New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-23
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE TRIAL DRAGGING SLOWLY
ANOTHER EXPERT EXAMINED.
A DAY ALMOST DEVOID OF INTEREsT-DR. Dl

ANOTHER EXPERT EXAMINED.
A DAY ALMOST DEVOID OF INTEREsT-DR DIMoN
TEsrIFIEs TO THE AssAssIN's sANTTY-MR
SHAW AGAIN ON THE STAND.
The greater part of the session at the Gui-
teau trial yesterday was occupied by the ex-
animation of DR.. Theodore Dimon, of Auburn,
n. Y, who summoned originally for the de-
fence, testified for the prosecution that in his
opinion Guiteau was sane. The cross-exam-
inaton was long and tedious. Guiteau was
unusually quiet, though he became very much
excited when Mr.. Shaw, who had testified pre-
viOusly to the Wilkes Booth story, was called.
Mr.. ScOville shared the assassns excitement
while he was showing that the witness had
been on trial for perjury. The witness testi-
fed that his arrest for perjury had been caused
by a mistake which he made, and that the
jdry acquitted him on the first ballot.
THE ASSASSIN'S EXCESSIVE EGOTISM
iBY TELEGRAPH THE rRrBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Dec 22.-It is fortunate for all
concerned that many of the experts in the Guiteau
trial have gone home. The average rate of progress
in their examination is one expert per day. If all
those originally summoned had remained there
would be danger of the failure of verdict through
the death of some of the jury from old age.
The prosecution did their best to hasten matters
to-day. Colonel COrkhill asked DR.. Theodore
Dimon of Auburn, the first and last expert witness
of the day, few questions regarding his experience
with the insane and established the fact that he
had been first summOnedas witness for the defence,
and then, having concluded that Guiteau was sane,
had been subpGnaed by the Government. In
response TO the two hypothetical questions first read
to DIR. Worcester Yesterday Dr. Dmon said posit-
lively that in his opinion the prisoner was sane.
lie was under examination by the prosecution only
few mnutes and n considerable space OF that time
in the reading of the long questions. Then he was
turned over to Mr. Scoville and for nearly four long
hours the judge and jury, the lawyers and the audi
tors sat in patient endurance while Mr. Scoville
fumbled over the subject of insanity in rambling
and unutterably tedious cross-examination.
It need not be said that il pro-
duced nothing except to strengthen the case
of the prosecution. One fact Of general interest
was brought out-that Dr. DImon does not agree
with the experts who believe that Guteau has been
playing part in the of Stimulating insanity.
He thought Guteau was behaving in a manner nat
ural TO his circumstances and character There hat
always seemed to be certain degree of consistency
in the shamminc. in the fact that Gulteau has al
ways met the doctors at the jail in frank and open
way, though knowing he was on trial before them
And Dr. DimOn's avowal that he did not believe he
was playing part and, nevertheless, believed him
sane. was heard with a good deal of interest.
During the afternoon session Mr.. Scoyille read "a
new hypothetical question bringing out strongly
the idea of religious insanity but Or. Dimon refused
to accept the cOnclus ION that the prisoner was in
sane because, as he said, there nothing in hit
acts inconsistent with his natural character and
early training and the course of his life.
Guiteau was unusually quiet When he first came
in there was a conference in low tones between Mr.
Reed and Mr. Scovile and himself. Guiteau said te
Reed, in an excited manner 81 want you to take
charge of this case" Reed tried to quiet him. 81
won't have Scoville in this case any longer; that's
sure" he continued, but still in cautious Tone
You ask too many foolish questions" he said, adj
dressing Scoviile directly, :" You haven't got any
sense"
Finally the two hushed him. and Guiteau, looking
up at the Judge, waved his hand with self-satis-
fed air and said 81 was going TO make speech,
but now WON'T This was the quite too appro.
pirate beginning of proceedings. When DR.. Dimon
pronounced him sane he was reading his mail and
paid no heed. When the hypothetical questions
weYe read yesterday he constantly made interrup.
tions though always with Characteristic cool
ness and now and then the pallor of his face would
seem to increase as the terrible arragnment of fact
showing n murder planned with remarkable carr
and deliberation, read to the jury. Today
however he was utterly unconcerned ana read III
letters or testimony through his eyeglasses In tho
most gentee manner If his face had not strongly
suggested the ordinary burglar professional thief
he might have been mist qken for gentleman oi
leisure with no cares on his mind reading the morn
ing paper. There characteristic exhibition
of vanity. Holding up bundle of letters, he said
there was "Only one crank letter among
the lott people are tonng down-tonlna
down. he added for the benefit of the jury
He went on to say with vain air. which Is simply
indescribabl', that there was great demand FOL
his autograph and from the fine ladies of Washing
ton who sent HIM their albums" allbems," he
| called then-and fine cards. Quite lndeScrIbable
too. was the air with which ne said that good
| many people thought he great man. now and
then casting down his eyes IN trying TO cover his
didn't care much whether he was a great man or q
small man.
There was a somewhat exciting scene at the
close when Mr. ScOvIe called ID. Mclean shaw,
| the witness who swOre TO the Wilkes Booth story,
| and asked him whether he had ever been on trial
for periurv Mr. ScOVille here became almost as
much excited as Guiteau himself, who began TO yelp
at the witness as he saw HIM. AS these two
and the District Attorney and Mr. Shaw all talked
AT once the result was a brawl Of voices with Gul:
| teau always uppeunost. blasphemOns and mpudent
| of course. Mr.. Shaw's explanation was that ne
swore by mistake to the payment of certain one OF
eleven notes for 81 900, all made at the same time
when in fact il was another one. lie was acquitted
on the iury's first ballot. The District-Attorney
Mr. Scoyile threatened iercely TO bring four wit
neSses to prove his charges. The Dstrict-Attorney
reioined by announcing that he Will call tomorrow
still another witness who also once heard Guiteau
say he would shoot some one OF our great men.