Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-08-19

expressed opinions, perhaps, give as correct
pen portrait as can well be drawn of Charles
J. Guiteau, who attempted TO take the life of
President Garfield. MIR. Simon Camacho,
Minister from Venezuela who witnessed the
shooting, said, in answer to an inquiry soon
after, that Guiteau at the time "looked angry
and full of resolution" "You did not think
he was a lunatic ?" mo, sir; nothing of the
kind. He looked like a man who had come
there prepared and determined, and he car
ried out his terrible purpose"
Gen. Ramsey of New Jersey says " The
design was well thought over, and the work
was done by cold -blooded villain. do not
believe in his insanity"
Mr.. Stephen English editor Of the Insur-
ance Times, when asked, "Do you think it
likely that he was insane when he shot the
President ?" said: Insane Not at all. He
was cool, calculating villain, and has always
borne that character. He was a rascally
| knave."
Those by whom Guiteau has been examined
since the shooting say that 'he shows no
| symptoms of insanity Those having the
oversight OF the Jail in Washington where he
is confined say "He has not manifested a
single trace of insanity in any form, and no
person connected with the jail believes that
he is in the slightest degree insane"
Testimony touching this point is abundant,
direct and conclusive. He may have men
tai maady termed by Pollok "incurable in
sanity of will" That he is uusound in intel
lect is very apparent His most intimate ac
! quaintanoes say that he has not well-b balanced
mind, and that il is a "mania with him to gain
notoriety in every conceivable way"
Mr.. f. A. Bailey, prominent Washington
lawyer, says he has ''conceit enough to sup
! ply regiment"
Col Burnside says. cone thing is GER
| faiu ha loo1raA hp
was not exactly right in the upper story
Mr.. s. D. Phelps, junior partner of the law
firm of Reynolds & Phelps, New York, says:
| "Guiteau was a clerk in our employ during a
part of the years 1SG7-GS He performed the
ordinary duties that fall to the lot of clerk
OF q law firm, sucha copying papers, etc
He was always unreliable. Icannot say, even
now, that he was either a lunatic or an idiot (;
but there was something wrong about him,
and don't know that l can express 1t any
better than by saying that there was a screw
loose omewhere-or perhaps l ought to say
that he was weakminded. | wouldn't under
take to make diagnosis Of his case, but il is
certain that, as the Scotch say, he was not all
| there.
Col Burnside, the disbursing officer ut the
post-offce department, Washington who
knew Guiteau from the cradle TO the crime, "
says he WAS IAN odd boy, tainted with his
I lAlntT > ttttnlflcllltb. On tue uhl Oh lue
assassination, the colonel said in reference TO
Guitoau: d" He is now about 40 or AZ years
old. From what knew Of the boy, his edu-
cation in the Oneida community, and his ut
terances on religion, l WAS not at all surprised
at his committing the act this morning.
understand from people employed at the
White House that Guiteau had forced himself
upon the President before. He was an appli-
cant for the consulship at Marseilles, and a
few days ago obtained access to the President,
and acted so rudely that he had to be removed
/ have no doubt that, feeling offended at this
act, he determined on the course which culmi
mated in the terrible tragedy this morning.
After completing his studies, Gui
teau went to Europe, where he travelled sew
eral years. imbibing socialistic aud other &c
centric doctrines"
Guiteau's brother, John W., q lawyer il
Boston, says that Charles is ''the personifca
tion of egotism and obstinacy," and thinks i
quite probable that after the assassination
of the czar he put himself in communication
with European Nihilists, and has tried to or
ganize a society in this country. Personally
he is great coward and has often refused t
60 into dark part of the house at nigh
without first arming himself with a revolver.
But perhaps we have the most correct pei
picture of Guiteau painted by his own father
who would be likely to know him best, anC
would not be apt to exaggerate any unfavora
BILE representations. In letter written b,
him March 80, 1873 TO his son, John W., h
says of Charles: ~ have been ready to be
lieve him capable of any folly, stupidity o
rascality. He is likely to become a sly, Gun
ming desperate. regard his case as hope
less, or nearly 80. am sometimes afraid h.
would steal, rob, or do anything, before hi
egotism and self-conceit would be knocke
out of him-and perhaps even all would no
do it. found he was deceitful, and coul
not be depended on in anything stubborn
wilful, conceited, and at all times outrageous
ly wicked-apparently possessed with the dey
ill.,"
Guiteau was a fit subject for Noyesit
community. He caught the cue from Noyet
and pretended to have new revelations. II
remained in the community a number o
years; but, not finding full license for his d.
PRAYED nature, he finally left, and went out {
operate as perfect pest in a wider sphere
Well might Col. Burnside, knowing the bo
and his education in the Oneida community
say that he was mot at all surprised" at tn
tragic scene in Washington ON Saturday morr
ing, July2. The strong probability well-nig
amounts to a certainty that the seed whic
was sown and germinated at Putney wa
transplanted and grew luxurianty at Oneida
has brought forth legitimate fruit. Their
may have been other circumstances and var
Gus influences tending to elimination in tn
tragic event at Washington but, with mora
sense deadened and passion dominant, and tn
whole mental structure a compound of morb
fic elements, no one could foresee what Nigh
occur.
Viewing it in political aspect, the Chicag
Tribune says this demon was in that meht
condition to be influenced by current even
of the day." and, referring to the New Yor
senatorial contest, thinks it probable, tina
"had not that faotious controversy take
place, this attempted murder would not haV
suggested itself to the man Guiteau." E.
Jacksonville, Aug. 8, 1881.