Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-08
THE GUITEAU TRIAL.

described Guiteau's actions during his visit to
her in 1878, and said she was then convinced
he was insane and should be put in an asylum.
Frequent objections were raised by counsel for
the prosecution to the character OF questions
lrOpounded by ScOyille, and continuous dis
ca sion ensued between counsel upon the ad-
IussblGty OF certain evidence.
George D. Burroughs and Fernando Jones
boh Of Chicago, testified to their belief in the
insanity VI the prisoner.
z. y JOsiyn, Of the Oneida Community
Thought Gnlteaus marked characteristic was
intense e5oiism.
The prisoner interrupted the court Iona
CROUCH t deliver the following speeoh
desire 70 ton al those crank news lapel
ms n tlat | appear here as my own co InseL
Iuat IS my answer to eli the silly stuff thev
have heen delivering themselves Of for some
DAYS past. Some of these newspaper men have
gone crazy. | appear here in part as my OWL
counsel, a. have right to under the law and
the constitution Of America
John w. duiteaU, the prisoners brother. was
next examined. He had not been on good
terms with bis brother for some wears. but had
not doul cd his sanity until be received some
letters in October. Since he had come on
here and bad seen his brother In the
conrl-fools and At the jail he had become sats-
hed nc WAS insane. On being cross-examined
witness admltted that before he had come TO
Washington he had always, in talking OF the
case, said he believed his brother was RESPONSE.
bic. He believed him responsible but not
e-responsible, because, as no thought, at
stme period Of his life the prisoner had yoluu-
[ fly surrendered himself to evil practices rather
than good. Guiteau WINGED under these state.
ments, evidently fearing his brothers candor was
lnlurng the case, and with considerable bitter
ness Interrupted my brother and have not
been good terms for fifteen years. He always
Nmpathized with my father on that Oneida
community business, while ScOyllle aud my sis
torsympai hizeC with me. The last time saw my
brother We had some angry words, 80 he does
not come here to testify for me with the ordi-
nary force brother usually does come and
III glad to find he has changed his views
however, in my case. want the public to I'M
derstaud about this. Guteau continued to
Interrupt, explain and correct Witness Once
Judge Davidge attempted to stop hlm. but he
waved his hand imperiously, saying You
Keep qmet, Judge, If you please" Shortly
after witness was asked IN connection with
an incident lie had related, if he al
that time thought the prisoner insane.
Guiteau quickly ante nated his reply by say.
ing Why, of course, he has ALWAYS thought
was badly cracked" Witness said he never
detected the slightest traces of insanity IN his
father.
The prisoner. accompanied by Marshal Henry
and three balhtis, walked 10 the stand and
ldeutued bundle Of letters written by himself
to various members of tie family.
THIRTEENTH DAY.
Immediately upon the opening of court
Guiteau was called to the witness stand and
| took his place, closely watched and guarded by
policemen and court officers. He vas asked
by Scoyille to give some incidents from his
earliest Iocolectlons of hls mother.
Gultoau asked "Aln to he PIX IN as a
regular witness to-day, or only to identify some
letters? suppose the latter | am not feel
ing at all we'll to-day, but shall be much better
III a week or 90"
Seouile-"I mad arranged to examine You
to-day, ana there are no other witnesses pres
emit"
Guiteau-"You should have had Jour wit
nesses on hand. Iobject to going on the stand
when am not feeling we'll, TO be subjec ed TO
cross-examnation by counsel for the rrosecu-
ton. have got good deal to say. | want to
50 over the whole business carefully and scien-
utcally, so 70 speak, and | want to be in good
! talking condition"
seoyiIle r." The court viii relieve you If you
eel iN.
ii,iteau with that understanding will 90
on.
Corkhll--"W We cannot submit to any such
| arrai cement as that"
After some further discussion Gujteau was
| removed from the stand, and Scovile proceed
cd 70 read the letters, which were put in evil
dence the preceding day They we're al writ
ten by Gulteau to his father and other lnem-
fifteen on twenty years.
As the reading Of tho letters progressed,
Gmteau occasionally commented upon them
OF suggested the proper word where Scoyille
hcstaled. While one, dated from the Oneida
community, was being read, Guiteau said .
Wei, you can see was badly crauked about
| that time" At another time SCoye hesitated
| and said Here Is a word | cannot make out. ="
| Civilization is the word" prompted Guiteau
"lou can see now badly mixed up | got in that
| miserable community. 1t makes me mad every
tine think of it. l wish those letters were
| out Of existence.
| ScoyiIe read rom one Of tho letters sc / am
| with Jesus Christ and company and am work.
| ing for them"
" That was my sentiment, said Guiteau
and that has been my position ever since"
| In another letter addressed to his father. the
| prisoner lad requested 1900 or $780, Guiteau
commented upon thus letter, Saying Father
| didn't send the money. lie always thought
1 was badly cranked"
/ Another letter was read. in which the write,
| criticized severely the Oneida community. and
4 referred TO q circular iItclosed which also de.
| nounced the community and their practices
| Guteau exclaimed Several of the New Yorb
| daiies took up my circular and devoted ed
| NouM comments to it, That was a little lit OF
| revenge had for living In that miserable aoc,
| ETY.. I'm glad 10 know they are broken up now
| | was a yiTtuous man all the time was there
/ though. ] want that understood"
The rea ing Of the letters was finished and
| Gui,eau resumed the witness stand. Scoville
| began to question him relative 80 his early
| 1to. Guteau responded promptlv intelIf
| gently and with perfect GOODNESS for some
| minutes apparently enjoying the situation and
his freedom to talk.
Gulteau gave his views on his fathers reli o.
| lous belief, and was asked il he Chs father
! had any peculiar views on healing diseases
he replied "Oh, yes father was m awful
| crank on that subject,
Scovile-" What do you mean BY crank 2"
1 Gulteau-" Well, that's short way of put
| ting It, when yeu want TO say man is pretty
badly orazed.n
The witness then went on n relate his var
ions failures III delivering his lecture in Chica-
| go and other cities. He frequently laughed as
| he repeated some of the humorous Incidents of
MS failures Various times he was PIT off rail
| road cara Tor not paying his fare and arrested
Tor not paving hls board bills. At other times
he grew excited IN the assertion that in all he
! did he WAS like Paul. engaged in
/ the service of God and that God
was, therefore, response 10 for lis board bills.
| When you get down, said Cuiteau tseVerv
one Is ready to give you 3 kick / was thirty
DAYS IN the Tombs | have oeen IN lad several
tunes, tut never for crime. Never was mdct-
cd before this time IN my life
Guiteau then related Ills efforts to secnre tbe
chicago inter ocean, which he proposed TO
make the great newspaper organ al tie West
lie offered one wealthy man 10 make linn Gov
ernor OF Illinois il he would advance the
| M ,pev.
While the prisoner was GIVING bis testi,no, '
he was watched most attentjvelv bv all the mot
lcai experts present, and With great efirosit ~,
every person in the crowded court room Al
uineS he showed bis exhaustion by lower no his
voice, ana It was IN consequence OF one Of 4 ose
Signs inst, some ten minutes before the usuaI
time Tor adJorrnment, the court at the instance
OF the Dstric. Attorney, adjourned.
FOURTEENTH DAY,
The assassin continued hts statement of the
causes which led hIr to commit his grea;
crime.
Witness was asked to identify book handed
him. and said; sob. yes; that is my revised
Work called Truth, a companion book to the
Bible havent seer il since il was taken from
me when | ~as arrested" Witness then de-
sired 20 read passage. and read page or two
dessllp I've Of the trials Of the Apostle Paul in
endeavorng 70 introduce Christianity. THAT
was l9st my ease, said Guiteau striking hi.
lsi upon the d rs. -" ! siroyc to enlighten the
world, Just as Pau did. I had no money and
no rends. and | d just about as rough a
tm" as the apostle Iad.
The witness said that when in New York, fnr-
ing tie last Presidential campaign, he called on
Gen. Arthur 20 otter his services IN the cam
paiEn- Ase called at Republican headduart-
efs saW all the biz mon, They were ali glad
| % see blfu. He consulted with Gov. Jewell
Cen Arthur snd others. They were very
iuonlly' but told Inn tale~ must bave nei Of
| Ing reputation. Ike tSrsnt sld COnklinr. 10 do
| The spetfiHg Witness added II was on Tree
sud oass terms with Jewell and the rest OF
them. Witness made his first spplca-
! tlon fer office soon after Gen
t.T rs Hal, ~ q