The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-12-31

| views after an examination and observation,
was put on the stand by the prosecution on the
thirtieth day, and testified that in his opinion
the prisoner was sane. To Colonel CorkhilPs
| hypothetical questions also his answers were,
Sane" He thought Guiteau's conduct IN the
| courtroom not assumed but the natural out
| come Of his character The prisoners actions
| in court were consistent with his nature under
/ the circumstances. Guiteau asked the witness
whether if the Lord could inspire man two
thousand years ago He could not do 1t to-day,
and the witness replied in the atiirma-
tive. d. Mclean Shaw, the witness who testi-
| fed that Guiteau told him eight or nine years
! ago that he would initiate Wilkes Booth, was
recalled by Mr.. Scoville, who asked him if he
had not been indicted in New Jersey for per-
| jury. The witness said yes, bnt the jury ac-
quilted him. Guiteau again denounced this
| witness violently, declaring his story false.
| Guiteau was inclined to be quarrelsome DUR
! ing the day, and made another attack on his
counsel, saving sYou ask foolish questions:
| you have no sense at ALL" He wanted to read
| some of his letters in court, and said he had
one from DR.. Spitzka, who wrote that he had
received over 200 letters of congratulation and
commentator for his testimony, and only two
anonymous threats and two letters from luna
tics.
No sooner had the prisoner been brought in,
on the thirty first day, than he said: at ia
said that | have been abusing Mr. Scovile
Now, the fact of the mater is, want to make
speech about that. Scoville is doing very
well in this ease considering his theory, but he
is not q criminal lawyer He is a fine exam
iner of titles. He can tell you all about your
abstracts of titles. He is good fellow and
frst-class examiner of titles, but / cannot have
MIR. Scovllle here compromising my case.
There is no lawyer in this courtroom but
knows that he has asked questions for the de-
tense which have been positive injury to
the defense. l cannot sit here when my life is
at stake and have him compromise my case in
this way. My friend Charles H Reed, who
was for twelve years district attorney at Chicago
and tirst-class lawyer, has very kindly con-
scented to assume the charge of this case, and |
introduce him to your honor, the jury, and the
American people. He is good fellow Sco-
vile is good fellow, too, and 1 want him to
continue in the case and help in every way"
With the consent of the prosecuting counsel
Charles H. Reed, of Chicago, who had appeared
as a witness for the defense, then formally
entered the case as counsel for Guiteau. Will
liam A. Edwards formerly clerk for Shaw,
the LAWYER who testified that in 1872 Guiteau
told him he would initiate Wilkes Booth, said
he overheard that conversation, but it didn't
make any impression upons him at the time, be-
cause Guiteau said so many queer things. The
next witness was DR.. S. Fl. Talcott,
medical superintendent of the Hom@o-
pathic asylum for the insane at Middle
town, N. Y, who had examined the prisoner
and heard him testify. Witness thought even
onGuiteau's own showing that he was sane.
Dr. IL. ]. Stearns, superintendent of the Hart
ford Retreat for the Insane, next testified;
thought Guiteau was sane. The prisoner evil
dently felt the force of the testimony against
him, and he insulted the witnesses and inter-
jected remarks about his free agency being de-
stroyed on July 2. He didn't claim to be in
sane now. He wanted to know whether any
al,nt4 Droa;
rounded by his cabinet and personal friends,
as he did, when he was liable to be torn to
pieces the next moment. In his present state
of mind, Guiteau said he wouldn't do it for a
million dollars.
The cross-examination of DIR. Henry P
btearns was resumed by Mr.. Scoville at the
opening of the Trial on the thirty second day.
sharp tilt soon took place between Mr. SEQ
vile and Judge Porter with angry interpola-
lions by Guiteau. Judge Porter referred to
the prisoner as the criminal, to which Gull
teau reiorted excitedly: 81 am no criminal.
| am no more of criminal than you, MIR. Por-
ter [ am more thought of on the outside
than you are. The English papers are saying
that am bigger man than old Porter, and 1t
is true" Judge Cox again intimated that he
would order Guiteau into the dock if he did
not desist with his interruptions; a warning
that the prisoner received with derision. Dr.
Strong of Cleveland, who had trt ated 2 600
insane patients, next testified that in his opin-
ion Guitesu was sane on the I'd of July and was
still sane. Surprising the facts in the hypo-
thetical question put by the defense to be
true witness would pronounce the man insane.
The fact that an overt act was committed by
person supposing he was doing Gods will
would indicate delusion, said the witness, but
not an insane delusion. Dr. Orpheus Evarts,
of College Hill, Ohio, testified that he had
treated 1000 insane patients. From his ex-
animation and observation of the prisoner he
had formed a clear opinion that he was sane on
the I'd of july Mrs. Scoville was recalled and
asked few unimportan5 questions and the
trial was then adjourned, the prisoner shouting
out. as he was led away, that he was happy,
and wished the court the jury and the Ameri-
can people happy Christmas.
The thirty-third day and seventh week OF
The trial opened with the usual large attend
ance in spite OF the stormy weather. The only
witness called to the stand during the day was
Dr. A. E. Macdonald, superintendent of the
New York City Insane asylum on Wards
Island whose testimony was of the greatest
Importance and was exceedingly damaging to
the defense. DIR. Macdonald said that he did
not believe in the existence of hereditary in
sanity or of moral insanity. This last, he said
was merely another name invented for wicked
ness or craft. He did not hesitate to pronounce
the assassin sane, and to say that he has been
playing part in the courtroom. He entered
INTO an argumentat1ve summing up OF the
prisoners conduct to which Mr.. Scoville OBJ
jected but Judge Cox didn't see how it could
be helped. since the witness was giving his
grounds for thinking the prisoner was feigning.
The witness said Guiteau told him in Jail that he
expected to be pronounced insane and sent to an
asylum, but he did not mean to stay there,
for, upon looking up the law, he found he
could apply for commission to pass upon his
sanity, and such a commission would of course
find him sane, and he would be discharged.
Guiteau, later in the day, made a partial con-
tradIction of this testimony. The witness
went extensively into the subject of insanity,
but Guiteau wanted to cut him short, and said
there were two kinds of insanity-crank in
sanity and the kind Abraham was afflicted
with, and he belonged to the latter school.
DR.. Macdonald was cross-examined by Colonel
Reed. Insane persons, he admitted, in some
cases deliberated and planned their acts and
provided for their escape afterward. The fact
that man previously harmless should without
provocation raise an AK against his sister
would be no evidence of sanity or insanity.