The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-08
GUITEAU's TRIAL.
Testimony in Rebuttal Begun by
the Government.
WITNESSES WHO SAY GUITEAU'S
FATHER WAS INSANE.
The Prisoner Takes Occasion to Com.
mend the Message.

room was denS6ly croWQeu at inc opouihh VI
the court this morning. Among those occupy
ing seats we're Gen. Sherman, several Senators
and members of Congress. The direct evidence
both for the prosecution and defence having
closed the most critical and interesting period
of the trial is about to be entered upon. The
defence in resting this case rely upon their
plea of insanity in support of which they have
set up the absence of such motives as would
lead sane man to commit the crime charged,
and from their argue the presumption OF III
sanity. Evidence has been offered to prove
hereditary faint of insanity, career of ezra tic
eccentricities consistent with the idea of in
sanity and finally, an overpowering impulse
or s'inspiration' as claimed by the prisoner
which impeled him to the act and which he
could not resist. The prosecution in their
opening set forth the motive as disappolnt,
ment at not receiving the office he sought and
offered evidence to show that the shot was
fred by the prisoner and that the President
died from the effects of the shot. To-day they
commence in rebuttal to demolish the theory
of insanity as set uD by the defence. In doing
this theywill not retraverse the ground gone over
by the defence and from the standpoint OF the
prosecution will thoroughly ventilate Guiteau's
past life and vicious. vagabond habits begin
ming with his early life in Freeport and con-
Guiding with vast amount OF the best expert
testimony obtainable in the country.
As soon as the court had been formally open
ed Guiseau addressed the court in rather inn
perious tones as follows:
May it please your honor American people
do not deere that this shall be tried again. and
do not desire it. l say With the most respect to
this court and jury and my counsel, Mr. Scoyi g
that am not satisfied with The political situation
as here in this case thai Is the mos. o.
have been shot if it had not been for the political
situation " hich existed last May and June, and
say have the right as matter OF law, appearing
as my counsel, to ask your honor that Gen. Grant
Senators Ccnkling and PLAT, and President
Arthur and til Sc kind of men who we're so do an
ypo Garfiad that they world sneak to him
the street. and would not go to the White House,
shall be put on the stand. have right to show
was cordially received by them and that was well
dressed and well fed at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
want to show my personal relations to them. !
don't want to except to your honor's ruliog, butl
shall be obliged To do so and have no doubt the
court in bans will give me new trial.
Judge Cox-Your exception has been noted.
Scoville than called up the subject of Presi-
dent Arthurs testimony and said he had not
tories; that the Presidents evidence was alb
soutely essential to the defence.
Guiteau interrupted him excitedly with, II
don't think it at all necessary for Gen. Arthur
to be here" To Scoville 81 don't care
what you want, I'm doing this myself. I ask
as personal favor that he shan't be dragged
into court. think good deal of General
Arthur. He is President of the United States
and don't think he should be bothered with
this matter" Striking the desk violently9
"He is President of the United States and
made him so, and I think should have some
thing to say in this matter.
1t was arranged between counsel that the
Presidents answer should be put in as evidence
at any stage of the trial, and Scoville called
Gen. w. T. Sherman.
Gen. Sherman testifed:-My first thought
was that the shooting was part of the conspi-
racy and for that reason he ordered out troops
at once. He was soon satisfied, however, that
it was the act of but one man.
Guiteau, when the general stopped down
thanked him for callsng out troops and pro-
tecting him.
Ed. T. Barton. a lawyer, knew the prisoners
father intimately and wrote his will. Never
had the least reason to suppose him at all in
sane.
On cross-examination he said he had never
seen any Indication of insanity in the family
or In the prisoner.
Several witnesses including Luther Gut
teau's family physician testified they never saw
any indication of insanity in any member OF
the family whom they knew. The family ply
sicap, Mr.. Buckley, vas asked ii ever he
heard L. w. Guiteau assert he could heal dis
eases by prayer.
Guteau (excitedly)-He only talked that in
his family. He did not run around the streets
TO preach it like anidiot or iackass. He had too
much sense Tor that
ripple of amusement ran through the
cosrt and Guiteau smiled with an air of salts
faction, but apparently failed to realize how
completely his criticism filed his own case
Witness had never beard any such claim on
the part OF l.. w. Guiteau. He was asked If
he knew DIR. North DR.. North was the most
positive witness introduced by the defence and
by his showing tire entire Guiteau family were
more or less insane Witness replied he knew
him in Freeport.
Guiteau-Tbe fact of the matter is my father
used money with which he should have sent me
to college, in supporting that DR.. North and
his family on my fathers farm in Freeport.
Col. Corkhill-That's just my opinion of DR..
North.
Pending the cross-examination, John w.
GuIteau (broiher of the prisoner arose and
proterted against the manner in which the
name of his half-sister Flora w. Guiteau, had
been mentioned in the defence as having been
of becoming insane. He desired that witness
should state exactly the infirmity under which
she suffered.
The witness stated that the young lady in
question suffered from an affection of one of
her eyes, and was sent to St. Louis for treat
ment of her eyes.
Guiteau, turning angrily to his brother,
whispered "What do you want to made such
fuss about that for?" then alond, I'm sorry
my half-sister's name had to be dragged in
here. She IS very nice person, so far as
know and send her greetings"
Mrs. Scoville, sitting on the other side of 4.
W Cutie au, was greatly excited, and angrily
accused her brother of trying to iDjure the
case.
Smith D. Atkins, editor of the Freeport Re-
insanity in the Guiteau family. He knew DIR.
North as Methodist minister, and knew the
cause of his dismissal.
Col Corkhill-Well, what were the causes?
Witness-He was dismissed for lascivious
conduct.
Recess.
The fact that but few of the twenty or
thirty experts summoned for the defendant
gave their testimony excites some remark, and
it is said nearly all of them came to the con-
clusion they could do Guiteau no good by their
testimony
A few experts had interviews with Guiteau
Monday afternoon, but none of them appeared
Yesterday on the witness stand
The prisoner stated that experts requested
him to take some medicine before making the
with him an hour and half and examined
his eyes and felt his pulse and left.
Corkhill is quoted as expressing the belief
that the trial will not last more than week
longer.
John w. Guiteau is quoted to the effect that
so far as he is concerned the question of iuris-
diction of this court would not be raised until
the jury returned palpably unfair verdict.
Gniteau had many visitors at the Jail yester-
day. He was very cheerful
After recess several more Freeport witnesses
were examined who had no knowledge of in
sanity in the family. Guiteau had for some
minutes been engaged in reading the Presi-
dents message and suddenly interrupted the
court proceedings to express his opinion upon
the document "I'm glad" said he, "that
President Arthur has given those miserable
Mormons such a slap. I hope he will keep at
them. It's good message. 1t has got the
right rin1 to it. Arthur is doing well and he
is going to give us the best administration we
have ever had"
Horace Tarbox of Freeport was we'll ac-
quainted with the prisoners father. "He bad
as good head on him as any man in the
State" and after slightest pause, che was
the third smartest men in the country"
"who was the first" quickly asked Gui-
teau."
"Mr Sweet"
Guiteau-"Who was the second?"
"Mr. Turner
"Well," said Guiteau with a broad smile Of
satisfaction, las they have both been dead a
great many years my father was ahead"
Guiteau was about to interject another little
speech, when Mr. Scoville endeavored to stop
him and was told, Don't be punching me M
der the table. please, when want to speak"
and after short pause, II tell you what it is,
Scoville, you have got to abandon your theory.
That's all there is about that. He was a
smart man and everybody knows it, only he
was badly cracked on religion"
The corlrt then adjourned until tomorrow.