Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-23
FOR THE DEFENCE.
SCOWLLES OPENING ARGUMENT AN
ABLE ONE.
A Sketch of the Guitesu Famiy-COntinual
Interruptions by the friSoner-CaII-
ing ScOviIIe a Iiar-"Great
Laughter" by the
Spectators.
A DlS6RACEFUL AND B0ISTtROUS
SCENE.

WASHINGTON, November 22.-The
prison van in which Guiteau was con-
veyed to the court, this morning, was
escorted by six mounted policemen, In
addition to the two officers who rode
upon the van. The trip was made
without incident, and after reaching the
prisoners room, Guiteau partoOk OF !
hearty breakfast and expressed himself
satisfied with the police Mrangernents
made 70 insure his safety. He thought
the same precautions should have been
observed at the outset.
Tho Court Room
was croNded in every nook and corner.
John Gultras WAS in tue court room
soon after O'Clock, and obtained anh-
Lruas for six additional Witnesses.
None OF the gentlymen publicly III.
vted by Gui.eau to assist in the defense,
have yet responded. 1t is understood,
however, that Scaviile expects 10 secure
the services OF Trude, oil Chicago, later
in the week. Several expsr.s, sun
moned bv the defense, are in
attendance this morning, among
the m Or. Rice, OF Wisconsin,, who has
long known the prisoner, and who, Il IS
said, advised his commIttaI 10 an insane
asplum four years ago, on the ground
Oi emotional insanity. GuteAu w&G
brought into the court room shortly
after ten o'clock and
scoviIle Resumed
his argument. lie called the attention
of the Jury to the plea set up h% Iht
defence insanity and discussed a.
great length the growth and changes "l
publc opinion upon the subject Oi IN
sanity, and lis treatment by ,@9
courts when SIT mp as q
ience in criminal cases !ic
cited numerous cases and rulings Ii
several noted cases. He claimed tHe
plea 0i insanity having been set up 10y
the defence, the burden Ci proof rests
with the prosecution.
At one point in the argument, SEQ
vile, in detailing the more enlightened
treatment oi the insane now III vogue
at the aeylums, said: Il other words,
those in charge oi asy!ums act with 4
little more reason than DO the inmates.
These sallies
seemed TO amuSn GuIjrau immcnSeIv,
and 4 broad smi.t broke over ms ia
lures, which reappearcd Two or three
times, a, ii his MUD rrCurrrG - II. -ro-
a s.t.'f
iuub,cdly existed against plea Of
insanity generally, and especially IA the
case of the prisoner. IL said the ncWF-
papers had Mtlmated lha' Gr'.eI Was
only leigniug insanity, and strH seemed
TO be INC ayu-rai theory Of '"' p"'l''.
Guiteau turned uneusiIy in lis rnalG
and with quick, nerNuns, &rItUi&-l'H
said:
II Never FcIEn.
| act mvseli, sane or insai!".
Without noting the interruption, SEQ
vile alluded to the arrest ~i man at
the tine OF President Hayes Inaugural
tion, who was sent to an insane asylum
This man, he said, na& as carefully made
all his arrangements to Kill President
HAYES q, did Guiteau 10 Xii President
Garfield and but ior his arrest he mlsht
have succeeded. There WAS just -
much ground to indicate
Cuiteau's Insanity.
"Whv," said Scovile, "evnn Presi-
den, Garfield said: why did this man
10 it, He must he insane. Blaine must
have believed Guiteau insane"
Corkuill here arose, and witE mucn
emphasis said: az you will allow nr,
Mr.. Scovillc, the Pr. sislLt never said
ha thought he vas insane. He thought
him sane ali the time. Blaine never
thought him insane. He hal said
under oath he }.tlirves him sane.
ScovilIe explained he spoke from in
formation derived from newspapers, and
would not take issue on the statement.
He then took up the h:sOry Oi
Guiteau's Family,
who were OF HuegenOt extraction, anu
who had, he sald, retained to the pre-
sent day rs & marked characteristic
the sturdy adherence 10 religious con.
victiOuz, which caused the oXpatiatiOu
of the Ilugrnots He asserted that i'll.
sanity Was hereditary in the family, and
went on 10 give the story ot Gul:Gau E
life in detail.
Guitcau appeared to he satisfied TIL
Scoville plainly intimateG that 4 lack oi
capacity on Guiteau'o part had reduced
his law practice to the collection oi b"t
debts, when GuitCau WINGED and broke
out with,
Il brought great many suits, AMI |
generally gave them all they wanted on
the other side"
After moment OF gGsi explanation
to the prisoner, SGovli!e w"s about 70
proceed, when Guiteau, apparently 81
reased, waved his hand pleasantly to
! Scoville, and said:
go on, Mr.. ScoyiIc, that's an ln,cr-
estiug story. and is correct III detail
Continuing, ScDvill" said i'll eli cttha'
Guiteau made a good living and sup
ported 4 family at this time, and part
| his debts.
Gu,teau Again Broke IN
With: Il had hrstc'}ss references, "a
well rs my personal appearances, ald p"
| cot business. Beside~ that, | hId 10
bad habits Of any kind"
70 illustrate Guitcau's freaks aud as
| an lnlltAtlll vi MS A4lsNAlAN '.'''' '''
Lated his rambling attempt to make
| speech on certain occasion when ne
was assigned by the court As counsel Tor
= prisoner on trial. ruit"&u again IN,
terrupted in an excited manner anu
| shouted:
"That's absolutely false. | never ined
a case with Charlie Reed IN my NE.
don't want 10 interfere with your lneo
rv, but your iacls are false. | want the
| Jury to understand my pecu.lartieS
That's all right. There a.e good many,
people who would swear | Am insane.
Recess.
After Recess
Scoville resumed his story OF the ii'e oI
Guiteau. using the expression, men
tally incompetent GuiteaHSretted al
the impusation OF lack OF brain power
and exclaimed: "NOt true, and can ID
shown. always tell the truth, anu
again he broke in: 81 had brains
enough, but my mind was devoted ito
! theology; that's why ! ran heHiAr'
There's no money in the Theology nus
ness; I'm out OF that now.
Scovile spoke of his clients Impecum.
ous condition, and Guiteau SAID: i
was always well dressed; don't put thai