The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-11-24
an,,a.n,s rrial--rnsanity Urged.


oner. He said he would try to con-
vincethe jury "that the whole ques-
ton was whether the act was the
result of an insane mind. Accord
ing to the New Hampshire doctrine
there were cases where insanity was
impulsive, causing the victim to act
on the spur of the moment, and in
this category he would place defen.
dant. Guiteau's insanity lay in his
desire to become a politician or a
great public officer. 1t was as I'M
reasonable to punish a man for
deficiency in mental operation as it
was to punish him because his hand
vas not properly constructed. One
of the most certain tests of insani-
ty was a want of adequate motives
for action or lack Of reasoning pow
ers, After pointing out the traits
exhibited by Guiteau tending to
show his insanity, Mr.. Scoyille said
the defense would confne itself to
proving the condition of the prison
er's mind prior to and up to July
I'd last. 1t would also be shown
that his mind,had undergone vari-
Gus changes since then. He then
reviewed the history ofrthe Guiteau
family, taking the point that the
most intense religious zeal was han
ded down from one generation to an
other, and also that various mem
bers of the family were victims of
insanity. Guiteau's aunt, Mrs. Ju-
liza Maynard, died insane; her
daughter Abbey is now being treat
ed for insanity. His aunt, Mrs.
May Parker and her son Augustus,
died insane. His uncle Abraham
died from weak intellect, not in
sane, but inherited weakness. Two
other uncles, Francis and Luke, had
been insane, Lukes' arrangement
being of a religious type. Turning
to Guiteau's immediate family, he
said his mother, at the time of his
birth, was in very feeble health. In
early childhood he was struck on
the head with stone by play
mate; he grew up bright. polite
boy, but his mother being dead, he
did not receive the attention he
should.
He was assigned to defend lar
ceny case in Chicago, resumed Mr..
Scoville, where evidence for the
prosecution was overwhelming, and
made such a rambling, incoherent
argument that Mr.. Reed had ever
since entertained theibelief that his
mind was not right.
Mr.. Scoville related all incident
of his having raised an ak against
Mrs. Scoville without reason, and
of the family physician Dr. Rice
having declared on that occasion
that Guieau was harmlessly insane.
He referred to Guiteau's explana-
ton of bis failure in the lecture
field, which was that Jesus Christ
could not pay his expenses.
BLAINE's home newspaper says
that he will mot become a cand1,
date for Representative in Congress,
will not be candidate for Gov
ernor, and will not be candidate
for United States Senator. When
Blaine retires from President
Arthur's Cabinet early in the COM
ing month, he will devote himself
entirely to his private affairs. Ru-
mors of his going as Minister to
England have no foundation what
ever"
SENATORS LAMAR AND GEORGE
were to have been IN Vicksburg yes
terday to confer with the citizens
committee in reference to the inn
provement of the Vicksburg har
Dor, and also for personal inspec
ton of the same. The object is to
secure the aid of those gentlemen in
getting sufficient appropriation
from the government for the rcsto-
ration of the harbor.
BRowN, who WAS Private Secreta
~ of the late President, and who
has been acting in the same capaci-
ty for President Arthur, has ten