New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-10

were put In evidence applications made to the
Mutual Life Insurance Company by Luther w.
Guiteau and his sons, John w. and Charles j.,
for life insurance policies, In which the state
ment was made that there was no insanity in
the family. ID. Mclean Shaw an attorney
from New-York, testified that in a converse
tlon with him some years ago Guiteau said he
was bound to become notorious before he
died that he would get nOtoriety for evil il
he could not get it for good that he would
initiate Wilkes Booth and shoot some of our
big men," Senator Benjamin Harrison, of In
diana, was one of the witnesses
THE ASSASSIN RESOLVED TO INITIATE
WILKES BOOTH.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUyE.I
WASHINGTON, Dec. 0.-"I am bound to be notori-
Ous before die. If can't get notoriety for good
Pll get it for evil"
what do you meanT
"Pn shoot some of our great men, III initiate
Wilkes Booth"
"And get hanged for it,"
THAT'S an after consideration
This was a portion of q conversation with the az.
sassin of James A. Garfield nearly ten years ago.
Such at least was the sworn statement made to-day
in the Gu'teau trial by ID. Mclean Shaw, lawyer
of NewYork City, in whose office GuIteau had
desk at that time, and with whom this conversation
was held. AS the story told, and the specta-
tors felt how completely it fitted the popular concep-
on of the assassins character profound sensation
was visible The assassin was beside himself with
excitement
"You le," he shouted, shaking his hand at the
witness. YOU'RE a mean, low, dirty liar never
had any such conversation, you dirty, low-lived
whelp. My wife and you know something of each
other. She told me you came up to visit her" hc
said, with a grin of pure malice; 'Tll show you
up.D
The assassin went on to pour out torrent of abuss
on the witness, which lasted almost without break
through both the dlrect and cross-examination Tho
witness, only amused at first then grew red with
anger and turned to the Judge if for prote ction
If the Judge uttered any reDroof it was not
audible few feet away, and Guiteau went on
shouting his blngsgate as long as he pleased, pay
ing little attention to the protests and enreatcs
of his counse and family he did to the whispered
admonitions of the brawny policeman who leaned
over him with both hands op his shoulders. Finally
he queted down to his newspaper again, raising hs
eyeglass and then, when he thought the wit
ness had made some unfortunate admissions, 10 say,
" That shows you're lying you dirty whelp you.'
The witness was not shaken in the story by ths
cross-examination, though Mr.. Scoyille, who was
toned him sharply and with much excite
ment visible in his manner. The witness
gave the names of number of his friends to whom
he had told the story probably after ths assassins-
tion, though that point was not brought out Hs
said he had been subpPnaed without his previous
knowledge or consent. AGr. Scoville did bis best to
break tho effect of the evidence by showing
that Mr. Shaw had not allowed the expression Of
such sentiments to alter his relations with Guiteau.
but the witness made the entirely credible explana-
ion that he had not really supposed the man would
do what he said. He said he attached little Imper-
tance to it at tho time and was about to
say that the assassination of President Garfield
recalled it to his mind when Mr., Scoyille cut him
short.
Mr. scoville then put Judge Hawos, of the New
York Marine Court, on the stand for the second
time in tho endeavOr to prove that Guiteau bad
gone from Shaws Office to Mr. Hawes's on an intro-
duction from Mr.. Shaw but failed. The prisoner
himself. in that strange way Of his Of sometimes
fighting against his own case, which makes somo
think he is insane and Others that he is cunning
actor spoke up and said he came into the Office
through another person having desk-room there,
whom he named. This witness was the last of tbs
day. All those who preceded him gave testimony to
show that Guiteau had been up TO q very re-
cent date, an accomplished swindler and had
by any of his victims Indeed most of them
seemed to share, if they did not express the senti
ment Of Stephen English the Editor Of The Insur-
ance Times who said with quaint Irish brogue;
"On the contrary, he seemed to me a man of re-
markabe keenness of intellect, for he completely
outwitted me-"
Mr. Scoyile's last resort OH crosse Examination
10 show that the witness never had any converse
ton on religious subjects with Guiteau, aud there
fore did not strike the flaw in him. But this did
not avail with the Rev. Or. Macarthur who was
the first witness of the day. He testified that ha
had had half dozen talks on religious topics with
Guiteau, and that it had never occurred to
him that he was other than sane. 1t WA
during Dr. MacArthur's testimony that Guiteauma
one of ofhscharacterisc assaults District Attorney
Corkhill "If your record was dug up" he shouted.
"it would stink worse than mine. understand
you're booked for removal. You'd better 90 slow"
Dr. w. S. Caldwell of Freeport, who was the at
tendinS physician of Luther w. Guiteau during tho
last five months of his life and his last illness testi-
fed that the only mental disturbance that no
showed during that timo was the ordinary delirlum
of such cases Guiteau hailed the next witness on
sight as he does all the people to whom be owes
money. II owe Plummer $50 said he, and
il cost the Government 800 to bring
him herer Then turning to Mr.. Corkhin with
taxpayers Indignation III ms face, ne shouteh,
think the President ought to know how you're
wasting public money and give you the shake now.
You'll make this trial cost 100000 or S30Ooo
Then he went back to his newspaper.
Most of the witnesses of the day were lawyers
ond of conrse were more voluble and violated the
rules of evidence more frequently than most even
of the ades who have been on the stand, mum
bar of these LAWYERS had let Guiteau desk-rcoIn IN
t%e;r ~ otfices The dialogue between Plunmer and
Gmiteam. for they talked straight at one another.
ed;Ged The crowd greatly. Mr.. PluInmer IL young
Th;naao LAWYER of considerable wit If not of much
dignity, and the assassin showed himself almost his
enSal IN repartee. and enjoyed the, fun. When Mr.
Piummer. addressing Guiteau in the second person,
g9estei that mis- inspiration and his close assoca-
san with the Deity had corrupted his manners. the
assassin laughed and; raising his eyes ron one OK