Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-11-23
THE DEFENSE OF GUlTEAU.
sCoviLLE cLosI, HIS ARGUMENT.
Witnesses TsstifyIne to the Prisoner. Mental
Condition.

| "hhCSSSo ~ tuC -
! Condition.
| WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.-The inclemeE
weather decreased the attendance Outsid.
the court room this morning, but inside
despite the rain, the usual crowd and a
many ladies rs ever were present. Gui
teau arrived at nine O'Clock. and over
breakfast displayed 4 marvellous appetite.
lie freely discussed the events of yester-
day, and expressed dissatisfaction at the
release of Jones.
At the opening Of count Scoville made
a formal request for the papers taken from
Guiteau at the time of his arrest, saying
they were essential to the defense. Cork
hill offered copies, but ScovilIc insisted on
his rights.
| Pending the discussion Guitcau insisted
Oh being heard and said IL can throw
light upon this. At the time of my arrest
l had forty or fifty editorial slips showing
the political situation in May and June
last. They show one of the forces that
| impel!ed me on to the president. They
are very important, as showing the sist of
the whole matter. There were forty or
| fifty slips denouncing Garfield. 1t was
living on such ideas us these that was
finally impelled on the president with my
inspiration.'
lie then made Il personal examination
about his expression ycsterday-that his
name Julius was too suggestive of the
negro race. His prejudice was begotten
twenty years ago. He meant no disrc
sDect to any race, for cOlorcu people are
more highly thought of now days than
the white race.
At-10:3O ScOyiile continued the reading
of Guitcau's letters. During the reading
of these letters Guiteau frequently inter
rupted. At one time he said g never
got much from my father. He got down
Oh me because 1 left the community.
that miserable, sinking community busi-
ncsS, I'm mad every time think OF it. 1t
kept me out Of fellowship with my father
up to the time OF his DEATH
When Scovlle argued to prove that the
prisoners intellect WAS deficient, the lat
ter's ire was. again aroused. When his
counsel said the prisoner failed to obtain
recognition from various campaign COM
nittccs, Guitcau said it was not because
he was devoid Of ability, but because he
had no national reputation, and then added
with an amused smile, 81 suppose would
draw now" This provoked general
laughter, which was suppressed by the
judge.
When Scovill, criticized Guiteau's
speech, entitled "Garfield VS.. Hancock"
as a mere tumble of ideas collected from
the newspapers which no one but q crazy
man could concoct the prisoner became
more and more restless and in the most
excited manner yet shown shouted his re
mOnstrances against being represented rs
u fool.
at tlis point ihe prosecution objected to
the interruptions of the prisoner. ScOville
announced his willingness to agree to any
measure looking to their abatement, but
after argument Guiteau promised to be
quiet.
Scovi!lc then concluded his opening all
dress without further interruption, and
witnesses for defense was called and tes-
titled. The first, w. L. Burton, heard
Guiteau lecture at Kalamazoo on ''The
Second Coming of the Lord The Oh
:ject Of this means of testimony was to
show that on that occasion the entire au-
dience declared Guiteau insane. Witness,
however, said he ''he did not think Gui-
teau derangcd, but very badly arranged. "
ii. ii. Davis, of Erie, Pa, testified
to the insanity of one of Guiteau's aunts.
Thompson WilcOxson, of FrceDOrt, ILL.,,
knew Guiteau'S $ father and described his
reculiarities.
DR.. john A. Rice, Of Winston, Wis. q
practising physician for 2G years, testified
that in 1876. at the request of Mrs.
Scoville, he examined Guiteau, for
the purpose Of inquiry as to his mental
condition, and reached the conclusion
that the prisoner was insane - that
his insanity was OF the emotions
rather than OF the intellect there was an
impairment Of the judgment, but not much
impairment Of intellect Witness at
the time advised Guiteau's friends to keep
him secluded, but before steps could be
taxed to secure his confinement the Pris-
Oncr borrowed some clothes from the gen
tleman with whom he was staying and dis
appeared. Witness also Treated Luther
Guiteau, father of the prisoner and de-
tected in him great moral ob!iquty.