Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-07-06
GUITEAU'S INSANITY.
Pronounced to be OF UnsOund Mind at t
Pension Ofhco.

DR.. Thomas B. Hood, medical referee of
the pension Office, makes the following
statement concerning Guiteau 81 re.
garded him as insane. On the thin tieth of
April he was referred to me by Commits
sioner Bentley for medical examination.
He talked necessarily and gesticulated
wildly much of the time. He CON-
mcnced by saying that he was drawing
| a pension for wounds received in the
army, one of which was located in the left
lung and the other in his right arm. He
also stated that he had risen to be lieuten-
ant colonel. This l believe to be true
What he wanted, he said, was an increase
of pension, so that he could 60 to Europe
for his health. He ran from one subject
to another rapidly, and said he was a stall
wart and had distinct views upon
many subjects. He said he hal his
own way OF thinking about things. My
friends call me insane he remarked,
but am not insane.' He then branch
ed off on 4 plan he said he had ill.,
vented for reclaiming flats on the sea
shore and in rivers. I was consulted,
he said, before left Chicago, about re-
claiming the flats around the lake. My
plan was to plant willows, and then put
in fences and then more willows. The
water would rise and gradually the space
| between the willows would fill up; the
grass would take hold the flats would be
reclaimed Guitcau then branched off
on theology, During all this time had
not said word, but he ratified away all
the while. I..Iooked over his papers, and
returned them with the words written OH
the back, The applicant is insane re-
member now some of the medical papers
in the bundle said the applicant was in
sane.
How lie Behaved at ,,,s Boarding House.
Rev. Rush \. Shippen, pastor of All
Souls Unitarian church, bOarder in Mrs.
Grants house, speaks Of Guiteau as fol-
he sat to my right, and very often we were
| being early risers. l roomcd upon the
! on me, remaining in my room at times
solemn and reticent person, morOse in
his demeanor, and seemed to be broodiug
| over something. was never inquisitive
enough to question him relative to person.
al affairs, though we talked over current
subjects, political and otherwise | must
say, however, that l never heard him
utter bitter word against the president.
A friend of mine short time since was
speaking to me in the highest terms of
Mr.. Conkling, and repeated his CONVEX
sltiOn at the table day or two afterwards.
l added that l was glad to hear such a
| high tribute paid to Mr.. COnkling. One
of the ladies remarked that she believed in
! Conkling, when Guiteau spoke up and
said: 4 am glad to hear you say so. for |
| believe in him too.
He never said anything to me in rela-
tion to consulships, but perhaps his know
ing that was a minister prevented him to
some extent from talking to mo as freely
about such matters as he did to others.
He appeared to be moderately posted upon
affairs generally, but was not what con-
sidered a polished gentleman. He was
| quite rude in his movements at the table,
being bent on helping himself and never
assisting the ladies around him.
Eats Heartily-Has NO Fear.
Colonel Crocker, the jail warden, says
Guiteau passed 4 restless night, and arose
yesterday morning with bloodshot eyes
and somewhat nervous, but ate hearty
| breakfast of bread, potatoes, beef and
coffee. He said to General CrOcker he
| would like just one square meal from the
hotel and he would be satisfied for the day
at least. He appears very anxious about
President Garfield's condition and earn.
estly hopes that he will die, so that the
Republican party will he united. He
says he does not fear for himself, as he
knows the Stalwarts will take care of him.
General Crocker regards him as fanatic
on politics. At present he says on some
subjects he talks brightly and intelligently.
He docs not regard him as an insane man
by any means, yet not man with correct
Judgment on all points.
Garfield's Last Letter.
BY singular coincidence the very last
letter written by President Garfield was
addressed to his opponent in the late pres
idential campaign-Major General Win
field s. Hancock. 1t was dated Friday and
related to an appointment recently con-
ferred upon Col. Mitchell, one of General
Hancock's aides de-camp. 1t was friendly
and pleasant in tone, and could not but
have pleased the recipient. The letter in
formed Gen. Hancock that Col. Mitchell
had been appointed assistant adjutant
general of the army, and, apologizing for
depriving the generals staff of an excel
lent officer, concluded while your staff,
general, loses an ornament, the army gains
an assistant adjutant general Of whom it
may we'll feel proud"