The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-09
GUITEAU'S TRIAL.
The Hereditary Insanity Theory
Exploded.
TESTIMONY TO THE SANITY OF
GUITEAU'S PARENTS.
The Prisoner Uneasy and InsOlent.

WASHINGTON, Dec 8-The court room was
densely hacked this morning. The character
of the witnesses presented by the prosecution
yesterday and the character OF their testimony
produced marked effect upon the pubic
mind Many who had begun to think that the
plea of insanity would he readily sustained
now express the opinion that the evidence OF
Yesterday has completely overthrown the
theory of hereditary insanity upon which as
its corner stone the structure OF the defence
has been erected. AS soon as Guiteau reached
his seat he shouted out "a crank in chicago
says talked with him about this case. don't
know the man. 1t is false"
Mr.. Corkhill called as the first witness Mrs
Julia M. Wilson of Leadvile, Colorado. She
knew L. W. Guiteau from her earliest recol-
lections He was her uncle. Witness gave
most feeling account of the life and character
of her mother, Mrs. Maynard who it had been
alleged by deferce died insane. but who really
diedfrom pneumonia in 1856 Her mother
was noted for her lovely disposition of charac-
ter and her virtues are remembered and
spoken of to this day. Witness was her nurse
and constant attendant up to the hour of her
death and never saw the slightest indication
of fligh mess or insanity. Witness was ques-
toned in relation to the evidence of Mr.
Davis Mr. Davis had testified that he was at
one time in Mrs. Maynard's room during her
last illness and that she was very Eighty and
in. oherent and continually charged him to
look out for her husband and children for she
feared they would go to the poor house. Mrs.
Wilson smiled increduously while the question
was being put and replied that she did not
even remember the man Davis and thought it
very improbable that be was ever in the pre-
sence OF her mother. At that time she was
constantly with her mother and never saw or
heard anything of the kind.
Mr.. Corkhill-This man d wis testified in
regard to your sister, 1--WE used to call her
foolish Abbie," do you know anything of this?
Answer-It may be possible, sir, do not
know who this man Davis is, He may have
been one of those rude boys to be met most
everywhere. The deposition of Mr. Turner
was read in which he said, II have heard her
husband say she died insane" and witness was
questioned in regard to it. Mr.. Scoville OBJ
iected to the question and a lively discussion
ensued between Judge Porter and Mr.. Scoville.
Guiteau became enraged at Porter and shout
ed Now hold your thunder till you get to the
jury Judge, you are doing this sort of thing too
ouch" Judge Porter without noticing the
outburst continued in most impressive man.
ner to argue his point when Gniteau broke in
again, 81 am not criminal and won't be till
/ am convicted. wont have that word. You
Just hold your eloquence until you get at the
jury" Scoville eApostulated with him bat he
retoFted in a most vicious manner, "Shut up
and mind your business, l know what am
doing"
After this little scene the examination pro-
crossed without further incident till IL Is.
She was questioned in regard to various MEM
bers of the family and stated positively that
she never saw indications of insanity in any of
them. Speaking of the prisoners father, L.
w. Guiteau witness said: my uncle Luther
visited me frequently and / loved him with
very tender affection. Our whole family were
delighted with his lovely Christian character
and such thought as that he might in any
degree be of unsound mind never entered my
head" Witness was subjected to a close and
critical cross examination. She was asked il
she entertained any prejudice against having
hereditary insanity alleged in this defence and
replied, 81 oil iect to any unfair statements be-
| ing made upon that subject. Perhaps for the
| sake of my children 1 might dislike to have it
| set up. For myself the facts can make no diff
ference" Her evidence in chief remained
mistaken and her testimony undoubtedly pro-
duced marked sensation. Her refined man
ners, well chosen language and evident intel
ligence and serenity were markedly in con-
trast with the appearance OF many OF the wit
nesses for the defence whose evidence she
fatty contradicted.
All the conclusion of Mrs. Wilson's examina-
ton, John w. Guiteau arose from his seat next
to the prisoner and asked the court to rule
out the question and answer relative to wit
ness father having died of softening of the
brain: II cannot see, your honor, continued
Mr.. Guiteau. 'tbe occasion for dragging in
people who have no blood connection with
the prisoner"
Judge Cox-I think the matter is irrele-
want.
Guiteau-Mrs. Wilson seems to be very
bright lady but she is opposed to having it ap-
pear that there is any insanity in the family.
That's the matter with her testimony.
Scoville here arose trembling with excite
ment and protested against the meddling of
John w. Guiteau in this case. H is op,
posed to showing insanity in the family" said
| Scoville, and his voice was here drowned bv
| the prisoner who struck his hand violently on
| the table and shouted, $50 do I: He had
| better get back to Boston. be has got no hush
| ness here Just because he has got no business
here here lust because he happens 70 bear the same
name he thinks he will get little notoriety
| out of this cause. haven't known anything
| about the man for years. That's all there is
about him and want him to get right out OF
| this case"
combned ASSAULT ana au lei soon being
stored Mr.. Corkhill called George G. May
| nard who verified in several material points
| The ties imony of the preceding witness.
The court was about to announce the usual
| recess when John W. Guiteau arose and said
Your honor, greatly desire to make per-
sonal explanation. My father is dead" Gui-
| have been vindicated." Mr.. Davidge here OBJ
1 iected to any more such scenes. The prisoner
| had continually been allowed to interrupt pro-
| ceedings and at this rate the trial wonld soon
| become a farce.
Judge Cox-I see no occasion, Nj. Guiteau,
| for any explanation on your part.
Recess was then taken for one hour.
After recess Frank Bartlett of Chicago, was
| called. He knew Mr.. and Mrs. Scoville, and
met prisoner at Scoville's summer residence in
| 1878.
"This man never saw me but once inter
| rupted Guiteau.' sit has cost the government
! $500 to bring this man down here. He met
| me once, five years ago, and that's all he
| knows about me. It's an outrage, Corkhill,
| for you to waste the government money in
| this kind of waV
Witness saw Guiteau daily and never noticed
| anything out of the way in his department.
The gentlemen there engaged in tub race
and Guiteau took part. When he was upset
| he was ducked by the rest OF the gentlemen
and took it in good part. =
Guiteau again broke outimpatiently, Whats
that got to do with what took place on the I'd
of july" Corkhill? 81 had time to 60 crazy a
hundred times since that man saw me. That
| shows what stupid work is being done by the
prosecution. If you had to pay for this, III
stead of the tax payers, you would do different
ly."
Witness never saw any indications of insani-
| ty in the prisoner.
Mrs. Florence R. Bartlett, (wife of last wit
ness) witnessed the dog incident so often
| alluded to by defence and saw nothing unusual
| in the occurrance She thought at the time
Mrs. Scovile was more excited about it than the
prisoner was, and remembered distinctly the
prisoner after the dog was hurt cared for him
and seemed to desire to efface any bad impress
sion it might have created. Witness detected
no signs whatever of any mental disturb
ance in the prisoner. He was always polite
and behaved as gentleman.
On cross examination, Scoville asked, DO
| you remember once at the table discussion
upon some religious topic arose and Guiteau
| took part, and became SO violent they all left
| him?" lyt.s
Answer-"No do not"
Guteau-"They all got through talking and
so thew left That's all there was to that. i
| think we have had about enough of this dog
| business" -
Howard Durham of Boston took the stand,
| but Guiteau forestalled his evidence by shout
| ing, II had desk room with that man a few
| weeks in Boston and that's all he knows about