The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-12-28
A Prominent Physician of Pine Bluig,
Arkansas, AsSasSiuated Yester-
day, 1t is Alleged, by
Chinaman.
Half.Brceds and Indians Storm a Sa.
loon at Moose Lake, Minnesota.
The Proprietor Murdered.
A Steamer Blown Up at West Point,
Virginia, and Several of Her
Crew Killed.
Tragedy in the Indian Territory...A
Man Killed by Mistake.
More Expert Testimony introduced
as TO Guiteau's Sanity.
Other Foreign aud Domestic News
The Guiteau Trial.

WAsHINGToN, December 27.-The crowd
at'the Guiteau trial this morning was as
great as usual. When Guiteau reached
his seat, he looked around. and.
smiling said: Il had nice
Christmas dinner and hope everybody else
did. had lots of fruit, flowers, and lady
visitors, and good time generally"
Dr. A. L. Mcdonald, Superintendent of
Wards Insane Hospital, took the stand.
The witness had during his practice exam
ined thousand cases of insanity and had
given special study to insanity. Hestated the
difference between delusion and insane de-
lusion the former being subject of correction
by the judgment and sense; the latter not
being subject of correction and for that
reason the denomination insane delusion
He. believed, Judging by his observation
and experience, that the claim of inspira-
ton, frequently asserted by insane
persons, proceeds from some halluci-
nation affecting the senses. Witness
was asked II persons acting on
inspiration would indicate it in any other
way than by their assertions, and replied
that their actions and behavior would ihd-
cate 1t as well as their assertion. In an
swer to the question if such persons would
form any apprehension OF bodily injury or
he replied that inspiration always
oyer-rdes all fear Of bodily pain
and renders persons who believe they are
acting under inspiration obliyious to such
considerations. They seldom will plan
deliberately, but on the contrary, acts are
sudden in their conception and execution
as a rule, and seldom was an attempt made
to avoid the consequences in any way.
Guiteau suggested that there were
| two kinds OF insanity, the crank
insanity and abrupt" insanity, and
that he belonged TO the latter class
Witness described what is commonly
called temporary insanity, and said he did
not believe in such insanity and in all his
experience had never seen an instance OF it,
DR.. Mcdonald did not believe in heredi.
tary insanity. An occasional defect might
be transmitted, but not the disease itself
Asa rule, the descendants of insane per
sous did not become insane. If they did
everybody in the world would by this time
be insane. The tendency was more towards
health than inheritance Of disease. Nor did
he believe in moral insanity. The phrase
is recent, and has been since its invention
another name for wickedness or craft. 1t
was first used during the French rovolu.
tion to excuse the slaughterers ofthat period.
Counsel for the prosecution in putting q
| question, referred 10 Dr. Spitzka as
q horse-doctor, and to another witness
as an agnostic. Scoyille called attention to
these reflections upon witnesses for the de-
Tense and Judge Cox sustained the objec-
tion and the offensive terms were with
drawn.
DR.. Mcdonald said that in his interview
with Guiteau the latter had spoken of his
acts us conception of his own.
His phraseology throughout the interview
was variation upon that conceived idea.
He did not then speak of inspiration and
said he had conceived the idea about six
weeks before carrying il into operation.
He had already said II was an act of God.
Guiteau, in reply to McDonald's ques-
tions, why had he not left the execution
of the idea TO God as well as its
conception, replied that God left matters OF
detail to his chosen instruments Guitea1
had discussed the question of insanity with
Macdonald and to him had said he had
been looking up the question Of insanity,
and while lie was not medically insane he
was legally insane and expected
to be acquitted on that ground
and would be sent to an
asylum. That after being there short
time he would apply for commission OF
inquiry, which, OF course, would find him
moi insane, and his discharge would follow.
Macdonald saw nothing in Guiteau's face
or shape of his head to indicate insanity.
The District Attorney here put a direct
question to Macdonald, whether from his
personal examination and careful considera-
ton of the prisoner during the trial, he
considers him sane or insane. To
further questions Macdonald said he
believed Guiteau had been playing
part in court He had carefully
watched him when making the assertion
he had been prompted by Deity, and had
observed his gesticulatons, intonations and
facial expressions while using this express
sion were always the same except once,
Guiteau during an interview in
Jail. apparently forgetting his part,
half completed the assertion in ordinary
conversation, but suddenly recolecting
himselfhe stopped and commenced the de-
claration over again with familiar effects.
As to Guiteau's habit OF interrupting in
court, DR.. Macdonald did not think an in
sane person would have had such Il correct
appreciation OF the time and effect or show
so much method in his interruption.
An insane man, If moved by impulse.
| TO interrupt, would have done SO regardless
of the stage of proceedings The conduct
of an insane person would not be character
lied by selection, as had been shown by the
prisoner. He had observed Guiteau's in
| terruptions had been mostly frequent
and excited when evidence was telling
against him. :,
Here Guitcau interrupted Macdonald
| hy saving: "lou are making great to do
about nothing do not pretend am IN
sane now.'
Witness noticed Guiteau's constant read.
ing of newspapers and concluded that news.
paper comment had influenced Guiteaus
conduct. As an example OF this
he cited Guiteau's threat against
his former wife which had been referred to
in the newspapers before she came on the
stand as an evidence of deprsvity, and when
the opportunity offered he carefully re.
Trained from executing his threats.
Guiteau frequently interrupted MacDon-
aid. combating his conclusion and advising
him to draw his money and 20 home.