Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-12-24
THE TRIAL OF GUITEAu.
Incidents of the Case and Testimon,
Given.

n
amipation of DR.. Spitzka, of New York.
for the defense was concluded. DR..
Fo rdyce Barker, of New York, who was
called for the prosecution, declared that
moral insanity was simply wickedness.
Mrs. Scoville was allowed to question
this witness. Witnesses were called to
prove small frauds committed by Gui-
teau. The prisoner was violent and
abusive throughout the day.
On Wednesday three witnesses were
examined, the gist of their testimony
being that they never regarded Guiteau
as insane, but did look upon him as a
shrewd, or, in the words of the Rev.
DIR. Withrow, of Boston, Every cute
man.
Another witness said Guiteau had col.
lected money and never paid it over.
The prisoner INDUCED in his customary
remarks and Interruptions. At one
point he made little speech, in which
he discussed the question whether
he knew he was doing wrong. His
answer to that was he didn't care
whether he knew he was doing wrong
or not, for his free agency was destroyed
and he had no choice the question was
not whether he was insane five years ago,
but whether he was free agent when
he killed the President; he was in court
not to save his neck, but for justice and
vindication. Nobody interrupted his
harangue.
In the trial Thursday tine prisoner
opened the session with brief speech,
III which he expressed solicitude for the
health of the Jurors and suggested that
they take long walk before breakfast.
Joseph A. Reynolds, a Chicago lawyer.
testified that in July last he had three in
terviews with Guiteau in Jail. He read
his notes of Guiteau's conversations.
In the first interview, on July IL, the
assassin said that after the American
people had come over to his side he
would be discharged. On July Is he
said ne expected his friends whom he
had placed in power TO save him from
punishment. On July Is he seemed
astonished to learn that the men on
whom he had counted as his friends con-
demned his act. On July 10 he gave
the witness an addresses to the public,
in which he said that if his act united
the Conkling aud Blaine elements. he
would be delighted to hear of Gar
fields speedy recovery. Guiteau fire.
quently interrupted the witness,
and, while admitting the truth of his
statements, declared that he had de-
ceived him in order to obtain such in
formation. He was at times very violent.
He scolded Mr. Scoville and his sister,
and denounced District Attorney Cork.
hill for having deceived him.
DIR. Hamilton, of New York City,
testified that he made three personal
examinations of the prisoner, finding no
indications of congenital defect, and be
lieved Guiteau to be sane, although
eccentric, and able to distinguish be-
tween right and wrong, and to know
the consequences of his acts. Mrs.
Dunmire, Guiteau's divorced wife. never
saw any insanity about him. Guiteau
was violently angry when she was called
to the stand, and said it was an outrage
for District Attorney Corkhill to place
her in such a position. and lie wanted the
President to kick Corkhil ont of office.
Guiteau denounced Mr.. Reynolds, the
witness who interviewed him in jail last
summer, rs spy, and while the District
Attorney was reading newspaper clip
pings which Reynolds took to him in
Jail, Guiteau made characteristic
comments.
On Monday an affecting scene took
place III court. The counsel for the
government insisted that Hobbs, the alb
sent juror, should be brought to the
court. Hobbs was then brought in
charge of q deputy marshal from the
place where his wife lay dead. The
rugged, gray-haired old man took his
seat in the rear row of the jury chairs
trembliDgly, and buried his face in his
hands. The crier opened the court in
the usual monotonous way, and then
Guiteau, neatly dressed, with shaven
face, entered and took his seat at the
counsel table. Guiteau had a very
boyish appearance, and it was the gen.
eral comment that shaving had i'm
proved his face. The roll of the Jury
was called.
Then Judge Cox summoned Hobbs,
the bereaved juror, to lis side. Kneel-
ing beside him, his face red with weep
ing, the bereaved husband told Judge
Cox the sad news of his wife's demise.
The melancholy sight touched every
heart, and there were few dry eyes in
the audience.
Then Mr.. Hobbs resumed his seat and
Mr.. Corkhill, after comforting with
Judge Cox and his associates, said, amid
dead silence, zone of those sad be-
reavements common to us all has be.
fallen a member of the jury" He then
added that it was the wish of the coun-
sci for the government that the be,
reaved Juror should have every oppor.
tunity to pay the last honors to the
memory of his wife and he felt sure that
the counsel for the defense would coin,
eide.
Mir. Scoyille said in the same low
tones that he very cordially conceded,
| and that when he first learned that Mrs.
Hobbs was i'll he had requested thai
Mr.. Hobbs be allowed to go to her and
remain with her as long as he might
desire. Now, he would not only coincide
in Mr.. Corkhill's suggestion, but would
request that Mr.. Hobbs be allowed full
! liberty without the attendance of q
deputy marshal. He wanted in this
connection, since the jury would be
| absent from courtfor a day or two, that q
formal order prohibiting communica-
ton With them, not heretofore made,
should be made.
Whereupon the court adjourned. Mr..
Hobbs went to his desolate home and
Guiteau TO the jail, after eating his first
MONDAY meal. On Wednesday morn.
ing, if Mr. Hobbs is able to go on, the
] boz L..