The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-12-29
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
A Prominent Physician Of Pine DIuif,
Arkansas, Assassinated Yester.
day, II Is Alleged, by
.n a Chinaman.
Half.Breeds and Indians Storm Sa-
loon atMoose Lake, Minnesota.
The Proprietor Murdered.
A Steamer Blown Up at West Point,
Virginia, and Several Of Her
Crew Killed. s
- 'A sfyr
Tragedy in the Indian TerritOry-.A
Man Killed by Mistake.
More Expert Testimony Introduced
\. as to Gniteau's Sanity.
Other Foreign and Domestic News.
Tragedy in the Indian Territory-.A
Man Killed by Mistake.
More Expert Testimony Introduced
,,a as to Gniteau's Sanity.
)thsr Foreign and Domestic News.
The Guiteau Trial.


The Guiteau Trial. ~.
WASHINGTON, December 27.-The crowd
at the Guiteau trial this morning was as
great as usual. When Guiteau reached
his seat, he looked around, and,
smiling, said "I had q nice
Christmas dinner and hope everybody else
did. / had lots of fruit, howers, and lady
visitors, and good time generally" :.
DR.. A. Il. Mcdonald superintendent OF
Wards Insane Hospital, took the stand.
The witness had dnring his practice exam,
ined thousand cases OF insanity ana had
given special study to insanity He stated the
difference between delusion and insane de-
lusion the formerbeing subject ofcorrection
by the judgment and sense; the latter not
being subject of correction and for that
reason the denomination insane delusion.
He believed, Judging by his observation
and experience, that the claim of inspira-
ton, frequently asserted BY !. insane
persons, proceeds from some halluci-
was as,0 asked # persons acting Oh
inspiration would indicate it in any other
way than by their assertions, and replied
that their actions and behavior would ihdi-
cate 1t as well as their assertion, In an.
swer to the question if such persons would
form any apprehension OF bodily injury or
take any aganss da;nger
over-rides all fear Of bodily pain
and renders persons who believe they are
acting under inspiration oblivious to such
considerations. They seldom will plan
deliberately, but on the contrary, acts are
sudden in their conception and execution
as Il rule, and Seldom was an attempt made
to avoid the consequences in any way. n I.
Guiteap suggested that there We're
INSANITY two knas and abrap nsa insanity fss and
that he belonged !. TO the latter class.
Witnes, described what is commonly
called temporary insanity, and said he did
not believe III such insanity and in all his
experience had never seen an instance OF it.
Or. Mcdonald did not believe in heredi-
tary insanity, An occasional defect might
be transmitted, but not the disease itself.
As rule, the descendants Of insane per
sons did not become insane. II they did,
everybody in the world would by this time
be insane. The tendency was more t0wards
health than inheritance of disease. Nor did
he believe. in moral insanity. The phrase
is recent, and has been since its invention
another name for wickedness or craft. 1t
was first used during the French reyolu-
ton to excuse the slaughterers ofthat period.
Counsel for the prosecution in putting
a horse-doctor, and to another witness,
as an agnostic. Scoville called attention to
these reflections upon witnesses for the de-
fense and Judge Cox sustained the obiec-
ton and the offensive terms were with
drawn.
DR.. Mcdonald said that in his interview
with Guiteau the latter had spoken of his
acts as a conception of bis own.
His phraseology throughout the interview
was variation upon that conceived idea,
He did not then speak of Inspiration and
said he had conceived the idea about six
weeks before carrying it into operation.
He had already said it was an act of God.
Guiteau, in reply to McDonald's ques-
tions, why had he not left the. execution
of the idea TO God as well as its
replied that God left matters of
detail to his chosen instruments. Guitead
had discussed the question of insanity with
Macdonald aud 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
to be acquitted on that ground
and would be sent to az
asylum. That after being there q short
time he would apply for a commission, OF
inquiry, which, 0, course, would find him
not insaae and his discharge would follow.
saw nothing in Guiteaa's face
or shape of his head TO indicate insanity.
The District Attorney here pnt direct
question to Macdonald, whether from his
personal examination and careful coneidcra-
ton Of the prisoner during the trial, le
considers him sane or insane: To
further questions Macdonald said heI
believed Guiteau had been playing
q 1art In court. He had carefully
watched him when makin.s the assertion
he had been prompted by Deity. and had
observed his gesticulations, intonations and
facial expressions while using this express
sion were always the same, except once,
Guiteau during an interview in
Jail. apparently forgetting his part,
half completed the assertion in ordinary
but suddenly Tecollecting
himself he stopped and commenced the de-
claration over again with familiar effects.
As TO Guiteau's habit of interrupting in
court. DR. MacDonsid did not think an iiI-
sane person would lave had such q correct
Of the time and effect or show
80 much method in his interruption.
An insane man, II moved by impulse. |
TO interrupt, would have done 50 regardless
Of the stage Of proceedings. The conduct
Df an insane person would not be character
ized by selection, as had been shown by the
prisoner. He bad observed Guitean's I'M
Ierruprions had been mostly frequent
md escjlea when evidence was telling
Nc alnsf him. .
Here Guteah INTERRUPTED Macdonald
ss saving: "You are making great TO do
about nothing. do not pretend ] am N
saur now
Withess noticed Gnlteau's constant read
ing o. newspapers and concluded that news
paper eofnment had influenced Guitean'E
coi,fdtt. As an example Of this
he cited Guiteau's threat against
~ former wife which had been fsfcrred 70
In tlse newspapers before sle eamc on tiie
.iar,i a. an evidence or dslrayit &. alii y bon
the OppoFtunify oferel lt rarsfn'iy rr
Trained from executing he ihre1ls-
Guiienii frequcHty Interrupted Lacl n
him 10 draw his mouey aai 20 hoiae..