Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-07
The Guiteau Case.
LAWYER scOvILLE NOT AFRAID OF THE JURY
LETTERS FROM CRANKS-TPE INSANITY PLEA.


"We are about through with our corTespon.
dence" said Mr.. Scoville to STAR reporter to-day
'tand am giving my time to study now" His table
which has been Uttered with letters for several
| weeks, bore evidence OF the truth Of his remarks
| for it had been cleared OF everything except q
newspaper or two.
"The government will oppose you with for
| midable array OF lawyers remarked THE STAR re-
| porter.
eyes," replied Mr. Scovlle, s'it is hardly fair.
Unless Mr.. Trude comes there will be no one but
Robinson and for the defence. The district at
torney too, can use all the agents of the govern
ment in preparing his case Why in every place,
| is government employe on hand. The district
attorney announced, when the case was first
| If l had had money would have been very well
prepared" ,sI,
I'VE could not have got along without that All
lne SubpGnaS are out now, and have some leisure
1or studying The publication OF the names OF wit
| nesSes suDpnnaed for the defence in Boston was
| made against my wishes. The marshal probably
gave the names out. 1 requested that the names
leges would be extended in this case as in civil
case However. the publication has done no harm.
this case Wo bnat Ree are t1g TO- LOOK
about the Jury or course, 1 expect them to be a
little prejudice. 1t will be shown on the trial. that
whatever Guiteau is, he was never a depraved or
bad man. as he has been represented. 1
| do not think that the history of the
world affords case OF man, who had lived to be
| forty years OF age without crime, leading a re-
| liglous life, and not revengeful by nature, and
| then, without cause or passion and in his sound
| senses, Shot another man down. On the other
| hand, there are many cases where insane men
nave committed such an act"
MIR. ScOv1ile continues to receive letters from
| 'eccentrics." George Francis Trains muse how
ever, has lately deserted him. and his communica-
tlons come few and far between. One letter re-
closely written foolscap pages. The letter is
| dated at the Western Asylum, Kentucky, and the
writer announces that he is ''enJoying the Danish
ment or the asylum :" the present status OF society
De1ng obnoxious TO his peculiar organization. He
gives his views at length in reference to the Of
Gulteau, his "Dr0ther lunatic," as he calls him.
| He says Guiteau is suffering with infdna-
7ndtuS cOrScientinS. The government it is under
stood is taking active steps to explode the theory
Deen engaged to visit the Jail and make studies OF
the criminal.
LETTER FROM THE ASSASSIN.
The latest production from the pen Of Guiteau
is addre ssed to Mr. c. II. Bell, of this city who
photographed the assassin just after his arrest,
and reads as follows:
Mr. Beu:wThis will Introduce to you my attorney,
Geo. Scoville, esq, who wishes to talk with you
aDout the royalty due me on my photographs.
You know you have been supplying the country
with them, and it is right that you should pay Inc
reasonable royalty. What will you give to settle
without trouble or expense? Yours, truly,
CHARLES GUITEAU.
United States Jail, Washington D. c., Nov. 2,
Please give. Mr.. scoville half dozen side view
photographs for me. C.G.
ISSUE OF MALPRACTICE NOT TO BE RAISED.
Mr.. ScOville said, as to his intentions, that while
there might be basis for alleging malpractice he
had always thought and is still OF the opinion that
the moral effect Of such defence would be hurt
1ul TO his client He authorizes the statement that
the question OF malpractice will not be raised Mr.
1rude, the Chicago lawyer cOncurS with Mr.. ScO-
vile upon this subject and in letter to him says
"AS to the question OF malpractice would touch
on 1t lightly IL at all Any prolonged discussion In
dead President, the of the bullet the agony
that he must have endured the great length OF his
suffering-all these things are calculated to
awaken feelings in the mind of the jury that might
induce them to forget the undoubted defence of in
sanity"
ATTORNEY ROLLINS OF NEW YORK CITY
has written to Acting Attorney General Phillips,
and alsotO District Attorney Corkhill, saying that
he hoped and believed he could accept the invita-
ton to assist in the prosecution OF Guiteau, but
could not give definite answer for few days.
BOSTON WITNESSES FOR THE ASSASSIN.
On Saturday in Boston a deputy United States
marshal summoned the following witnesses to
testify in behalf OF Guiteau: Rev. I. N. Tarbox,
secretary OF the American Educational Society;
Rev: Howard c. Dunham, secretary of the Ameri-
can Peace Society; Rev. John L. Withrow, pastor
of the Park street church, and John w. Guteau,
brother OF the prisoner.
The Hea1thfulness Of Washington.
MEETING GF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY COMMITTEE.
1t was mentioned in Saturdays STAR that the
Medical Society of the District Of Columbia re-
Gently appointed a committee to investigate the
statements made outside the District as to the al
legged unhealthfulneSS of Washington That COM
m1ttee, consisting OF Drs. Lindsey, (chairman) j.
johnson and Smith Townshend. held a two hours
session at the Office Of the Health Ofcer Saturday
night Al the physicians testified to the general
own practice, and DR.. Townshend said he thought
that many of the deaths that were returned to the
other causes possibly obscure and not easily efin
able. The committee, after deliberatfon, instruct
sa Dr: d. W; Prentiss who acted as secretary, to
uraW up circular letter. to be sent to every prac-
ticng physician in the District asking for State
ment regarding the comparative health OF the peo-
Lindsey was requested to formulate a report based
upon the information contained in the replies to
the circular and call the committee together again
when ready to submit this for action.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE CIRCULAR LETTER
prepared by the committee and sent to all physi-
clans of this city in good standing:
"WAsHINGToN, November 2, 1881.
it, Dear Doct6r:In b obedience to resolution
Columbia committee has been appointed to take
In consideration the question OF the general belief
and to inquire into the grounds upon which this
opinion is based. 1t is apparent that this view of
the unhealthfulness Of our city is gaining ground
abroad and that great injury is thereby done to its
material prosperity:
The physicians OF washington are alone capable
of determining the truth in this matter, and it is
their manifest duty to arrive at some well founded
and definite conclusion.
II the accepted opinion is not true, that disease
due to malarial influences prevail to an alarming
extent in this city, it is our duty to correct the
error and present the truth to the medical profes
sion and the people of the country.
The committee invoke your aid and would be
glad II you Will return answers to the following
questions on the enclosed form as early as posi-.
BILE. Yours respectfully,
(Sgne0 HARVEY LINDsLEY, NJ. D.,
Chairman"
Then follows five inteTOgatiOns: 81 Do you
believe that malaral diseases prevail to the same
extent as formerly In Washington 2 In your
practice do diseases clearly due to malaral 1nfiu
enceS present themselves in large proportion?
What forms OF malar1al disease do you meet
with most frequently7 4. From your experience
DO you think that malar1al diseases cause many
deaths, and what form OF malarial diseases have
you found to be most fatal? g. Are fevers, &C.,
due to malarial influences confined more or less to
certain localities are they equally prevalent lii
all parts OF the city,"
OF the report of the committee 70 the Medical
Society.
THE BONDS OF thirteen postmasters who were
confirmed at the recent session OF the Senate have
been received at the Post ONCE department and
Cr1ov.av