Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-04
His own Unsupported Act.

HIS own DusuppOrteu ACts
Howsoever the late deploraole attempt upon
President Garnelds life may terminals, it Is
greatly to the credit OF the American people,
as 1t will crafty those OF every civilized coun-
try In the world to know,-that the act was
that Of person Of unsound mind, without &C
completes or instigators; that 1t had no con-
nection near or remote with political or per-
sonal affairs; and that no other significance
can justly be attached to it than would be
assigned 10 any other mad freak of semi
lunatic. IL is rare. to be sure, that an
Insane impulse Is productive OF such momen-
tous results, but that circumstance does
not alter the facts In the case. The attempt
made In some quarters to snow conspiracy
OF some kind or to connect any section of
political party or group of individuals with the
dreadful affair Is as foolish as 1t is cruel and iii
advised. The more the matter is investigated,
the closer al the facts and Incidents preceding
and Connected with 1t are scrutinized the
clearer does this appear. In spite of the bonn
Dastic utterances OF Guiteau under the exciting
circumstances attending the commission of his
crime and his prompt arrest, deliberate
full weighing of all the contemporary tes-
timony or Information throwing any light
upon it can lead to no other con-
clusion than that the shooting of the President
was the prisoners own Individual act without
aid or suggestion from any quarter. 1t Is true
that the dreadful affair was attended by some
evidences OF generalization and provisions for
mt tlpSo
to no more weight than the cunning and fore
sight so frequently shown by confirmed luna
tics In carrying out hidden plan or IL GLIDING
the vigilance OF keeper.
Probably the most important and reliable
testimony In regard to the character and ten
denotes OF Guiteau Is that furnished In letter
written by his father, to another son. as early
as March. 1878. This sad expression OF paren-
tai trials and forebodiDgs.is printed In full In
another column. and Is entitled to the fullest
confidence and the most serious consideration
Another conclusive piece of evidence
pointing In the same direction Is afforded by
the professional experience OF DR.. hood, the
medical referee OF the Pension bureau
In this City. Several months ago, as
we are Informed, the application Of
GuIteau for pension came before that officer
for investigation. After examining the docu-
ments filed by the prisoner, followed by sew
eral interviews with him, Dr. Hood came to
the conclusion that he was insane, and so
Endorsed In writing his opinion at the time.
This decision, reached by a medical expert
when there was nothing In the case as pre-
sented TO disturb or influence his judgment
would seem, when added to the earlier and
positive convictions OF the father, to forever
settle the question OF the prisoner. mental
unsoundness beyond all doubt.
That Guiteau was not identified With that
portion OF the republican party not exactly In
harmony with the President on matters affect
ing partisan or personal interests, that hadid
not sympathise with 1T, and that his deelara-
ton that he was "a stalwart." was IN after
thought or the outgrowth of an egotis &c sire
to attach Importance to himself, is co lauy
clearly shown by the letter, published IL Sat-
urday'a STAR, which he wrote to tn President
some time ago, and doubtless long before the
thought OF his awful crime had entered his dis
ordered brain. In this It will be remembered.
he said:
regret the trouble that you are having
with senator Conkl1ng. You are right and
should maintain your position. You have my
support, and that OF all patriotic Citizens
What should be the punishment melted to
Guiteau It Is not necessary to discuss here.
The only present object is to relieve the Amer.
lean character from the obloquy which would
properly follow connivance or sympathy with
so horrible crime. In doing so we have not
thought necessary to dwell upon the absolute
impossibility Of any Of the persons or interests
toward whom attention has been directed being
associated with Or even harboring the thought
OF tragedy so terrible In itself and so deplor.
able In Its results Such suspicion Is TOO nor.
rible TO contemplate, and 1t ought not for a mo-
ment be entertained In any quarter, much less
insinuated Or expressed.