Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-30
His Letter to Senator Cameron
Asking the Loan Of $500
Read.
More Expert Testimony.
WAsHfSGrOS, Dec. 20.

| spite the rainy, dismal weather.
| The runor il current this morning that
| the jury with one exception are satisfied of
the guilt and legal responsibility of the pris-
oner. The twelfth juror, it is said, stoutly
maintains that Guiteau is as crazy as a
March hare"
| The prisoner entered the court room at 10
and was taken at once and without demon
siration 10 his place in the prisoners dock.
This is located about % feet from his coun-
| sci and upon the left of the room, narrow
passage separating il from the large window
which overlooks Louisiana avenue, upon
which the building fronts.
| Guiteau glanced hurridly around the room
and then out of the window. and svinced
some nervousness at his apparently exposed
position. He complained Of the drauRht, and
the window was closed.
Some delay in the court proceedings en-
sued, and Guiteau started to make his usual
| morning speech:
II noticed as rode up in the van this
morning that the usual guard Of police had
been withdrawn, Now want to say en-
phatically if was turned out tomorrow,
would take care of myself, bur so long as
am in the custody Of this court, the court is
bound to protect me. There is more danger
of being shot while riding to and from the
| Jail in the van than at any other time, and
I want your honor TO make an order that
more than the usual guard of policemen shall
accompany the van. The cranks are not all
dead yet, though they are fast dying of. As
a matter Of TACT, it would require but one
crank with sufficient nerve to shoot me in the
van, that's where the most danger lies. I'm
making more friends every day, and getting
lots of letters of sympathy. l don't antc-
pate any danger except from cranks.''
Dr. Chandler was call'd to the stand, but
before any question could be put 10 him
Judge Cox remarked. that as a statement had
been made yesterday that the court had sur
rounded the prisoner with unusual guards
and protection, he would state that the pris-
oner in the custody of the marshal and
not of the court and whatever extra guards
had been furnished had been supplied by
him.
Guiteau-well then, your honor, if the
marshal won't do his duty I appeal to the
court. II the marshal won't furnish proper
guard kick him out and let's have new
marshal!
| Judge Cox-l have no doubt the marshal
will do his duty in this connection.
| Scoville desired to exhibit to an expert a
letter written by Guiteau some ten DAYS since
to Senator Don Cameron.
Guiteau interrupted from his place in the
deck, and shouted out in harsh and shrill
tones
Hold on, | want to say something about
that letter. protest against its being read
here. II is private letter wrote Senator
Cameron ten days ago, asking him for a loan
of $500. 1t was entirely private matter.
entrusted it to my brother to give to Gamer
on and he withheld it in q mean miserable
way, and gave it to this man, Scoville. NY
brother had better go back to Bos-
ton and try and nuke some money to pay his
debts. He has been perfect nuisance on
this case ever since he has been here. He
and Scoville dragged themselves into this
case to make little money at my expense.
| repudiate both of them. Scoville, you had
better go back TO Chicago. You are a perfect
! jackass on this case, and | won't have you
on any longer.
Mr.. Davidge objected to the letter. but the
court overruled the objection, and Scoville
then read Hon. Don Cameron, Dear Sir
I am on trial for my life and l need money.
am stalwart of the stalwarts, and so are
YOU. You think a great deal of Gen. Arthur
and so do |. My inspiration made him Pres
ident. and am going to ask yon to let me
have $500. If | get out of this will return
it; if not. charge it to the stalwarts. Yours
for our cause, and very cordially, Charles
Guiteau. In court. Dec 10Th. 1881. p. s.
Please give your check to my brother, J.
W. Guiteau, and make it payable to my Or
| der.
| The prisoner commenced: don't care
snap about il one way or the other. If you
had presented the letter you would probably
have gotten the money, but as you concealed
| it in mean. sneaking way, you did not get
| the money. Its very good letter any way.
but don't like this way of stopping and
stealing my private letters and dragging them
| into court.
| Scoville then asked the witness: Will you
give your opinion whether such letter as
that written to man he did not know does
not indicate unsoundness of mind?
| Al do not think it indicates unsoundness
of mind Ii seems to me consistent with his
character and habits through life Of soliciting
money from sources where he had no reason
to expect it.
Guiteau-I don't think so, either, it only
shows what jsckass you are, Scoville.
| Corkhill-Your honor, if these Interrupt
| tons on the part of the prisoner are to con-
| tinue, must request that the dock be placed
| in another part of the room.
Scoville--You can place it in the cellar if
you want. we shan't object.
Corkhill-You can't object.
Scoville-We don't desire to object. All
We ask is that you will make your motion if
YOU have one to make, and not harangue the
| jury as you did yesterday.
Scoville then read to the witness the hypo-
thetical question of the defence, and the wit
ness replied: Upon that hypothesis his in
sanity is self-evident proposition.
Dr. Walter Kempster, superintendent OF
the Wisconsin State hospital for the insane.
had studied insanity fifteen years. The wit
ness was familiar with the process of taking
the conformity of the head. and did not be-
- ,.l, s~~~v~ Ia narrIA he,