Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-24
THE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.
AN EXCITING DAY IN COURT,
THE PERSISTENT PRISONER.
He IS THREATENED WITH THE DOCK
EXPERT TESTIMONY As TO HIS SANITY

HE IS THREATENED WITH THE DOCK
EXPERT TESTIMONY As TO HIS SANITY
COUNSEL AT LOGGERHEADS.
The crowd that attends the Guiteau trial does
| not arrive so early as formerly. When the court
opens now the room is not uncomfortable
| crowded. It is not long, however, before every
inch of space is occupied, for people keep strag.
| Cling in, until the doors have to be closed.
GUITEAU COMPLAINING OF MALARIA.
When Guiteau was brought to court this morn.
ing. he complained of feeling unwell, saying that
he was suffering with malaria. He only ate two
or three mOuthfuls of the bountiful breakfast
provided for HIM. He expressed himself as anx-
ious to have the court adjourn at noon. Ex-
Secretary Boutwell,, of Massachusetts, eat near
Judge Porter.
COURT OPENED.
The court was convened at 1905 o'clock and
Guiteau was at once brought into the court
room. There was pile Of letters waiting for
him, and after he had given Mr.. Charles Reed,
who sat as usual just little behind Mr. Scoville,
smiling greeting, and cOnversing with him a
minute or two, he proceeded to read his letters.
DIR. HENRY P. sTERNs WAS RECALLED
to the witness stand, and Mr.. Scoville con-
tinued the cross-examnatiOn. The witness said
that he meant by mania a form of mental dis
ease usually attended by excitement. There
were many cases of insanity in which conditions
exactly opposite to mania existed. Melancholia
and dementia were unattended by excitement
In cases of almost all forms of insanity, mem
ory is generally the first faculty to be i'm
paired.
Mr.. Scoville having asked the witness if he
agreed with DR.. Talcott that insanity was al
ways manifestation Of a diseased brain. Mr.
Porter objected to having the witness asked re-
garding what another witness had said. He
said that he thought it due to everybody that
the examination should be conducted more ac-
cordlng to the rules of law than heretofore
:, You are getting excited, judge" remarked
the prisoner
II must say" observed Mr.. Scoville, ''that
Judge Porter can make more out of nothing
than any man ever saw
II agree with you there said the prisoner.
The court directed Mr.. ScovilIe to ask his
question directly, without reference to what
other witnesses had said
The witness said that insanity was ALWAYS a
manifestation of disease of the brain. There
had been cases of undoupted insanity where an
examination of the brain failed to Indicate any
distinct lesion.
Judge Porter having made an impressive
speech rebukng Mr.. Scoville for interruptiug
the Witness the prisoner raised laugh by saw
ing: That's very fine, amt it. Porter ?'
Judge Porter. few minutes later again OBJ
jected to Mr.. Scovle's manner of questioning
the witness, and made quite a long speech in an
Impressive manner: When he took his seat the
hoxr
Davidgc's disease yesterday"
When Mr.. Scoville finished, Mr.. Reed took up
the cross-eXaminatiOn. and came into collision
at once with Judge Porter.
''Ihey are getting very uneasy about the
prosecution" remarked the prisoner. when Mr..
Porter had made a speech.
1t was fact. the witness said, that some in
sane persons had acute memories The witness
said ne did not liketo say that he agreed or dis
agreed with any one. He had no doubt that
there was not an expert here with whom he
would agree in every particular.
''lhen it is fact, is It," said Mr.. Reed, ''that
the doctors disagree on this subect:''
..Ihey do on all points, replied the witness
The witness said that it would not determine
the prisoners sanity or insanity if it was known
that the defendant was honest in the belief that
GOd required him to commit the act of murder
GUITEAU's QUESTION TO TIE WITNESS
When Messrs. ScOville and Reed had finished
with the witness, the prisoner said:
"Allow me to ask you, Doctor, if you hold that
man cannot be insane in a specific act without
his brain Is deceased? Is that your theory p"
Judge Porter checked the witness from an
swering the question.
who's doing this business, YOU or the
conrt!' inquired the prisoner of Judge Porter
Judge Porter remarked that it appeared that
the criminal was managing it.
=" am no more of criminal than you are"
retorted Guiteau. 81 stand great deal better
outside than you do. The newspapers are saw
ing that 'Guiteau is bigger man than old
Porter"
-. THE PRISONERS DOCK.
g l shall be compelled, if these Interruptions
are continued" said Judge Porter, "to have
them made from the dock" and he pointed to-
wards theprlsoners dock
"That's question that has suggested itself
to me" remarked the court.
~ am here as my own counsel" insisted the
prisoner.
Mr.. Corkhill said he thought that the sugges-
tion made by Judge Porter was very proper
One
Gu1rEAu rAuNrrNG THE PROSECUTION.
"1t's only matter of discretion" said the
prisoner. 'Icome here as my own counsel. and
have as much right to be heard as you have,
COrkhill. The prosecution seems to be very
anxious this morning about their case. l think
1t is pretty bad case for them"
THE PRISONER TONED DOWN CONSIDERABLY.
under tie intimation by the court that he would
be placed in the dock if he did not.
The witness was permitted to answer the
prisoners question. and replied that he did not
think insanity could exist witho ut disease
An Ohio Expert.
DR.. Jamin Strong, superintendent of the asy.
lum for the insane, at Cleveland, Ohio, was next
called to the stand. He testified to examining
the prisoner at the Jail, and was about to state
the result when the prisoner broke out:
II will help you,, doctor, by saying that am
in good health and spirits, and am not insane
now. now The question is whether my free agency
There's lots of rubbish getting into this case that
has no connection with it,
The witness said he found the prisoner,a
senses in perfect condition
In other words" said the prisoner, 'sthat
am no fool. The Lord never EMPLOYS fool to
90 His work, and when He does employ man
he takes care OF him. He win take care of this
case, too."
ANOTHER PROTEST FROM Mr.. PORTER.
Judge Porter, rising, again protested against
these Interruptions. II notice that this is equal