The Portland daily press., 1881-12-10
GUITEAU's TRIAL.
Telling Blows Against the Insanity
Defence.
A TELL-TALE LIFE INSURANCE AP-
PLICATION.
Witnesses Grossly Abused by the Pris-
oaer.


Guiteau-Well, then you state 1t at once.
If you don't will.
Mr.. Scoville then addressed the court and
objected to the character of the evidence given
by the witness, on the ground that evidence as
to any other crimes could not be introduced
here when the prisoner Is on trial for this par
ticular offence. He desired that all such ev.-
deuce be stricken out.
Guteau here broke in excitedly and shouted
out SIT is purely in the nature OF o confess
sional. Mr. Macarthur is not an expert OF
LAWYER and object to his telling the jury and
the American people facts which told him
years ago in regard to my history"
The conrt ruled that the evidence could be
admitted as tending to show the general char
acter of tue prisoner
(Mr Macarthur was pastor OF the Baptist
church in New York, to which Guiteau united
himself in 1872. and from which. according to
his testimony, after borrowing $95 from the
pastor and otherwise abusing his generosity he
was communicated in disgrace for gross i'm
morality.)
Mr.. Corkhill-Did yo ever see anything in
the prisoner to indicate insanity.
Answer-No sir, never did.
Gui,eau here broke into one of his noisy
harangues and despite the caution OF the
court and the representations of the counsel
proceeded to express his opinion of Macarthur.
Turning to the reporters table he declaimed
for some minutes against "scandalous reports
of his character and singing out the reporter
of the Republican he shook his fist at him
threateningly.
Mr.. Corkbill desired the court to restrain the
prisoner when Gniteau turned to him and
said, ''You go slow, Corkhill. You are spotted
and as soon as this business is over the Presi-
dent will remove you"
Upon cross-examination Mr.. Scovile said,
"How many private interviews did you have
have with the prisoner"
Answer-If you count those upon street cor
ners when he wsylaid me to solicit aid, there
were great many.
Mr. Scoville Every angriy)-I don't want
any discourses on theology or ANYTHING OF that
sort The witness is an intelligent man and
ought TO know how TO answer simply ques-
ton. We have had day laborers here who
could answer.
witness-It depends on what you mean by
private interviews.
Mr.. Scoville-Don't you know what the
word means? Is it so uncommon that you
can't understand it?
Witness Calmly and with dignity)I am
very sorry the counsel should allow himself
to become so excited.
Mr. Scoville-Will you answer or not?
Witness-I had but few interviews alone
with him. They were in my private parlor.
The witness never saw any indications Of
insanity. The interviews related mostly to the
prisoners prospects in business.
w. S. Caldwell, physician, testified that he
treated l. w Guiteau during his last illness
and never detected any evidence of mental un-
soundness. He never heard L. w Guiteau
speak of any mental decisions under which he
suffered.
George W. Plummer was called. Guiteau
Immediately shouted, II owe this man $40
and it has cost the government 500 to get him
here think the Presidents attention better
be called to the way you are squandering the
governments money"
Mr. Corkhill-He might bounce yon at once.
You will cost the government two or three
hundred thousand dollars at this rae
The witness allowed the prisoner to occupy
desk in his law office at Chicago for some
months. The prisoner moved out and took
his (witness's) desk with him. The witness
went after it and the prisoner paid him for it.
The prisoner seemed to have a good deal of
collection business and went in and out like
any busy man.
Guiteau continually interrupted and finally
the witness said to him, "It seems that your
close relations with the Deity sof late have cor
rupted your manners.
Dr. Caldwell of Freeport testified to Gui-
teau's father having died of dropsy
G. W. Plummer of Chicago, lawyer, testi-
fed that Guiteau owed him $50 for rent of
desk room. He never considered him of UNI
sound mind He seemed to be man of abili-
ty, vain and coDceited, but then he had Late
from New York city" on his card ana we ex-
pected the rest.
Judge Haines of New York testified that
Gniteau owed him $50 for desk room.
Stephen English of Nav York, editor of the
Insurance Times, was the next witness.
II know English" shouted Guiteau. "He
was in Ludlow street jail got him out, re-
ceiving $500 or $4OO fee for which he promptly
sued me-"
Mr.. English referred to his imprisonment in
1873 and detailed Guiteau's interviews with
him preliminary to his beng freed. eyes,"
said Gniteau. II got you out after three weeks
bard work, earned the money you gave me
md Iap nm III mo in
Jail for libelling President Winston of the
Mutual Life" Mr.. English said he did not
wish Guiteau's assistance but it was pressed
upon him. He knew that his bail would be
reduced in consequence OF his appeal to the
New York legislature. 1t was reduced to 49,
600. Guiteau was to receive 500 for his SER
vices and $500 for the man who went his bail.
He converted the $500 to his own use. Wit
ness was asked if he ever detected any signs of
insanity in the prisoner and replied, "On the
contrary he was remarkably clever-headed,
shrewd lawyer. He completely outwitted me-"
Warren G Brown, attorney at law OF New
York, was counsel for Mrs. Gniteau in obtain
ing her divorce from the prisoner. Witness
saw and talkd with the prisoner several times
during the four moths that the case was pend
ing, and never saw any thing to indicate that
the prisoner was not as rational as any other
man.
Guiteau-( Excitedly) ST want to know, Cork
hill what all this kind of evidence has to do
with the real issues who fred the shot that
killed Garfield, the Deity Or l. think it is
devilish mean to rake up my character in all its
details. The only issue here is who fred that
shot, the Deity or l. just take that home,
Corkhill, and think it over till tomorrow
Thomas Darling of New York acted as attor-
ney for Mr.. English, and brought suit against
The prisoner TO recover $3.50 which the prisoner
had obtained under false pretences from his
(witness's) client Witness introduced papers
which had been used in the suit.
Scoville objected and desired to know the
object of the prosecution in introducing them.
Col Corkhill-Why to show his capacity as
a lawyer to conduct the suit, which you have
denied
Guiteau who is always keenly alive to every
point that may be made against him protested
against the admission of the evidence.eI want to
know. what all this has goi to do with the
q uestion of my sanity or insanity on the second
IF July, AS I have told you before 1 had
lime enough to go crazy hundred times in the
1 rval."
Witness continued in reply to a question,
Il never detected the least sign OF insanity in
the prisoner. While did not give him credit
for great legal attachments he certainly evinced
great shrewdness in his methods and great in
Ielligence."
Recess was then takon
The crowd in the court room was larger
after recess than for many days. A number
from the Capitol filling every inch of vacant
space.
Col Corkhill read papers in suit of Stephen
English against Guiieau and when he finished
)De p per Guiteaa said: "That's a square
Colonel, that knocks your total
iepravity theory on the head"
Chas. Wehle, New York lawyer was the
irst witness after recess. He had two con-
versatous with Guiteau in 1873 respecting
money collected by Guieau for Wehle's clients
which he had retained. He considered
Guteau sane
Mr. Wabele read from. pass book memo
-anda of claims given Guiteau for collection by
ais CLIENT Mr.. Haas, aggregating over two
dollars.
'I wouldn't" said Guiteau, give two cents
4 bushel for such claims. / told Haas So /
offered him all the trash I had from him for
me hundred dollars in compensation for my
'ervices.
Wahee had a conversation with Guiteau
who had appropriated the money collected and
'ad he should not pay it because he did not
nave it.
Guiteau grew very violent under this testi-
nony. He told Wahele frequently that he |
vas liar, that he had not appropriated any
money belonging to others and that the claims
we're worthless aud he had offered to give them |
Jack for one hundred dollars. This was the
proposition under discussion in their CONVERSE
ion.
The next witness was Benjamin Harrison,
United States Senator from Indiana. He tes- |