New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-07
THE AssAssIN's CASE BROKEN DOWN


WASHINGTON. Dec. 6.-The defence OF Unileau
closed TODAY somewhat unexpectedly, making
clear the fact that the assassns case has completely
broken down.
To show the truth of this it will only be necessary
to recapitulate the facts concerning the eN-
perts summoned in the case, and the tlmld use
which the defence has dared to make OF them' nc
experts summoned for the defence were Dr. fHhy
Earle of Northampton, Mass; Dr. ID. d. ldcharu-
SON. of the City Asylum of Philadelphia; Dr HelHeh
II. Taleott. of the New York Homeopathic State
Asvlum. at Middletown; Dr. Theodore Omon, late
of the Criminal Asylum. at Auburn, n. T., and Dr.
HIP. Stearns of Hartford. The defence did not put
any one of these gentlemen on the stand the reason
being well understood TO be that they had, after
hearing Guiteau's own testimony, con-
veyed a plain intimation to the defence
that their evidence would not be advantageous to
the assassin. Dr. Earle who is advanced in years,
has gone home sick but most, if not all of those eX-
perts who were converted, chiefly by Gulteau him
self into belief in his responsibility, were at once
cited to appear as witnesses for the Governments
The defence did place upon the stand eight experts
The only one of them who seemed ready to give
them any real help was young DR.. Kernan OF CHI
cago and little was left of his testimony for jury
purposes when ne emerged from the box. The other
experts heard on Monday. Drs. Nichols, Folsom,
Worcester, Godding Mcbride Claiming and
Fisher simply testified in response to the
hypothetical case put by Mr.. ScovllIe,
not one of them was asked whether he considered
the prisoner responsible for his acts and not one of
them was asked what conclusions he arrived at IN
his examinations of the prisoner.
The defence has therefore, closed without the eX-
preston of an opinion by any alieniSt that Gulteau
is incapable of Distinguishing between right and
wrong and of controlling his actions; IN other
fnr IN.
theory of insanity On the other hand the Govern
ment retains not only all its experts but will
have the added benefit of the testimony of the eX-
perts who have been driven 10y the evidence over
to the side of the prosecution -Four OF the experts
called for the Government have been in attendance
since the trial. These are Dr. John p Gray, OF the
Utica Insane Asylum; Dr. 4. f. Macdonald, of the
New-York City Asylum, Wards Island DR.. Walter
Kempster of the Wisconsin State Asylum, and DIR.
G. H. Calender of the Tennessee State Asylum, at
Nashville. Other experts present for the Govern
ment are Dr. Randolph Barksdale of the Virginia
Asylum, at Richmond DR.. Allan McLane Hamilton,
of New-Yorl one of the Consulting Board of the
State Asylum at Poughkeepsie and also of the City
Asylum; DR.. A. o. Kellogg, of the Polghkeepsie
Asylum and Dr. A. ". Shew, of the MddletOwn
Asylum, COun All these experts are expected to take
strong ground for the theory that the prisoner Is
responsible and the testimony of some of the most
distinguished of them viii. it is said b. their
friends, be of the most positive character.
One of the Government experts to-day, in speak
inC of Guiteau would not even admit that he had
any mental disorder This gentleman would only
say that the assassin had not one of the best kind
of minds" He also expressed the belief that much
of the boisterous behavior of the prisoner in Court
was for the purpose of Stimulating insanity, and
said that it had been a marked character
istc of his demeanOr that he was quiet
whenever the testimony was given III his
favor, but became noisy whenever it tended
10 injure him. The Government experts are look
Ing forward to a very thorough examination of the
whole question of responsibility for crime. They
feel the necessity for obtaining all the light which
car be shed upOn the subject of responsibility. 1t
will probably be some time, however, before they
are heard.
ginning the rebutting testimony Tomorrow, intend
10 begin at the beginning of Guiteau's career and
90 steadily through exhibiting him as swinder
and cheat and in general a vicious and
worthless character; then, at the close to
send the case to the jury under what is
expected TO be an overwhelming weight Of expert
testimony. One of the experts sal d to-day that he
Thought thew wonId not be called for week. and
that their testimony would OCCUPY a week. At this
rate with the possibility of considerable testimony
In snrrebuttal and the probability of week of
speeches, the new year may open before verdict
has been rendered