Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-30

was In the Lords service and II was the Lord
business to protect him and pay his debts
The position taken by the courts as TO the mora
responsibility for their deeds OF persons touched
with insanity was discussed at length by MIR. SEQ
vile. IL motive could not be shown for the az
sassination OF Garfield by the prisoner II showed
the man was not controlled by reason and was
therefore insane II was the jury's duty TO ascer
tain the fact II the defendant was trying to deceive
or not. Mr. Scoville showed that Guiteau was Of
Huguenot descent and inherited the strong reli.
gions sentiments which caused their expulsion
from France lie reviewed the prisoners life in
detail down TO the present time but before conclud
ing his presentation Of tho case the court ad-
journed Mr.. Scovle was frequently interrupted
by characteristic interiections from his client.
WEDNESDAY, November 90 MIR. scoville con-
cluded his opening address to the jury. He
made formal demand for the papers which were
taken from Guiteau at the time Of his arrest.
The prisoner interjected remark TO the feet
that he had at that time forty or fifty editorial
slips denouncing President Garfield and showing
the political situation In June It was living on
such ideas as these, he claimed, which impelled
him to fire on the president. Mr.. Scoville re-
viewed other portions Of Guteau's career, his
difficulties with his father and his career as a
politician, drawing the conclusion that his intel.
lect was deficient. To any impeachment Of his
ability the prisoner has always been exceedingly
sensitive. and to his counsel's last reflection that
he could not gain recognition as a campaign
speaker he retorted angriy to the effect that he
lacked reputation, not ideas. Big guns like Grant
and Conkng, that would "draw," were wanted
file closed this interruption with the facetious 70.
mark, 81 presume I'd draw now.' This pro-
voked general laughter, the Judge struggling to
disguise smile. II. N. Burton was introduced
| by the defense 10 prove Guiteau's insanity as
shown in lecture he delivered In Kalamazoo.
Witness said, 81 did not think him to be 20 de-
ranged a. to be irresponsible. thought him not
deranged, but very badly arranged" Dr. John
A. Rice OF Minton, Wisconsin, was convinced OF
the emotional insanity Of the prisoner. There
was Impairment OF the judgment but not much
| OF the intellect He did not think prisoners
| father insane but he detected what indicated
moral obliquity In him. Absurd or irrational re-
igious views did not necessarily indicate insan-
| ity Testimony was introduced relative to lee
ture delivered by Guiteau in Boston In 1879, an
nounced by him rs follows: Don't fail to hear
the Hon. Charles J. Guiteau. the little giant from
the west. He will tell you some reasons why
two-thirds Of the race are going down to hell"
The lecturer claimed to have been disguised by
the small number and the quality OF his audience
and after speaking few sentences abruptly left
the platform. The cross examination showed
that the audience was composed OF infidels and
materialists whose views were wholly at variance
with the lecturers. Other witnesses testified to
Guteau's cratic conduct at various times and
kat.
court adjourned to Friday.
FRIDAY. November 25th -Guiteau read char
acteristic address to the court claiming that
God, the doctors and the newspapers killed the
president" John A. Logan was called as witness
for the defense but did not appear. Excited by
sharp cooquy between Colonel Corkhill and
Mr.. Scoville, Guiteau again broke in, shouting
very loudly that he had not understood that his
divorced wife would be used as a witness against
him He threatened, II she appeared, to rip up
her whole record Several witnesses were intro
duced by whom the defense endeavored to show
the insanity OF Guiteau's father, and the mental
unsoundness Of the prisoner himself On one
occasion Gulteau became so violent in his inter
ruptions that the cdhrt threatened to gag him II
he did not keep quiet.
SATURDAY. November 26th.-Thomas North.
amid many Interruptions from the prisoner, de-
tailed his acquaintance with Guteau's father and
gave the incidents Of a fight between father and
son When Senator Logan took the stand and
was asked Do you know the prisoner p Gui-
team broke In with " o yes Of course you do, Cen
eral; you know me very we'll; am very happy
to meet you again" The witness said Guteau had
frequently beseged him to endorse his application
forn 10 had
there was something wrong in his mental arrange
ment. Mrs. Scovile, Guiteau's sister and wife of
his counsel, told the story OF her brothers life,
how pleasant boy developed into an egotistical
crank, relating many instanooe of his erratlc con-
duct. Her mother sick long time at Charles
birth, and never walked In the street after that
event brother born subsequently was de-
formed and died In early childhood, and sister
in early infancy. She related the incident Of his
attacking her with an axe and said he looked at
that time like a wild animal. She visited him at
the Oneida community. He acted like a person
who had been bewildered, struck on the head, or
had partly lost his mind
MONDAY, November 2S-The proceedings of
the court were interrupted for several minutes by
the crush OF spectators who were crowding into
the room through the marshal's office. Several
female voices were heard vociferatiug that they
should be squeezed to death. Mrs Scoville con-
cluded her testimony, which was considered ef-
fective on the side Of the defense Guteau con-
tinued his meddlesome Interruptions but no effort
was made to check him and no notice Of his OBJ
servations and outbursts was taken by the court
The judge is greatly perplexed as to what course
humanity and justice demand should be taken
under the circumstances. John w. Guiteau.
brother of the prisoner. testified that he had not
been on good terms with his brother for fifteen
years. He related the circumstances of his dis
pute with him in 1879, when he had roughly
elected him from his Office Since he had seen
his brother In the court room he had become sat
isfied that he was insane On cross examination
he admitted that before coming to Washington
he had believed his brother responsible, but not
sane; responsible, because at some period of his
life he had surrendered himself to evil practices
rather than good. He regarded him as morally
responsible, but would not undertake to deter
mine his legal responsibility He thought his
case was one Of "demonism" His Testimony
was opposed to the theory Of a strong hereditary
faint OF insanity. Guiteau made many lively
demonstrations during his brothers testimony.
Once Judge Davidge, OF counsel for the prosecu-
ton, attempted to stop him, but he waved his
hand imperiously, saying, "You keep quiet,
judge, II you please"