Daily Republican., 1881-07-09
SArURDAY,JULY 0. 1851.
Guiteau,s Punishment.

Guiteau's Punishment.
1t will be unwelcome news to the
public to know that all the punishment
that can he meted ont to Guiteau 1ol
his attempt to take the life Of the Pres
ident according to the laws OF the DIS
trict of Columbia, cannot exceed eight
wears. No special law exists Furnishing
an unsuccessful attempt to Kill the
President, therefore the life OF such OIL
Ger or any other officer of the govern
ment is garded in the eyes OF the la"
as of no more account than that OF any
other private individual. 1t has been
generally agreed that Guiteau fired two
shots which is constrU Il by many well
yersed in law as two separate attempts
to kill. The first offence being punish
able with eight years imprisonment
and the second attempt with fifteen
years additional, making il all twenty
three years. In the case of Tweed,
New York law was decided to be averac
to this construction, bat this is SAID
not to be good English law.
IL the trial of Guiteau it is evident
that insanity will be argued in his de-
fence, and there are but few, we think,
after looking at the case without preju-
dice, who do not think Guiteau is
lunatic, but he certainly cannot be pro-
nounced one in sense to exempt MN
from punishment on the general ac-
count of his conduct and language
which have been madepubic. Are the
words of Guiteau the product of a dis
ordered brain? Motiveless folly, vaga-
ries of thought and act, morbid brood
ing over fancied wrongs, or nursing a
thirst for revenge, are not insanity. The
subject must not merel y have behaved
toolishly, but he must have done so be-
cause he had no organization enabling
him to know the natnre and wrongful
uess of his act 1t does not look as il
Guiteau came under this definition Of
insanity. There can, we think, be no
doubt that he brooded over his tancied
wrongs until he worked himself up to
spasmodic state Of insanity, but not
sufficient to preclude him from knowing
right from wrong. See how he follow
ed the President from place to place
until favorable opportunity occurred
for the shooting.
See how he had his carriage hired be-
fOrehand to take him to the depot the
next morning where the deadly act was
TO be performed. See how deliberately
he bought the pistol and kept it to per.
form the bio dy deed See how he fired
the first shot and finding it did not do
the work right he fired second shot
where it Cou ID not fail as he supposed
on its elrand of death. See how, after
he had shot the President, alarmed at
what he had done, he tried TO escape.
Are these the acts Of an irrespon-
sponsible mailman, who had no control
over himself whatever? The public
will be slow to believe that. There was
too much system in such madness Oran
irresponsible being. Upon the one
point that he thought he wa commits
stoned of God to kill the President he
may have worked himself up into an
excusable degree of insanity, but upon
all other points his preparations to com
nit the bloody deed ard his attempt
afterwards to escape were much the
same that any other rational individua
would have made. If Guiteau is reall
insane in every sense then he is not aC
Countable for any crime whether TIL
president lives or dies, ,and the only thini
that can be done to him will be to con
fine him in mad house where lie cal
Lave no possible means Of escape. |
he is so insane as not to be acct untab
for the terrible crime he has cOmmitte,
the mad house should be his home ever
had he never made IN attempt to assaH
sinate the President. This after al
would perhaps he the most severe pun
ishment that could be mettd cut to til
wretch. The snut1ing out Of the life c
such an Insignificant vile man would b
Door atontment to the nation for hi
horrible crime. The insanity plea WI
if it prevails ettectually secure him bt
hind bolts and bars as long as he live'
for it is not likely that Guiteau wi
ever hereafter enjoy mingling with I'll
outside world, and live long if he
known.