Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-12-29
pothetical question Of the defense, and the
witness replied: "Upon that hypothesis
his insanity is . self evident proposi.

potnotlcei Qu69t1op OF the defense ana the
witness replied: "Upon that hypothesis
his insanity is . self evident PROPOSE
ton" ft'
DR.. Walter Kemsteer, Of they Wisconsin
hospital for the insane, had devoted at.
tention to the study Of insanity. The
witness was familiar with the process Of
taking the conformity Of the head and
did mot believe that much importanoe,as
a rule, attached to the shape Of the head
in determining ths question Of insanity.
The witness exhibted . number Of alps
ofpsper showiaR tas sAapes taken BY
the conformity Of the heads Of . number
of gentlemen, including Ingersoll, W. I.
Sibley and Colonel CoFkhill. In the case
of Colonel Ingersoll tho witness remark.
ed. pointing with his finger, "This side
appears moro fat than the other"
Guiteau-sThat shows Bob and are
cracked in the same direction"
"Col. Corkhill's head" said the wit
ness, "has very large depression on one
side.'
Gu,teau (interrupting)-"I'n bet you
could put your foot in the depression on
his head"
Witness--"The depression il vsrv sim.
liar in the prisoners head" (LAughtes.]
Guiteau-"Oh, he is cracked . good
deal more than am
The witness related incidents within
his knowledge Of persons who had COM
committed crimes while laboring under
insane delusions and defined wha. he
considered an insane delusion to be.
The witness was then asked il he had
ever seen case where q person commit
ted crime and claimed Divine inspira-
tion, and if SO how such persons con.
Quoted themselves before and after the
act.
He replied that in such cases the delu-
sion, or inspiration, as they claim it to
be, comes upon persons suddenly and
that such persons act quickly aud upon
sudden impulse, delaying neither TO con-
slider the opportunity nor the weapons.
That it would be impossible to con.
ceive. without actually witnessing it. the
energy and impetuosity and determine.
tion with which persons acting under IN
insane delusion carry out their purpose
That it would be equally impossible te
describe it with language.
Guiteau-sYou don't agree with Abra.
ham, doctor. He took plenty of time to
make his arrangements"
The witness stated that he did not be-
lieve in any insanity which could be
called moral insanity. It was simply q
convenient term which had been invent.
ed to excuse the commission of heniou.
crimes. The witness had never seen
case where an insane man. after commit
ting a crime, pleaded his insanity ant
urged it as an excuse for his crime. Insan,
murderers do not boast of their acts, bu
on the contrary, would never allude I,
them, unless q good deal Of ingenuit,
was used to draw them ont. The wit
ness, until he entered this court room
had never heard Of case Of alleged in
spiration that came from within. Al
ways such persons claim to have heart
the voice Of God or seen his image, o
something Of that sort. Such inspira
ton is never . convection arrived at aite
mature reflection on the part of th.
person so affected.
Corkhill then read the hypothetica
questions of the prosecution and th
witness replied to each: Taking th,
facts as set forth to be true, in m.
opinion he was sane"
Recess.