The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-31

The witness was asked II ne Dell6VeQ tnab
Sickles was sane or insane when he shot Key,
and replied, 81 think he was sane, sir.'
Guiteau-The jury didn't agree with you,
sir. They thought he was insane.
The case of Coles, who shot Hitchcock at
Albany, was cited, and the witness stated that
Coles was undoubtedly insane.
Upon his leaving the stand Corkhill an
nounced that he had but one more witness to
introduce on the part of the Government, a
fact which he believed would be highly salts
factory to the jury, who for two long months
had been kept in seclusion by this trial, and
probably to all concerned. He would like to
hear from Scoyille as to how much time he
might want to consume upon sub-rebuttal that
some idea might be had how much longer this
long drawn ont trial would continue.
Scoville-We have witnesses whose names
have been presented since.
Col Corkhill-We would like to know what
you expect to prove.
Scoville-We have evidence to offer relative
to the state of the prisoners mind just before
the shooting.
Davidge- Could you give us an idea how
much time you will want upon sub-rebuttal?
Scoville-Several days. probably all next
week.
Davidge-We must object your honor. to the
reopening of the case.
Scoville insisted that he did not desire to de-
lay the trial or consume the time of the court,
but the prosecution had consumed weeks with
these expert witnesses, meeting with them
nightly and comforting with them in the prep
aration of this case and he did not propose TO
be cut short in the matter of time, He would
renew the motion, however. that the jury be
allowed to separate and go to their homes, re-
lying upon their honor and integrity
Guiteau said: 81 agree with that too, your
honor. They are heightened, honorable mon,
and amt afraid to trust them anywhere.
The American people don't want me hung,
anyhow, and the best thing this prosecution
do fc 10 fha ind lofr no
all go home"
Judge Porter called attention 10 the outbursts
of the prisoner, and intimated that if they we're
to continue he must request that the dock be
removed to the farther corner of the room
where at least the prisoner could not disturb
the jury. 81 do not ask" he added, for i'm
mediate action, your honor"
Guiteau-"Oh, you don't, Mr.. Porter
Scoville-I wish Judge Porter would make
his motions when he desires argument or ac-
ton upon them, and not be continually MAX
ing his little speeches to the jury.
Judge Porter-AsI have an undoubted right
to do.
Referring to the proposition to allow the jury
to separate, Judge Porter favored granting
some latitude and thought they might be al
lowed to go to their homes with bailif to &C.
company each of them. He appreciated the
hardships of the case and hoped the jury would
be allowed to get all the fresh air possible. 1t
was terrible ordeal to all who were compelled
to be in attendance and before it is ended, the
same fate, said Judge Porter, may befall some
of US as came to the late President.
"Death or insanity added Mr.. Davidge. 1
have secured quarters with my friend, DR..
Gray. The only lobstacle in the
way of the proposition to allow the
The discussion was cut short by the foreman
who stated that the jury did not care to separ-
ate provided they could have reasonable oppor-
tunity for exercise and to OBJ ain fresh air.
Corkhill thought the jurytwere more anxious
for the termination of the trial than for sep
aration. He then proceeded to reply to what
he termed the counsel's aspersions upon the
distinguished medical gentlemen who did hon.
or to the state. He would repel the asser-
ton that they met nightly to weave meshes
about this criminal The prisoner himself had
woven the meshes that were fast enclosing
him and only two men and their spawns of the
medical profession who could not even acknow-
ledge that they believed in God, had been
found who would under oath decls re their be-
lief in his insanity.
Scevile replied to Corkhill and surprised
every one by making one of the best and most
impressive speeches that has been heard in the
court room since the opening of the trial. In
earnest and Impressive language he vindicated
the conduct of the defence and severely rebuk-
ed the course of its district attorney in his
unseemly effort to muzzle and drive the
defence from the court. Some mani
festation to applause followed the conclusion
of his speech, but it was quickly checked by
the court.
DR.. John P. Gray. medical superintendent
of the New York State lunatic asylum, then
took the stand. Witness had made the study
of insanity his business since 1850, and in that
time had treated or investigated 12000 cases of
insanity. Had never seen single instance
where the only indication of insanity was an
exhibition of immortality or wickedness. He
did not believe in what had been called "Mor-
al ;fu iran In dizcaUQr
mental unity so as to locate the impairment OF
the moral nature that was not accompanied by
intellectual detraction. insanity in itself had
no more tendence to excite to crime than neu-
ralgia or any other disease. 1t puts nothing
new into mans nature, it only pervertS what
is already there. Witness at some length clas-
sifed the various groups of the insane that had
come under his attension and described various
phases and peculiarities of each. He did not
believe any type of insanity exists outsid OF
asylums that has not its prototype in asylums.
Recess
After recess DR.. Gray stated that he made
complete and satisfactory examine
ton of the prisoner at the JAIL and at the re-
quest of the district attorney gave at some
length the details of his examination and of
his conversation with the prisoner. After
half hour had been thus taken up Guiteau re-
marked, "This very interesting story. l
have no doubt but it must be
familiar by this time to everyone.
The doctor is telling 1t very we'll and Is gettlng
in all the facts as | told them to him. have
no objection to it"
Witness continuing said, 81 asked the pri-
soner the question. Suppose the President
had offered you the Paris consulship during the
time you were rejecting upon the subject of
removing him would you still have shot him.
and he replied, well that would have settled
the matter. should have taken the position
and left"
Guiteau called out from the dock, 81 said if
he had offered it to me at any time before the
first of June. If he offered it after the first of
June it would not have made the slightest diff
ference"
Witness asked the prisoner how he came to
shoot the President and his reply was, 81 came
to the conclusion that the political situation
justified it. 1 gradually became convinced OF
this and I resolved upon his removal"
Guiteau shouted again, "That knocks your
Paris consulship and shows that there was no
malice in it nor an element of murder in it, but
a political necessity"
Witness said, 81 then asked him upon what
grounds he resolved to remove the President
and he replied" 81 considered the removal of
the President political necessity" / then
asked him how he arrived at that conclusion
and he replied, "If you will read the papers of
May and June you will find exactly what the
political situation was, and you will perhaps
appreciate what mean by political necessity"
Witness inquired of the prisoner in regard to
his alleged inspiration and asked him II 1t
came to him in the form of voice or vision
or direct command and his reply was, sNo it
came into my head as conception and L re-
elected upon it until resolved that it was
justified by the situation" Witness then
asked the prisoner how this statement accord
cd with his theory of inspiration and his reply
was, 1.-THE inspiration was in the form OF
pressure constantly upon me to commit the
act"
Guiteau-That's all there is in the case;
short and to the point. You can talk about it
six years if you want.
DR.. Gray continued the story of his inter