The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-12-03
and got rid of him as soon as he could. The
senator plainly expressed his opinion that
Guiteau's mind Is unsound

senator plainly expressed his opinion thai
Guiteau's mind Is unsound
Edmund Smith employed in the Republi
can National Committee rooms during the
late presidential campaign, called as witness
Testified that he thought Gulteau was peculiar
and iIiehty, and rambling in conversation
Guitcau ntcrjected his customary comments
; "Ihs gentleman wasn't in position to know
about matters there He was only clerk
anyway Gov. Jewell, ex-senator Dorsey and
the rest Of Us boys were the ones that did the
work there"
Mrs. Scovile was the last witness of the day
and gave part Of her testimony. She will com
plete it on Monday Her lady.llke manner
and simplicity in telling the history of her IN
fortunate brother made good impression up,
on the jury. Her evident grief and distress,
too, created universal sympathy for her L,
was PLAIN that she made no plea for Guiteau
She evidently sincerely believes the prisoner
morally unaccountable, and the story she told
helped to communicate this impression Of her
belief to the jury.
| MONDAY,
| Mrs. Scoville's examination was concluded,
and the cross.examinatlOn postponed to allow
Geo d. Burroughs, of Chicago, to testify, as
he desired to leave the city. The substance of
his testimony was that he had boarded with
the Scovllles at the time of Guiteaus visit in
1878, and made up his mind that the prisoner
was either fool or crazy; he was satisfied
that Gulteau was unsettled in his intellect
There was now brief interval, which Gui,
teau seized to "shoot off his mouth" as follow :
II desire TO tell all these crank newspaper
men that l appear here as my own counsel
That Is my answer to all the silly stuff they
have been delivering themselves Of tor some
days past. Some of these newspaper men have
gone crazy, appear here in part as my own
counsel, as have a right to do under the law
and the constitution of America"
No effort was made to check Gui'eau, and
no notice whatever of the interruption was
taken by the court.
John w. Guiteau, the prisoners brother,
testified that he had always regarded the prls-
oner sufficiently sane to be responsible for his
actions, but since he had come here lin Octo
ber) and seen him at the Jail and In the court
prisoner remarked:
"My brother and have not been on good
terms for fifteen years. He always sympa-
thized with my father on that Oneida cOmmu.
nifty business, while Scovile and my sister
sympathized with me. The last time saw
my brother in Boston, we had some angry
,,,rI,, CO o Inoa ,gt A.
me with the ordinary force brother does usu.
ally come; but I'm glad he has changed his
views, however, in my case. l want the pub
lie to understand about this"
Gulteau continued to interrupt, explain and
correct the witness. Once Judge Davidge at
tempted to stop him, but he waved his hand
imperiously, saying: You keep quiet, judge,
il you please"
Sarah Parker, of Chicago who had married
cousin of Gulteau, testified as to his insanity.
Also that Guiteau had fallen IN love with a
little daughter Of hers and so prosecuted her
desiring to marry her-that the child was
afraid to go on the street lest she might meet
him.
Fernando Jones, another Chicago man, tes-
titled that in 1878 he had boarded at the same
place with the prisoner, and was on the board
of trustees who had supervision over the in
sane asylum at Jefferson; considered Gulteau
of unsound mind, and in what some authori-
ties would say state of incplent insanity.
Then, to wind up the proceedings of the
day, Mr.. Scoville announced that Guiteau HIM
self would be sworn.
He nervously proceeded to the stand, in the
custody of two deputy marshals, and the oath
was administered to him. He then whispered
few words to policeman who stood near
the wltness-bCx, and Immediately three depu.
ties ranged themselves shoulder to shoulder
behind the prisoner, who, apparently more at
ease, said inqulrngly to the court: 81 can sit
down."
Yes" replied the court, and the prisoner
seated himself accordingly.
Mr.. Scovile then stated that he merely
wished the prisoner to identify some letters
The Prsoner-"I understand from Mr. SEQ
VILE that all am to do is to identity some let
tiers. do not appear as witness aside from
that"
Mr.. Scovllle then presented number of let
tiers, dating from 1857 to 1868, which were
identified by the prisoner, who made running
comments upon his penmanshlp: This does
not look like my present handwriting"
There Is decided improvement shown
here This is better than | can do now"
This Is as fine rs steel plate" &c.
There were about twenty letters which had
been written by the prisoner to his father, his
sister, Mrs Scovlle, and his brother, j. w.
Guiteau, and to Mr. Scovllle.
identification having been completed, the
court adjourned.
Died.
At the resi- ience of his father-ln-law. John