The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-12-29
GUITEAU.
HAD A NICE CHRISTMAS DIN
NElt /; LOTS OF FLOWERS
AND LADY VISITORS
SUPERINTENDENT
OF INSANE ON
THE STAND.
INSANITY DECIDEDLY QUESTION
ABLE.

w ASHlNGTON, december 2I.-Ihe
crowd at Gaiteau's trial this morn
ing was as great as usual. When
Guiteau reached his seat he looked
around. and smiling. said: Il had
q nice Christmas dinner and hope
everybody else did. | had lots of
fruit, flowers. lady visitors, and
good time generally"
DIR. y. E. Mcdonald, superinten-
dent of the Ward insane hospital,
took the stand. Witness had, dur
ing his practice, attended thousands
of cases of insanity; had given spe-
cial study to insanity and stated the
difference between delusion and in
sane delusiOns, the former being
a subject of connection by iudg-
ment and sense, the latter not being
correct. and for that reason denomi-
mating it insane delusion. He be-
lieved, from observation and eXpe-
rience, that the claim OF inspiration,
frequently asserted by insane per-
sons, proceeds from some hallucina-
ton. The witness was asked if a
person acting under inspiration
would indicate it in any other way
than by his assertions. lie re-
piled that such persons would indi-
cate it by their actions and behavior,
rs well as by their assertions.
In answer 10 the question if such
persons would fear any apprehen-
sion of bodily injury, or take any
precautions against danger, inspira-
ton always overshadows all fear of
bodily pain and renders a person
who believes he is acting under ill.,
spiration oblivious of such consid-
erations. They seldom will plan
deliberations, but on the contrary
their acts are sudden in conception
and execution, and seldom attempt
ed to avoid the consequences in any
way. Guiteau suggested that there
were two kinds of insanity, the
crank and the Abraham insanity,
and that he belonged to the latter
class. Witness described what is
commonly called temporary insan-
ity, and said he did not believe in
such insanity, and in all his expert
ence, has never seen an instance
of it.
DR.. Mcdonald did not believe in
hereditary insanity. An occasional
defect might be transmitted, but
not the disease itself. AS a rule,
the descendants of insane persons
did not become insane. If they did,
everybody in the world, by this
time, would be insane. The tend
ency was more toward health than
Inheritance of disease. Neither did
he believe in moral insanity. The
phrase is recent, and has been since
lis invention another name for
wickedness or craft. IL was first
used during the French revolution
to excuse the slaughters of that
period.
The counsel for prosecution, in
putting the question, referred to DR..
Spitzka as a horse doctor, and to
another witness as an agonistic.
Scoville called attention to these
reflections upon witnesses for the
defense, and Judge Cox sustained
the objections, and the offensive
terms were Withdrawn.
DIR. Mcdonald said in his inter-
view with Guiteau, the latter had
spoken of his act as a conception of
his own. His phrascology through
| Oub tAlS HUI 40 u
upon his conceived idea. He did
not then speak of inspiration, and
said he had conceived the idea about
six weeks before carrying 1t into
execution. He had already said it
was the act of God.
Guiteau, i'll reply to McDOnalds
question whether it had not been
| better to have left the execution of
the idea to God as well rs its con-
ception, replied "that God left mat
tiers of detail to his chosen instru-
ments."
Guiteau had discussed the ques-
ton of insanity with Mcdonald, and
| to him had said he had been looking
up the question of insanity, and
while he was not medically insane,
he was legally insane, and expected
acquittal on that ground, and would
be sent to an asylum, and that, after
being there a short time, he would
apply for a commission of inquiry.
which. of course, would find he was
not insane, and his discharge would
follow.
Mcdonald saw nothing in Cult
eau's face or shape of his head to in
dictate insanity.
The district attorney here put a
direct question to Mcdonald,
whether from his personal examina-
ton and careful consideration of
the prisoner during the trial, if he
considered him sane or insane.
Mcdonald replied: 81 believe
him to be sane man."
To further questions he also said
he believed Guiteau had been play
ing a part in the. court. He had
carefully watched him when max
ing his assertions that he had been
prompted by Deity and had observ-
ed his gesticulations, int0nations
and facial expressions while
using this EXPIRE ssion were
always the same except once,
when Guiteau, during an interview
in jail, apparently forgetting his
part half completed the assertion in
ordinary conversation, but suddenly
recollecting himself he stopped and
commenced the declaration again
with familiar effects. AS to Gut
teau's habit of interrupting the
court. DIR. Mcdonald did not think
an insane person would have had
such correct appreciation of time
and effect, or show so much method
in his Interruptions. An insane
man, if moved by impulse TO inter-
rupt, would have done so regardless
of the stage of the proceedings. The
conduct of an insane person would
not be characterized by selec-
ton. rs had been shown by the pris-
oner. He had observed Guiteau's
Interruptions had been most fire.
quent and excited when evidence
was telling against him.
Here Guiteau interrupted Melon
aid by saying: "You ae making a
great ado about nothing. do not
pretend that am Insane now"
The witness noticed Guiteau con-
stahIly reading the newspapers, and
concluded that newspaper COM
ments had influenced his conduct.
AS an example of this, he cited
Guiteau's threats against his former
wife, which had been referred to in
the newspapers, before she came on
the stand and gave evidence of his
depravity; and when an opportunity
was offered, he carefully refrained
from executing his threats.
Guiteau frequently interrupted
Mcdonald, combating his conclu-
sions and advising him TO draw his
money and go home.