The Portland daily press., 1881-12-23
ouITHAU.
More Testimony as to HIS Sanity.
a CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE
PRISONER AND HIS COUNSEL.
Scoville Threatens to Retire, which
PIeases Guiteau.

since the commencement of the trial there
were few vacant seats at the opening OF the
court this morning. The prisoner came in
looking, If possible, q little paler than usual
and apparently under some strong excitem emit
Col. Charles Reed took seat by his side and
whispered something to him. Guiteau, strik-
ing the table violently, began to expostuiate,
saying, II won't do anything Of the kind"
talation, when Guiteau angrily said to him, Il
won't have You compromising my case by your
foolish questions You must get off my case II
you can't stop compromising it."
The whispered consultation between them
seemed to result in pacifying the prisoner, who
looked up with smile and said, 81 was going
to make speech but have changed my mind
and guess won't do it"
He then busted himself opening his mail, re,
marking "This is the first time have opened
nv mail myself for sometime.
Dr. Theodore Damon, of Auburn, n. Y,
summoned for the defence and retained by the
prosecution, was called to the stand. The wit
ness believed, judging by the evidence to
which he had listened, including that OF the
prisoner, and from the appearance and conduct
of the prisoner, that he is sane. The hyptheti-
cal questions put TO DIR. Worcester yesterday
were then read to the witness and he replied,
81 shoald say he was sane"
Guiteau ssid:-"On the theory that that is
all correct. But two-thirds of it ia false there
fore your opinion Is of no value"
Upon croSs-examination the witness stated
that he did not believe Guiteau had been play
ing part in court. He thought his conduct
was perfectly Datural under the circumstances
to his character and temperament. The wit
ness had found a larger proportion among the
insane than sane who were immoral and had
bad passions. He did not think that feature
taken alone amounted to anything in deter
mining either mans sanity or insanity.
Scoville asked, "Have you noticed egotism
as feature of Insanity"
Answer-It is q frequent feature with insane
people In the sense that they magnify the i'm
portance Of everything affecting themselves or
their own interest, and ignore the possible
effect of their actions upon the interests or
happiness of others.'s Witness had gained
most of his experience with insane people
while connected 18th the Auburn State prison,
where he was brought in contact with the
criminal insane, and for that reason, perhaps,
would NOS be so good authority as some others.
He had, however found that the peculiarities
of sane mind generally appeared prominent
in an insand mind, and that instances OF
total change of character were rare. This was
in direct opposition to the weight of expert
testimony previously given. Witness was ques-
toned at great length and his answers indi-
Gated great conservatism of opinion.
Scoville finally asked, "Well, Doctor, how
old do you think physician ought to be before
he is able to distinguish between sane and in
sane MANI"
Witness replied that he himself was not yet
old enough to distinguish between sane and
insane people.
Guiteau Qaughing)- THAT'S the best thing
you have said yet, Doctor. Ladies' and gentle
men, you see Tn letting Scoville do most of
the talking to-day. I'm keeping quiet"
Witness was asked relative to Guiteau's eff
forts to secure office, If it did not indicate un-
soundness of mind, and replied TIT might
but am not sufficiently acquainted with their
practices to know to what absurd measures
Office seekers will resort"
Scoville paused moment to look over some
papers, when Guiteau improved the opportu-
nifty to make speech, saying THAT reminds
me to say that L opened my mail myself this
morning (holding up twenty or more letters)
Ter in the whole lot; all from high toned peo-
pie, too They are beginning to think better of
me outside. High toned ladies are sending for
my autograph. They think I'm big man,
man or little one" The prisoner busted him.
self reading his letters bat soon broke out
egain, saying:-"Well, did not notice this be-
fore. Ladies and gentlemen, I have just re-
ceived q letter from DIR. Spitzka, in which he
says that he has received 200 letters since he
returned from Washington, all congratulating
him apon his testimony. He has only received
two threatening ones and two from lunatics
A pretty good showing, think, when he came
on here Tor nothing and did not get cent,
while these fellows are handsomely paid by the
Government. There here is another one from
Judge Cox Well, that will do, prisoner, we
have not time to listen to the reading OF your
correspondence.
Guiteau-All right, sir.
The letter from DIR. Spitzka was not adj
dressed to the prisoner but to Scoville. He
had carelessly left it within the reach of the
prisoner, who Immediately seized 1t.
After RECESS the cross-examination of DR..
Damon was resumed Scoville called the wit
ness attention to Corkhill's hypothetical ques-
ton, and he, while contending that though
facts tended to show that the prisoner was
sane, admitted many OF them taken individu-
ally were not inconsistent with the existence
of an unsoupd mind.
personal divine inspiration in this age of the
world?"
Answer-Not especially.
Prisoner-Well, Doctor, II the Lord could
inspire man 1000 years ago could he not do
it to-day2
Scoville-I have no objection to your answer
ing that question.
Witness-If the Lord did inspire anybody
1000 years ago he can now II he chooses.
Prisoner-That is my idea on that. He not
only can but he did in this particular case.
Scoville then propounded hypothetical
question, taking as his strongest point the
averment that the prisoner believed firmly in
his inspiration to shoot the President, and in
euired whether If that averment were true the
man was insane at that time?
Witness-Don't think that is a question for
an expert. Any one can answer that There
is only one answer to that question. Suppose
a man to be insane is he insane? (Laughter)
Witness stated that he did not agree with
MRudsley on the question of moral insanity.
Q-Are not many lunatics able to distin-
guish between right and wrong but not able to
choose between them?
A.-When under inspired delusions, yes.
On redirect examination witness was asked
the reason fon his conclusion that the prisoner
was sane.
ScovilIe objected and the prisoner advised
the District Attorney to pay the witness his
$500 and let him go home.
The court overruled the objection and wit
ness stated his conclusion was based upon his
examination of the prisoner and from his tes-
timony.
Witness saw nothing in the prisoner that was
not the result Of his natural character, early
training and the life he had led.
Q.-(By Court)-You have been asked wheth-
or q man might be impelled TO the commission
of an act he knew to be wrong ty an insane
delusion. Could he be 80 impelled by an ire
sistible impulse to do what was wrong?
Al suppose that takes place in fit Of pas
sion, where there is no deliberation and where
up to the moment of the act the person knew
what was right and wrong.
Q.-Can there be sane irresistible impulse
in the absence of delusion?
AIN the absence OF an express delusion
there may be, but my own belief is that there
the actor.
Prisoner-Thsse experts, allow to say, are
high toned, respectable men, but nth all re-
spect say that they hang as many men as doc
tors kill.
DIR. Mclean Shaw, the witness whom Gut
teau told he would initiate Wilkes Booth,
was recalled. The witness was greeted by the
prisoner with 'This is the man who told the
lie about Booth. We have your record to show
over there In New Jersey, where you were in
dicted for perjury. You only got of on tech
nical bubble"
Scoville-Were you ever indicted for per-
jury?
Witness-For alleged perjury.
Prisoner-The judge said you ought to be in
State prison.
Scoville (angrily)-Now shut up.
Prisoner-I wont; will go ON.
Scoville-Then 60 on and will get off the
case.
Prisoner-We will have new man to-mor-
row., This is your last day.