Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-24
Takes Exceptions to Being Prounneed
Dsstituts Of Intsllect
Examination Of Witnesses.

ter and asked for the originals.
Pending the discussion. Guiteau insisted
upon being heard and said Il can throw hen,
mon this. At the time of my arrest l had
FORTY or fifty editorial clips showing the po-
litical situation in May and Jnne last These
aims show the action and one of the forces
that impelled me on the President. They are
very important as showing the gist OF the
whole matter There were forty or fifty slips
deno.ncinp President Garfield. 1t was iiv-
ine on such ideas q these that was finally
impeIIed on the President with my lnspira-
ton"
Corkhill interposed again. saying: 'If it
will enable you to get through today, will
send for them at once"
During the momentary lull in the proceed
iups Guiteau desired to make personal ex-
PLANTATION. saying he had used the expression
Yesterday that Julius" was too suggestive
of the negro race and for that reason he had
dropped it from his name. His prejudice
was begotton two years ago. He meant no
disrespect to any person or any race. for they
are more highly thought of than the white
race nowadays.
Scovills continued by reading Guiteau's
letters.
Scoville read letter, written by Guiteau
to his father. in which he spoke of having
COTTON into some trouble and in which he
asked for money. Guiteau explained the let
ter, saying, "a miscreant, a miserable little
whelp, had me arrested on account of a lit
tie difference of $40 between US. As soop
as the the District Attorneys attention was
called to the matter, was released. Inever
ought to have been arrested, but it got into
the papers and did me a good deal of harm.
had been in the theology business some
time, and as usual was out of money. That's
all there was in that"
As the reading of the letter was concluded
Guiteau again interrupted saying, l never
got much from my father. He got down on me
because left the community, and we could
never after agree on that miserable, sinking
community business. I'm mad every time
think of it. 1t kept me out of fellowship
with my father up to the time of his death"
Scoville resuming, alluded to Guiteau's
career as politician, and drew the conclusion
that his intellect WAS deficient
This view aroused the prisoner at once and
he began a series of interruptions, protesting
against Scoville's cOnclusione as false. When
reference was made to his running around
from one committee room to another, seeking
to be engaged - a campaign speaker. and
his failure to obtain recognition, Guiteau
angrily shouted. at wasn't because l had
not ability, but was not known. had the
| ideas, but not the reputation. They wanted
big guns like Grant and COnklng, men who
would draw" Then in contradiction to his
counsers declaration to the jury that Guiteau
was the man who never made joke in his
lite, he looked up with an amused smile and
added, ~ presume I'd draw noT." This pro-
voked general laughter, which was promptly
suppressed by the Judge. who struggled to
| suppress smile on his own face.
Scoville continued upon the same line, and
tss,;a Unit GolI
W. Hancock" at was" he said, "a mere
tumble of ideas collected from the news
papers and from the speeches of others. No
one but a crazy man would have imagined, as
Guiteau did, that this speech possessed any
merit" Guiteau became mere and more
restless, and in the most excited manner yet
assumed by him, shouted out, 81 object to
your theory on that score, and when you try
to make out I'm fool, I'm down on you.
want you to tell the truth, but you need not try
to make me out . fool. 1 say the Deity in
spired my act, and he will take care Of it.
want the truth. and that's all there is about
it anyway"
Corkhill arose to protest against the inter-
ruptions of the prisoner, when Guiteau rails
ed his hand patronixingly and said ''Tis
not necessary to make any remarks, Colonel ;
just let the matter drop" Scoville was will
ling to agree to any measure the District At
tOrney might suggest to restrain the prisoner
Davidge desired TO suggest a way to prevent
the outbreaks. He attributed them entirely
to Scoville's course in commenting upon the
evidence already submitted and his attempt
to argue from it a mental infrmify on the
part Of the prisoner.
Guiteau listened intently, and striking his
clenched hand upon the table in front of him,
exclaimed, II agree with that all through
and desire to thank the prosecution, every
one of them, for the liberal spirit they have
shown. think Corkhill made fine open
ing. There wasn't any bitterness at all in
his speech. commend him for it." This
incident enlivened, to q marked degree. the
mornings proceedings and afforded much
amusement to the audience.
Guiteau continued to interject his observa-
tons upon Scoville's theory that he (Gui-
teau) vas deficient in intellect, and protest
ed he would not allow his counsel to make
him out fool. After few minutes Guiteau
subsidized and promised the court he would
keep quiet,
Scoville ended his opening without further
interruption or incident At the request OF
the District Attorney the witness for the de-
fence were excluded from the Court room.
with the exception Of Mrs. ScovilIe. The
prosecution At the request of Mr.. Scovilie
witness for the defence, H. W. Burton, vas
the examined.
Guiteau was constantly talking upon re-
ligious subjects without becoming impressed
At all on the moral principles. of religion. He
displayed what might be termed moral i'm
becility. There was an unusal exaltation of
an emotional nature affecting particularly
emotions Of pride and vanity.
Witness made Up his mind from his sex-
aminaaioa q ~ ease that Guiteau ought to
be seclude4 and 90 told his ffieads, but be-
fore steps could be taken to secure his con-
fnement. the prisoner borrow ed some clothes
from . gentleman, At whose house he
vas staying, and disappeared from that Sec
ton. He had not seen him again until re.
Icentiy. The witness treated Luther Guiteau.
father of the prisoner. and did not think him
inssne. He, however, detected. what to his
mind indicated, great moral obliquity.
At this juncture the recess was taken.
After recess DR.. Rice vas ross-examined
by Davidee, for the prosecution. Absurd or
irrational religions views did not, in the
opinion Of the witness. necessarily indicate
insanity. He frequently observed such in
persons he did Dot deem insane.
Frank l. Uaiea Of Boston, spoke of cir
] cumstances attending Guiteau's lecture in