Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-12-01
THE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.

stated III our last issue, the prosecution rest
ed their case on Monday of last week. Mr.
Scoville, the prisoners counsel, consumed the
whole of Tuesday in presenting his case to
the jury, the prisoner interrupting him fire.
quently in the manner that has characterized
his conduct ever since the trial commenced.
Mr.. Scovile bases the defense entirely on
the ground of insanity of the prisoner, and in
taking this position, which he no doubt hon
estly entertains, he appears to have gained a
strong point. He is conducting the defense
not with a view of making sensational affair
of the trial, by Juggling in the question of
mal.practice and other features which would
prolong the proceedings indefinitely and in
crease popular excitement, but simply by
resting his case OH the one theory which ad-
mits Of the simplest solution, and which he
evidently believes to be the true position.
1t is understood that it was on this question
that Mr.. Scoville and Mr.. Robinson could
not agree, and led to the withdrawal of the
latter gentleman from the case. He wanted
notoriety, while the principal counsel wished
to perform his unpleasant and thankless task
by the most practicable method, without os-
tentatious display or the appearance of giving
his miserable client the position of a prisoner
on trial for the commission Of an act that
would render his name famous, instead of
forever crowniug it with infamy. 1t was in
this strain that he said to the Court, in re-
viewing the pr ,ceedings: II as we'll as you,
and we all, felt the yelling grief that swept
over this nation when the terrible news came
day after day" His voice quivered and his
eyes filled with tears. There was not per.
son in the vast throug but that felt they were
honest tears, and many heart tbrobbed with
grief as the counsel for the defense referred
to the retouching of the sad scenes on the
canvas of the nations memory. 1t is certain
that Mr.. Scoville has the courage of his con.
victions, and from the tenor Of the reports
of the progress Of the case, his earnest de-.
meanor is winning him hosts Of friends, even
in the defense of criminal whom the nation
loathes.
In his argument, Mr.. Scoville called atten.
tion to the plea set up by the defense-iDsani.
ty-and discussed at great length the growth
and changes Of public opinion upon the sub.
ject of insanity and its treatment when set
up as defense in criminal cases. He cited
uulutIOuS CuSCS luliuSS III SCfCldl uObCu
trials where insanity was set up. He claim.
ed that the plea of insanity having been
set up by the defense, the burden Of proof
rested with the prosecution. He cited mum.
ber of leading cases, and said there were
cases where insanity was impulsive, causing
the victim to act on the spur Of moment,
and in this case he would place the defendant.
He then went into the treatment now adopted
in asylums, which he said was often calcula-
ted to confirm rather than cure incipient in
sanity. There are so many types of insanity
that he might say no two are exactly alike.
Guiteau's insanity lay in his desire to become
politician or great public officer. 1t was
as unreasonable to punish man for deficiency
in mental operation, as it was to punish man
because his hand wasnot properly constructed.
The jury should determine whether insanity
was teigned or not, and if it should prove
that it was feigned, no punishment is too great
for the prisoner but it is almost impossible
to deceive an expert. Here Guiteau inter.
rupted, with flourish of the hand-'"I never
feign l always act my part out" Scoville
closed his argument by giving a sketch of the
prisoners life, showing many cases of weak
ness and of business incapacity. He was
frequently interrupted by the prisoner, espe'
cially when any reflections were made on his
personal appearance or his integrity, by indig-
nant deDials. Scoville related an incident of
his having raised an axe against Mrs. Scoville,
without reason, and Of family physician
dr. Rice) having declared on this occasion
that Guteau was harmlessly insane. He re-
ferred to Guiteau's explanation Of his failure
in the lecture field, which was that "Jesus
Christ could not pay his expenses He (Gui.
teau) was in the same business as the Apostle
Paul had engaged in. Paul got his pay at
last, and so would he, out Of his book" He
had an idea that he had but to ask lady's
hand in marriage to obtain it, A scene here
took place between ScovilIe and Guitesu, who
accused the former of having suppressed his
letters to lady correspondent. After quiet
had been restored, Scoville said he desired to
read some letters tending to prove Guiteau's
insanity twenty years back. Objection was
made by the District Attorney, but after
wards withdrawn, and the letters were read
They were addressed to Scovile and his sis
ter and are mostly Of a religious character,
especially those of earliest date and those
from the Oneida community. There was
nothing striking in any of these letters, ex.
cept where dealing with religious subjects
At this stage Court adjourned. .. .......,
When the Court convened on Wednesday
morning, it was apparent that the inclement
weather had sensible effect in lessening the
crowd about the Court House. Despite a
heavy rain that was falling, however, the
usual proportion Of ladies was observed
among the spectators, and among the faces
were not few that have been seen every day
since the commencement Of the trial.
Guiteau arrived about 8 o'clock. While
waiting to be taken into the court room, he
discussed freely the events of the preceding
day, and expressed some dissatisfaction at the
release of Jones, his alleged assailant the pre-
vious Saturday, on bail. When the court
opened, Mr.. Scoville addressed the Judge and
made formal request for papers, which were
taken from Guiteau at the time Of his arrest,
stating that they were material evidence for
the defense, and since the prosecution had
not needed them, he could see no reason why
they should be withheld from him. The Dis.
trict Attorney offered to furnish copies of the
papers, but Scovile insisted upon his rights
in the matter and asked for the originals.
Pending discussion, Guiteau insisted upon
being heard, and said II can throw light
on this. At the time Of my arrest had for:
ty or fifty editorial slips, showing the political
situation in June last. These slips show the
action and one of the forces that impelled me
on to the President. They arc very important,
as showing the gist Of the whole matter.
There were forty or fifty slips, denouncing
President Garfield 1t was dwelling on such
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