National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-11-14


To-day will commence the trial Of the
assassin Of President Garfield. lie is 10
be dealt with as any other murderer
would be. He will have an impartial
jury empaneled. The argument Of
counsel will be heard on the plea TO the
Jurisdiction, if one should be entered, and
upon the courts understanding of the
law the question will be decided. The
plea of insanity will be made, and wit
nesses in great numbers will be ex-
apined. II is stated in the papers that
the following are some of the personal
peculiarities and incidents of the assas-
sins life stated in the hypothetical case
TO be presented to the experts in the en-
deavor TO establi II his insanity:
Consistent with his excessive egotism, he has for
many years, ever since he was IN the oneida Com.
munity, firmly believed he was destined TO be
President Of the United States. lie is yet of that
opinion. lie expects to go forth n free and vim
dicnted man. 10 use his own expression, from his
trial. lie maintains to-day that ho has as much
or more influence with President Arthur than any
other person. Speaking conndentaly to n friend
few days ago he said of District Attorney Cork
hill e. could have him removed tomorrow 10y
applying to President Arthur" lie imagines the
Adm!ni,tration is aiding him indirectly aud
claims the leaders will not see him harmed. be-
cause he Is "onc of them" aud because
President Arthur never forgets his friends"
AT one time, about 1875, wlthouta dollar, with no
business or income, he conceived the project of
publishing New York paper In Chicago stimuli
taueously with its appearance in New York. He
got tile refusal of the lease of n large building for
the purpose, selected an engine for power, nego.
tiuted for purchasing two large presses, and got
terms from the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph
Company for the daily transmission Of the entire
news contents Of the paper Only two hngs were
lacking, he said, to the success Of the scheme-one
was money 10 start at Chicago aud the other the
consent OF the proprietor In New York. lie was
entirely confident of overcoming these obstacles.
As to the first he wrote to John II.
Adams, president Of the Second National Bank
ofFrccpnrt ILL.,, to advance him $4,000, and he
would make him Governor Of the state ofIllinois.
As to the second, he wrote to the proprietor to
give his consent 10 the arrangement and he would
release him from all claims for damages IN a
libel suit then pending for 100000 lie has always
been attracted by the society of ladies, and has
usually been entirely confident he could WOO and
| win any marringc0hle lady. lie has seemed to
! think II would be such condcscension on his
| part that any such lady would at once ncccpt his
| attentions Repeated failures taught him nothing
| IN this line ony more than in his lecturng tours.
! lie has held correspondence during the last
month with young lady, nm entire stranger.
with n sincere purpose of marriage MS soon as re-
leased by his trial, and travelling abroad until the
| prejudice against him dies out.
Whatever facts can be shown in his life
prior to the time he conceived the idea of
killing the President and whatever can
be shown Of tendency to insanity in
his family will of course be entitled to
full weight in the determination of the
guilt of the accused. But it is not likely
that the antics put on by him since he
determined upon the crime will be re-
garded us any evidence of his insanity.
These, indeed, seem,
For they ave actions that man might play.
In this category is the unseemly refer
ence to the President i'll the so-called hy-
| pothetical case above quoted. Its pre-
sentation is q question Of judgment for
the defense; its admission will be a ques-
tion of law for the court If the assassin
were to be allowed to prove insanity by
what he thought of other people and
what he supposed they thought of him,
he could be made the instrument through
which malicious men might suggest
crime against any man and impurty
against any woman in the land. His
statements will be entitled to no con-
sideration, but there may be q lawful
limit to the use which he may seek to
make of his situation.