the defense were in attendance this morn
ing, 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 emotional insanity,
GultCau was brought into the court room
shortly after 10 o'clock, and ScovillU 70,
sumed hisargumGnt, He called the atten'
ton 0f the jury to the plea set up by tho
defense Of insanity, and discussed ut great
length tho growth and changes Of public
opinion upon the subject of insanity and
It's treatment by courts when set up us n dc
Tense in criminal cases. He cited numGr'
OTIS cases and rulings in several noted ones.
lie claimed that the plea Of insanity hay
ing been set up by the defense the burden
OF proof rests with the prosecution.
At one point in the argument SCoville
in detailing tho moro enlightened treat
ment Of tho insane now in vogue in asy.
lums said that in other words those In
charge Of asylums act with little more rea,
son than do the inmates These sallies
seemed to Nmuse GIiteau immensely, and
II broad smile broke over his features,
which reappe0rcd two or three times rs II
his mind reCurred to II. Scoville alluded
TO the prejudice which undoubtedly existed
against the plea OF insanity generally, and
especially III the case OF tho prisoner. lie
said newspapers had intimNtGd that GuiteaU
was only fCigning insanity, aud that such
generally was the opinion OF the public.
GuitCau turned unGnsily in his chair, and
with quick, nervous articulation said
"lnever ieign; | act myself sane or insane"
Without noting the interruption scoyillG
alluded to the arrest Of man ut tho time
OF President Hayes Inauguration who was
sent to the insane asylum. This man, he
said, had as carefully made ull his arrange.
ments to kill President Hayes rs did
Guilcau 10 kill President Garfield, and but
for his arrest might have succeeded.
There wins Just MS much ground to indicate
GuitGau's insanity. "Why," said Scovile,
"evcn President Garfield said: 'Why did
this man do III lie must be insane
Blaine must have believed Guiteau insane"
Corkhill here arose and with much en-
phasis said; "lf YOU will allow inc, Mr..
Scovillc, the President never said he
thought he was insane; he thought him
sane all the time. Blaine never thought
him insane. lEc had said under oath he
believes him sane"
Scoville explained that he spoke from
information derived from tho newspapers,
md wouldn't takG issue on the statement.
lie then took up the history OF the Guiteau
family, who were OF llugenOt extraction,
and who had, he said retained to the
present day us II marked characteristic the
sturdy adherence TO religious ConviC-
tiOns which caused the cxpatri0tion OF the
Hugenots. He asserted that insanity was
hereditary in the family, and went on to
give the story Of Guiteau's life in detail.
Guiteau appeared to be satisfied till SEQ.
vile plainly intimated that lack Of caDa.
city on Guiteali's part had reduced his
law practice to the collection OF bad debts.
GuiteNn WINGED and spoke out with: "l
brought Il great many suits, and general.
" gave them all they wanted on the other
side" After moment OF quasi explanation
to the prisoner, Scovillc was about to pro-
ceed, when Guitcau, apparently appensed,
waived his hand pleasantly TO SCOvlle,
and said: "Go on Mr.. SCOville, that's aii
interesting story, and is correct in detail.' y
Continuing, SGovile said in effect that
Guteau made good living and supported
II family at this time, and paid his
debts GuiteRu again broke in with
~ had frst-Class references, as well as my
personal appearance, and so got business.
Besides that, had no bad habits OF any
kind" TO illustrate GuitGaus freaks, md
us IN indication OF Ills insanity, ScoyilIO
related his rambling attempt to make Il
speech upon II certain occasion when he
was assigned by court MS counsel for u
prisoner on trial. Guiteau again inter.
ruptcd in mn excited manner, and shouted.
"1'hat's absolutely false; never tried a
case with Charlie Reed in my life. don't
want to interfere with your theory, but
your facts are false ! wnnt the Jury TO
understand my pcculiaritics, thats all
right. There nrn good many people who
will swear ain insane" A recess WINS
then taken.
After the recess scovile resumed his
story OF the life Of Gniteat. Using the OK.
preston mentally incompetent" Guteai
irettCd At the imputation Of luck OF brain
power, and exclaimed: "NOt true, and
can't be shown. always tell the truth:H
and again he broke ifii ~ Ind brains
enough, but my mind was devoted to
theology that's why ran behind. There's
no money in tue theology business; I'm out
Of TINT row.' Scoyille spoke of his clients
impecuhious condition, and Guiteau said
"a was always well dressed; don't put that
In" Scoville related an incident OF
Guileau's, which his friends thought In.
dicated insanity. Guiteau, with much
warmth, said; ''I've heard that story be.
fore, and 1t is absolutely false. Don't tell
my such stulras TINT again. Scoville re.
lated uuiteau's varied experiences during
the Moody and Sankey revivals, and his
efforts and failures as Il lecturer on religi.
otis subjects, and the lack Of appreciation
shown by his audience. Guiteaii thus pS.
plained "New idcas on that subject; they
hadn't got them At that time;' and as
though lie had not quite made his ncan.
ing plain, he eN1dpd; "i had ideas, but no
reputation, and the ideas wouldn't draw
Guitcaus belief was in serving the Lord,
and il was the Lords business 10 pay tle
debts incurred in his service, aud when
this was mentioned, uuilenti lnlighinesa sail: