The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-11-23
Gsiteau's COuntenance Complacent and
His Disposition Docile During Yes
terday's Proceedings.--ScOyilps
Insanity Argument.
An Erroneous Report about Railroad
Injunction Rectiiled.. Five Suryi.
vOrs Of the Wrecked Ship
France.
Postmaster.Gensral James and Party
In Florida -. Guitcau's Assailant
Identified but out on Bail.
English Troops Employed Against the
Irish Land Leagers--Seyeral more
Arrests made.
Seven Persons Drowned in Lake Mich.
igan...NOrth Carolina Railroads.
Prisoners Saved from Most Horrible
Burning Death.
Other Foreign and Domestic News.
'ther Foreign and Domestic News.


Eighth Day OF Guitsau's Trial.
WASHINGTON, November22. 2.-Guiteau was
brought to the courthouse about O'Clock
this morning, The van was guarded by six
mounted policemen, in addition to the DO.
lice in the van. His personal appearance
has undergone great change since the first
day of his trial, and this morning he de-
voted unusual care 10 his toilet. He still
wore the coat with the torn sleeve, but his
linen was spotless and his beard, which
heretofore has appeared scraggy, seemed to
have been carefully brushed. The wild,
frightened look of his eyes has disappeared
as has also his habit of looking up and cast
ing covert glances about him without rails
ing his head. He looked about the room and
bowed pleasantly to some one at distance
from him. AT ten minutes after ten Mr..
Scovile resumed his argement. He called
attention to the plea set up by the defense,
insanity, and discussed at great length the
growth and changes Of public opinion up
on the subject of insanity, and
its treatment by the courts when set IN by
the defense in criminal cases. He cited
numerous cases, and the rulings in several
noted cases where the plea of insanity was
set up, and claimed that the proof of in
sanity having been set up by the defense,
the burden of proof rests with the prosecu-
ton.
Mr., Scoyillc continued his argument to
recess. He was some times inturrupted by
Guiteau, who interjected observations char.
acteristic ofthe man, and which did not add
materially to the argument his consul was
making.
Dung the progress of Scoville's argument
Guiteau leaned back in his chair, stroked
his nose and beard, and followed him
closely, Occasionally he would make some
notes, and hold a brief, whispered collb-
qly with his brother. Scoyille
resuming called the jury's attention
TO the prisoners conduct since the trial hc-
gan, asking them to weigh that point care
fully. Ho reviewed the various phases of
insanity, and said he would endeavor TO
convince them. The whole question is
whether the act was the result of an
insane mind 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 catte.
CORY he would place the defendant, He
cited the case of a colored woman named
Nichols, in this District, condemned
to be hung for murder, who died
pending new. trial. The most
mortem proved her complete insanity.
Then Scovillo went into the treatment now
adopted in the asylums which, he said,
was often calculated to confirm rather than
cure incipient insanity. There were SO
many types ofinsanity that he might saw
no two were exactly alike. He
would produce as witness DIR.
Sweetzer, who would testify to
defendants insanity, and said he never saw
case exactly like il before. Guiteau's in
sanity lay in his desire to become poll
tican or great public officer. II was ms
unreasonable to punish the man for def
ciehcy in mental operation as II was TO
punish him because his hand was not prom
erlv constructed.
One of the most certain tests of insanity
was the want of adequate motives foraction,
or lack OF ofreasoning power In this connec-
tion he cited the case of "Billy the Kid,n
the notorious Texan outlaw, who had the
most depraved taste for crime because he had
no reason to control his actions. The iury
should determine whether insanity was
feigned or not, and ifit was no punishment
was too great for him, but il was almost i'm
possible to deceive an expert.
Guiteau, with flourish of hands.-"I
never feign; always act my part OUT
[ Laughter.
Scoyillc, continuing, said, that President
Garfield and Secretary Blaine had spoken
of Guiteau as insane.
The District Attorney-"Allow me to
correct you. No such opinions were ex-
pressed On the contrary both though him
sane, Indeed, Mr.. Blaine has said so under
oath
scoville-"I only speak from newspaper
reports" and by way of illustration, after
pointing out trails exhibited by Guitean
tending to show insanity, Scoville
said the defense would Coniine itself
to proving the condition of the prisoners
mind prior to and up to July md last. 1t
would also be shown that his mind had un-
dergonc various changes since then. He
then reviewed the history of Guiteau's
family, taking the point that the most In.
tense religious zeal was handed down from
one generation to another, and also that
various members of the family were victims
of insanity. Guiteau's aunt, Mrs. Julia
died insane. Her daughter Abbey,
Is now treated for insal ity. His aunt,
Mrs, Macy Parker and her son, August
died insane. His Uncle Abra-
ham died from weak intellect,
not insane, but inherited weakness,
Two other unclcs, Francis and Luke,
had been insane; Luke's arrangement be.
ing of u religious type. Turning to Guitau's
immediate family he said his
mother at the time Of his birth was
in very feeble health, and her brain was so
affected 1t was necessary to shave her head.
This hair would be produced to the jury.