Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-11-23
The CUITEAU TRIAL.
Scoville's Argument for the De-
Tense.
GUITEAU's LIFE AND ANCESTRY
The Prisoner Still Keeping Up the
Insane Dodge.
TEAU'S LIFE AND ANCESTRY,
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO THE RsooaD-usIos.l

WAsHINGToN, November 22j.-The prison
van in which Guiteau was conveyed to the
Court this morning was escorted by six
mounted policemen, in addition to the off.
GERS who rode upon the van. The trip was
made without any incident. After reaching
the prisoners room, Guiteau partoolx of q
hearty breakfast, and expressed himself as
satisfied with the police arrangements made
to insure his safety. He thought that the
same precautions should have been observed
at the outset.
The Courtroom was crowded in every
nook and corner.
John Guiteau was in the Courtroom soon
after 9 o'clock, and obtained subpenas for six
additional witnesses.
None of the gentlemen publicly invited by
Guitesu to assist in the defense have yet
responded. 1t is understood, however, that
Scoville expects to secure the services Of
Truie, Of Chicago. later in the week.
Several medical experts were summoned by
defense, and are in attendance this morning.
Among them is DR.. Rice, of Wisconsin, who
hiss long knowa the prisoner ard who, it is
said, advised his commitment TO the insane
asylum four years ago, on the ground of emo
tional insanity.
sCovILLE's DEFENSE CONTINUED.
Guiteau was brought into the Courtroom,
and shortly after 10 o'clock Scoville resumed
his argument. He called the attention oi
the jury to the plea set up by the defense Of
insanity" and discussed at great length the
growth and changes OF public opinion upon
the subject of insanity and its treatment by
the Courts when set up as defense in crini.
nal cases. He cited numerous rulings in
several noted cases. He claimed that the
plea of insanity having been set up by the
defense, the burden of proof rests with the
prosecution. There was just as much ground
to indicate Guiteau's insanity. "Why,'
said Scoville, "even President Garfield said
why did this man do it? He must be in,
sane.' Blaine must have believed that Gui
teau was insane"
Colonel Corkhill then arose. and with much
emphasis said: "If you will allow me, Mr.
Scoville, the President never said that he
thought Guiteau was insane. He thought
him sane all the time. Blaine never thought
him insane. He has said. under oath, that
he believes him sane"
Scoville explained that he spoke from in.
formation derived from the newspapers, and
would not take issue on the statement.
HISTORY OF THE GUITEAU FAMILY.
He hunted up the history of the Guiteau
family, who were of Huguenot extraction, and
who had, he said, retained to the present day,
as marked characteristic, the sturdy sdher-
ence to religious convictions which caused the
expatriation of the Huguenots. He asserted
that insanity was hereditary in the family.
Scoville went on to give the story Of Gui-
teau's life in detail. Guitesu appeared salts
fed till Scoville plainly intimated that lack
of capacity on Guiteau's part had reduced
mis- practice to the collection of bad debts.
Guiteau here WINGED and broke out with,
" / brought great many suits and generally
gave them all they wanted to do On the other
side"
After a moment Of quasi explanation to the
prisoner, Scoville was about proceeding when
Guiteau, apparently appeased, waved his
hand pleasantly to Scoville and said: Sec
on, Scoville, that's an interesting story and is
correct in its details"
Continuing, Scovil!e said in effect that
Guiteau made good living and supported
his family all this time, and paid his debts.
TILT AT THE AsYLUMs AND THE NEWS,
PAPERS.
At one point in the argument, Scoville. in
detailing the enlightened treatment of the
insane now in vogue at the asylums, said :
81 In other words, those ia charge of the asy-
lums act with little more reason than do the
inmates"
This sally seemed to amuse Guiteau i'm
mensely, and broad smile broke over his
features and reappeared two or three times,
as il his mind reverted to it.
Scoville adverted to the prejudice which
undoubtedly existed against the plea of III
sanity, generally. and especially in the case
of the prisoner. lie said that the newspapers
had intimated that Guiteau was only fsigr-
ing insanity, and such seemed the general
theory Of the public.
Guiteau turned unessilY in his chair, and
with quick, nervous articulation, said: "
never feign; act myself, sane or insane"
Without noting the interruption, Scoville
alluded to the arrest of a man at the time of
President Hayes Inauguration, who was sent
to the Asylum. This man, he said, had as
carefully made his arrangements to kill Pres
ident Hayes as did Guiteau to kill President
Garfield, and but for his arrest might have
succeeded.
THE PRISONER OBJECTS TO DERoGAToRY RE.
MARKS.
While Scoville was explaining about vari.
ous scenes of the prisoners life, Guiteau here
broke in with, Had frst.class references as
well as my personal appearance, and go got
business, besides that had no bad habits Of
any kind"
To illustrate Guiteau's freaks as indications
of insanity, Scovill5 then related his rambling
attempt at speech on a certain occasion. when
be had been assigned By the Court as counsel
for prisoner on trial.
Guiteau sgain, in an excited manner, said
" That is absolutely false. 1 never tried 4
case with Charles Reed in my life. I don't
want to interfere with your theory. but your
facts are false. want the jury to understand
my pecnliarities. That's all right There are
insane u