Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-06
EXPERTS on THE STAND.
MORE OF THE ASSASSIN'S IMPU-
DENCE.
frightened AT the CrOWd-An EdI-
tor ROundly Scared-A Batch of
Doctors on the Prisoners Sanity
He Wants Grant and COnkIing
Called.

C0IEe0s
WASHINGTON, December 5.-Guiteau was
brought to the court house a little later
than usual, and the court was not opened
until eleven O'Clock. An immense crowd
had gathered on the sidewalk, and when
Guiteau alighted from the van he evinced
unusual trepidation, and begged the officers
to take him around to the back entrance.
He was assured that the escort was ample
for his safety, and with trembling
steps and cringing gait he quickly
shuffled through the angry crowd. Abject
fear was depicted upon bis sallow cOunte-
nance, and 1t was several minutes after he
reached his room before he regained his
usual composure. Ex-Speak Randall ap-
peared In answer to the subpoena, but was
at loss to know why he had been sum-
moned.
Immediately after the opening of court,
Mr.. Scoville called to the stand Dr.. James
Kennon, OF Chicago. Before any questions
could be asked the witness, Guiteau desired
10 address the court, and without waiting
for assent or dissent on the part of the
court, said, In quick, nervous tones: II
want these expert witnesses to pass upon
unlawful act by a power which he cannot
possibly control or overrule, and by which
his moral agency is dominated, is he to be
considered sane or insane?"
Judge Cox-We will have that question
discussed.
The witness said he was managing editor
OF the Chicago Ned ical ReViel0, and lecturer
upon mental diseases at Chicago medical
schools. He delivered his first lecture last
ted 70
question predicated upon the trustwOrthi-
ness OF the evidence to which he had lis
tened, that he had no doubt Of the prisoner Is
insanity.
The witness admitted that when a man
committed crime while acting under a
delusion of divine inspiration, and then
conducted himself precisely as a criminal
would do, it would be presumptive evidence
against his insanity.
Guiteau, who had been quietly but in
tently following the witness, here broke IN
exc.tedly, saying, Nothing of the kind in
this case, Judge"
Mr.. Davidge-Well, we will see.
Guiteau (Angrily )-"You're going too fast
in this matter We want the facts, not your
judgment. The witness has stated one thing
right. The Lord injects the inspiration and
then lets man use his own judgment to
work it out. That's just my case. That's
don't employ fools to do his work. He gets
the best material
Mr.. Davidge then put still stronger by
pothetical case. using the term Ike "com-
mon vulgar criminal"
Guiteau turned TO Davidge and with an
air of immense superiority said: "There is
nothing vulgar about this case. It's all high
toned" Laughter, quickly suppressed by
the, Court
The witness thought that an insane man
in carrying out an inspiration would
act according to his peculiarities of manner
and temp srament, although there were
types Of insanity where a mans general
character become charged. The witness
gave the scientific term.
Richard J. Hinton, editor of the Wash
ngton G0zetie, had seen the prisoner at the
Republican headquarters In New York, and
formed the opinion that he was an exceed
ingly lily balanced, cranky egotist. The
witness was asked what he thought of the
prisoners speech, "Gartield VS.. Hancock" "
and replied that in his opinion it was a
ridiculous, disjointed affair.
Guiteau, who had smiled complacentlY
when the witness came upon the stand, be-
came very much incensed and shouted ou':
"Well, it wasn't anything of the kind. You
don't know what you are talking about.
Ny speech was endorsed by the best men
IN tne country.
The witness resumed by saying that the
prisoner seemed to be a perfect nuisance
about the rooms, but was interrupted by
Guiteau, who shouted: 'You were a
nuisance, yourself. I'd rather be hung as a
man than acquitted as a fool, and | won't
have any more of this kind of evidence"
The witness added: "He was a laughing
stock so far as l could see."
Guiteau became greatly enraged, and
turning 10 Mr.. Scoville shouted: "If you
put any more of these crank fellows on the
s and I'll score you again. Twas a great
piece OF impudence on your part to put
Judge Davis on the stand without consulting
me-"
Upon the hypothetical case put by Mr..
Scoville, Guiteau was pronounced insane by
the following physicians DR.. Charles H.
Nichol, of the Bloomingdale Asylum, New
York; DIR. Charles f. Folsom, of Harvard
University; Dr. Samuel Wooster, of Salem.
Mass; DR.. VIM. Godding, of st. Elijah tt's
Asylum, Washington; DR.. James H. Nc
Bride, Of Milwaukee; DIR. Walter Claiming
and DR.. Theo. Fisher, of Massachusetts,.
Guiteau announced that he wanted Grant
and ConkliDg summoned.
The court then adjourned.