The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-16
GUITEAU's TRIAL.
More Testimony to the Prisoners
Sanity.
aUrTEAU MORE ABUSIVE THAN EVER.
Mrs. SeOyille Attempts to Take Part in
the Examination.

WASHINGTON, Dec 15.-Among the specta-
tors at the Guiteau trial to-day were Senator
Hawley, Representatives Lefevre and McKin-
Icy of Ohio, Emory Speer of Georgia and Ex-
Sergeant-at-Arms Thompson. Carkson N.
Potter, Gov. Phelps OF Vermont and CortlaDdt
Parker of New York occupied seats upon the
bench.
As soon as the court was called to order Gut
teau addressed the court and said
If your Honor please, want to make little
speech. 1t will be great misfortune if any
thing should happen to the jury. They are
very honest and intelligent men, and want
the best of care taken of them. There are
some OF them who are accustomed to good,
wholesome food, and consequently they are
liable to have indigestion. want the court to
order them out every morning for walk OF
four or five miles before breakfast. L have two
or three more little speeches to make, but this
will do for the present.
Judge Cox-The court will attend to the
wants of the jury.
when the court adjourned yesterday, was re-
called. The witness never detected any sign
of insanity in the prisoner.
Mr.. Scoville began to cross-examine the wit
ness when Guiteau, in great rage, shouted, 81
never saw this man but once in my life and
that was in 1878. never saw him but five
minutes in my life. What does he know about
me? This shows Just how little sense you have
got Corkhiil. to put this man on as an expert.
Ito Scoville) And you havn't got common
sense to waste the time of the court in exam
lining his character. He was only clerk in a
lawyers office anyway"
Being re-examiued by Corkbll, the witness
said:-"In my opinion, at the time knew him
he was perfectly competent to distinguish be-
tween right and wrong"
An exception was noted by Mr. Sccpille
Mr.. Scoville asked, "What is your opinion of
the prisoners ability to distinguish between
right and wrong at the present time?'
The question was ruled out and another ex-
ception noted by Mr.. Scovilie. 4E
j. nj. Justice, lawyer, OF Logansport, Ind,
met the prisoner lin 1877. The prisoner was
selling little book, the Life of Moody,
Guiteau here interrupted-"You are mixing
me up with some else, sir"
The witness continued but was again inter-
rupted by Guiteau, who shouted, "Stop right
here. Can you identify me as the man?'
Witness-"I thiuk CAM
Guiteau-aGan you swear to it,"
Witness-"Yes, l can"
Guiteau-"Wel, you are q liar, sir; a miser-
able liar, that's the best way to dispose OF you,
sir.''
The witness continuing, said the prisoner re-
manned in Logansport about three weeks SELL
ing the book.
Gniteau continually interjected his abusive
comments and finally shouted out, you mis-
cradle whelpt to come in here and make me
out book agent. was preaching the gospel
and / sold my own productions" In few
minutes he turned to Scoville with an air of
intense disgust and said, ooh, cut this fool
short. He is lying all through. Don't waste
/ time on him."
Mr.. Scoville asked :--"What was the appear
ance of the prisoner when you knew him?'
Answer-He looked about the same as he
does now, except about the eyes
Scoville-"What was the difference in the
expression of the eyes?"
Answer-"At thats time he had a free ex-
pression;. now the expression seems sup
pressed g.
Guiteau-"I don't think am much sup
pressed this morning, sir. / seem to be
pretty lively this morning" Guiteau gradu-
ally worked himself up into towering rage
and acclaimed against the witness the prose
cution and the cranks whom he claimed had
threatened him violence, his billingsgate being
more especially directed against the prosecut-
ing attorney. Referring to Corkhill. he said,
HE is getting too dirty and too sinking to
i've, and the first thing he knows God Al
MIGHTY will take him off and send him down
b. Low"
Kew. Rush R. Shipper, pastor of All Souls
church, Washington. boarded at the same
house and occupied seat at the same table
with the prisoner from April last until the day
before the murder of the President, when he
| (the prisoner) disappeared from the house. The
witness had frequent conversations with the
prisoner. Both had lived in Chicago and that
led to quite familiar acquaintance. The
prisoner was chatty and polite, little quirk or
nervous in his utterance, but not sufficiently so
as to indicate a marked peculisrity. The wit
ness never detected anything toindicate insan-
ity and never entertained the slightest suspic-
ion of it In connection with the prisoner. The
striking feature of Mr. Shippen's testimony
was bis statement that the usual topic of con-
versation between himself and the prisoner
and at the table, where they met three times a
,xa1l
and the New Testament revision. and that ON
no occasion did the prisoner exhibit more ex-
element than any other person might do, the
former being the subject which, as Guiteau al
leges, impelled him upon the President. DIR.
Shippen's testimony is considered of the high
est value to the prosecution. So
Mrs. Dunmire, formerly wife of Guiteau,
then took the stand. She was married to the
prisoner in July. 1862
Scoville objected to the testimony unless
record proof of the divorce was shown.
The witness was then Withdrawn, Corkhill
remarking that he would introduce the witness
later after he had obtained the necessary copy
of the court record. sse
DR.. Noble Young, physician at the jail
where Guiteau had been confined, related the
particulars of several conversations he had had
with the prisoner. At one time he asked the
prisoner "why he removed (using the prison.
ers term) the President and his reply was,
Because / was inspired to do SO" and little
after-'If the President should die would be
convinced that my inspiration was from the
Deity, but if he should recover would be in
doubt about it," The witness thought this
was decided wavering on the part of the
prisoner. The witness was asked If he consid-
cred the prisoner sane man and replied, "a
perfectly sane man, sir, and as bright, quick
and intelligent man as you would see in a
summers day. Not the Sigh test indication of
insanity about him. A little impatient of re-
straint at times, little nervous, as men in his
position would naturally be. but perfectly
sane"
Mrs Scoville suddenly rose in her place and
said, "Your honor, 1 would like to ask ques-
tion tof the witness. / consider it of vital
importance to the case"
Guiteau Gmpatiently)-Ne don't, sister.
It's all these people can do to stand me with
out your talking. You are no lawyer. 81
Mrs. Scoyille-The question is of vital inn
portance.
Mr. Scoville-Isprefer, your honor, that per-
mission should not be given.
Mr.. Davidge-Let Mrs. Scovile suggest the
question to her husband and we will not OBJ
ject
Mrs. Scoville (sotto voce)-well, he don't
know how to ask questions, anyway.
Mr.. Scoville asked if it were possible to
place in the prisoners coffee any drugs that
would make him appear brighter or more
quiet as the case might be.
Guiteau with comtemptuous expression)-
"You are examining the witness for the other
side amt you, Scovlll5? never saw any.
thing quite SO stupid as your manner of ex-
aiming witnesses this morning. I think
your lecture last night must have been too
much for you"
Mrs. Scoville wrote her question and reach
ed over to hand it to her husbond, when
Guiteau sharply said to her, "Now you just
mind your business and attend to your own
affairs. You are making yourself altogether
too officious in this case"
Pending the colloquy between Guiteau and
his sister, the witness was permitted to DEF art
much to the disappointment, apparently, of
Mrs. Scoville.
Gen. James s. Reynolds, lawyer of Chicago,
knew the prisoner first about May, 1868. in
Chicago. The prisoner applied for permission