The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-11-22
THE GUITEAU CASE.

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room who are there to study the case, there
to watch the disposition of questions of
great moment, not only in the trial on
hand but questions of such character as
when settled in so prominent contest will
possibly become controlling principles in
future causes Of similar nature. The first
aud second days of the examination the
rougher element filed the courtroom, an
element drawn there by soothing more than
idle curiosity, the controlling feature OF
which, no doubt, was desire to get a
glimpse of Guiteau. Bat this class has be.
come satisfied and gradually dropped out
of court, and we are Informed that now a
really intelligent audience occupy the court
chairs from day to day The trial
has now been in progress some
six days, and bids fair to be
drawn out at considerable length. As yet
nothing new or startling has transpired.
Guiteau, it will be noticed, has been maxi
ing himself doubly conspicuous on the
trial and has given rise to scene on each
succeeding day. II is, of course, a mooted
question whether these manifestations of
temper and dissatisfaction on his part are
the genuine fruits OF insanity or whether
they are preconcerted exhibitions designed
to influence the minds of the Jury.
1t is more than likely that this
latter theory is the correct one, for
while there is evidently, as we say in COM
mon parlance, "a screw loose" in the mans
brain, he is too intelligent to believe that
counsel are not necessary in his case or
that he could possibly defend himself, and,
indeed, his one fear seems to have been
that he would not be properly represented.
1t is very doubtful, however, if the jury
are impressed, as he hopes to have them,
by such conduct. The jury for the most
part are plain, laboring men, and not in
the habit of indulging in hair-sphtting
theories on the subject of either law or
metaphysics, and will be pretty apt simply
to look at and judge from what they see and
they will not probably be very strongly in
clined to certify to the insanity of man
who can argue law questions and display a
familiarity with court defense, man who
signifies his dependence ultimately upon
the right of appeal and who processes to
have an idea of justice. 1t is compare
lively easy for those who are accustomed to
watch closely different mental tempera-
ments and note the influence of hallucina-
tons upon an apparently sound mind
to appreciate the presence of insanity in
such man as Gutcau, but the unlettercd,
matt er-of-fact individual cannot see such
things, and will very rarely give crcdence
to their existence, Then, again, that insanity
which the law recognizes as an excuse for
crime is peculiar kind. 1t is such as de-
stroys all kind of obligation, sweeps away
from the mind all distinctions of right and
wrong and leaves its victim moral wreck.
Under these peculiar circumstances it will
likely prove quite difficult matter
for Mr.. Scovillc, with the preiudices
against his client, to convince the
jury that the assassin is too insane to be
held accountable forhis murdcrous'acts An.
other point that the defense will probably
urge,vith equal force,with the plea ofinsanity
is the question as to what constitut ed really
the cause of the death. This will no doubt
receive new interest and be regarded wit h
more weight as controlling article OF de
Tense by Guiteaus counsel, since the recent
discussion in the North American Review
on the subject of the surgical treatment Of
tho late President. No less eminent
authority than DIR. Hammond, OF
New York, physician who stands at the
very head of his profession in America, now
openly and vigorously insists that the Pres.
ident's wound was by no means necessarily
fatal, that surgery as an art and science
has reached development of character
to afford relief in such cases, and, "hencC
that the President did not have that treat.
ment which modern surgery is capable of
Offering" in other words that the doc.
tors killed their patient. If the Guiteau
jury should take this view of the case, and
they are more likely to find the wound not
fatal and the doctors in fault, than to find
Guiteau insane, they could not legally or
conscicntiously convict the prisoner
Whatever may be the result the legal pro.
fcssion can hope for new and perhaps more
satisfactory precedents on some open ques.
tons in the law. 1t is gratifying in
the extreme, to, to see the case proceed
ing with such unquestioned fairness
toward the prisoner, What amarked con-
trast for the civilized world to look at in the
trial of the assassin of the Chief Magistrate
of the great Republic, ruler chosen by the
unchallenged votes of freemen, and that Of
the assassns of the late Car, representing
as he did, too, the rank tyranny of ages,
There is no legal contrast comparable to it.
1t is in fact one Of the greatest political les
sons of the day, and cannot fail of its
effect. Then there is another
side to this celebrated case, side
that may properly be termed the poetical.
II shows how nature asserts itself at last,
and blood binds hearts closer together than
hooks of steel. The family of the murderer
upon the first news of the crime almost re-.
fused to recognize him as one of them, and
not kind word reached him from
a single human being. Now, how.
ever the melancholy and tragic
are added to the trial by the presence of d
hrot hpr nm nno side ond a u.oo,,;nr, ,;.4a. 80,