Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-16
aASSASSiNATIoN." !"
WHAT GUlTEAU CALLED HIS CRIME
WHEN IT WAS COMMITTED.
Damaging Testimony-The Prisoner More
Abusive Than Usual-Are the Whole
Family Cranks7-Mrs. ScOviIIe's
Interruptions, Etc.
" INSPIRATION" AN AFTER THOUGHT.

AS the testimony in the case pro-
gresses, Guiteau's chances for escape
continually become less. The fact was
developed, yesterday, that his theory of
'inspiration impelling him upon the
President" !" wasan after thought, by the
testimony of Gen. Reynolds, who visited
the prisoner soon after the murder was
committed, and to whom he spoke of
the assassination" and it was not until
more than two weeks after the crime
had been committed that Guiteau adopt
ed the inspiration theory. He may be
and probably is ''moral mOnstr0sity,"
but society should be protected from
them as from other demons. Seventy
two "cranksn have been arrested at
Washington since the assassination,
men who are more or less insane, as
Guiteau is, but who know the meaning
of murder and the uses of rope. 1t is
Just such men that the law was made
to punish, and that the penalty ofhang-
ing was made to intimidate. If few
of these moral monstrosities were hang
ed we would hear less of them, and Gui-
teau is sane enough to be used as an
awful example.
q
Associatcd Press.
WASHINGTON, December l5.-As soon as
the court was called to order, Guiteau ad-
dressed the Court and said: want to make
little speech. 1t would be great mis-
fortune il anything should happen to this
Jury. They are very honest, intelligent
men, and | want the best care taken OF
them. There are some OF them who are
.1,nln
and consequently they are liable to have
Indigestion. | want the court to order
them out every morning for walk of four
or five miles before break fast. i have two
or three more little speeches to make, but
this will do for the pres cnt.
Judge Cox-The court will attend TO the
wants of the jury.
Collier was then recalled. Witness never
detected any signs Of insanity i'll the pris-
oner.
Scoville began crosse examination OF the
witness when Guitcau, in a great rage,
shouted-I never saw this man
But Once In MY Life,
and that was in 73. never saw him but
five minutes. What does he know about
me? This shows just how little sense You
have got, Corkhill, to put up this man as
an expert. To Mr.. Scoville,-and you
the time of the court examining man OF
his character. He was only clerk i'll
lawyers office anyway.
Re-examined by Corkhill, witness said;
In my opinion, al the time knew him, he
was perfectly competent to distinguish be-
tween right and wrong. Exception taken
by Scoville.
Scoyille asked: What is your opinion of
the prisoners ability to distinguish be-
tween right and wrong at the present time?
Question ruled out and another exception
noted by Scovillc.
J. NJ. Justice n lawyer of Logansport,
Ind,-Met prisoner in 1873. He. Guiteau,
was engaged in selling bOok-The Life OF
Moody.
Guiteau intCrrupted-Eou are mixing
me up with some one else, sir.
Witness continued, but was again inter
rupted by Guiteau, who shouted-Stop
right here. Can you identify IN" ~ fla"
Guiteau-Can you swear 10 It?
Witness-Ycs, | can.
Guiteau--Wcll, you are a liar, sir;
Miserable Liar.
That's the best way to dispose of you.
Witness continuing said the prisoner re-
mained in Logansport about three weeks
selling the book.
Guiteau continuing intcrjeCtcd abusive
comments, and finally shOuted-lou mis-
cradle whelp, TO come here and make me
out a book agent. | was preaching thc
gospel and sold my own production. In
n few minutes he turned to ScOville with
intense disgust and said-Oh, cut this fool
short. He's lying all through. Don't
waste time on him.
Scoville askcd-What was the appearance
OF the prisoner when you knew him?
Answer-IIe looked about the same as
now, except about the eyes. :,
Scoville-What was the difference III the
expression of his eyes!
Answer-At that time ne had free eX-
preston. Now the expression seems sup
| pressed.
Guiteau-'I don't tIink
I'm Much Suppressed
| this morning. 1t seems to me I'm pretty
| lively" Guiteau gradually worked HIM.
| self into q towering rage and detained
| against the witness, prosecution ana crankS
| whom he claimed threatened him with
| violence, his Billingsgatc being especially
directed against the Prosecuting Attorney.
| Referring to COrkhill he said, Hes sgetting
| too dirty and too sinking to live and the
| first thing he knows. God Almighty will
take him and send him down below.
Rev. Rush X Shippen, pastor Of All
Souls church. Washington, boarded at the
same house and occupied a seat at the same
table with the prisoner from April last
| till the day before the murder of the Presl-
dent, when the prisoner disappeared. wit
ness had frequent conversations with the
prisoner; both had lived in Chicago, and
that formed the basis OF conversations
which led TO quite familiar acquaintance.
Prisoner was chatty and polite, little
| quick or nervous in utterance but not sui
! ficiently so TO indicate marked peculiari'
". Witness never detected anything
To Indicate Insanity.
The usual topic Of conversation between
| himself and the-prisoner at the table were
the Conkling Garfield imbrogl!o, and the
| New Testament revision. On no occasion
did the prisoner exhibit more excitement
than any other person might.
MRS. Dumrie,
formerly the wife OF Guiteau. then took
the stand. She was married to the prisoner
in July, 1863.
Seoyille objected to the testimony unless
the record proof of divorce was shown
The witness was then withdrawn; CorkhilI
remarking that he would introduce the
witness later, after hc had obtained copy
Of the court record.
Doctor Hobel Young, physician at the
iail where Guiteau is confined, related the
particuiars Of several conversations with
the prisoner. At one time he asked ths