Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22
GUITEAU'S MENTAL STATUS,
EXPERT TESTIMONY AS TO HIS SANITY
HE SAYS HE IS A GREAT MAN NOW,
DISREGARDING THE COURTS ADMO.
NITION TO KEEP QUIET.


morning, there was not near so great rush fol
seats as usual. The disagreeabe weather not
only diminished the numbers, but changed the
character of the audience. for the proportion of
ladies present was greatly lessened. Lotta
the actress was a conspicuous person in court
She sat just behind the district attorneys chair
Next to her sat Thos. W. Stevens, of the court
of appeals at Albany.
GUITEAU EXCITED, BUT REFRAINs FROM OPENING
THE PROCEEDINGS WITH SPEECH
The court was called to order at ten o'clock
The prisoner. when brought in, showed evidences
of some excitement, and emphasized whispered
conversation which he held with Mr. Charlie
Reed and Mr.. Scoville by beating his fist against
the table Turning to the court he said: 81
was going to make a speech. but I won't do il
now" The prisoner then proceeded to teal
open some letters. remarking as he did 50
Its the first time have opened my own mail
for a good while"
AN EXPERT FROM AUBURN THINKS GUTTEAu SANE
Dr. Theodore Damon was then called to the
stand by the district attorney.
Mr.. Scoville, rising. said the name of the wit
ness had not been furnished 20 the defendant
and objected.
After some discussion, in which the d!strc,
u
Scovilles own witnesses, the court ruled that
the objection would not apply to witnesses in re-
buttal.
Mr.. Scovlle excepted.
The witnes. who is an elderly man. testified
TO his recent connection with the Auburn peni-
teDtary as physician in charge Of insane crimi-
nails. He made al examination of the prisoner
Gu,teau, at the jail on the 2Gth OF November:
had observed the prisoner during the trial
Witness opinion, based upon these OppOrtuni-
ties OF knowing the prisoners mental condition,
was that the prisoner was sane.
Mr Corkhi!l then read to the witness the
long hypothetical questions printed in yester-
days STAR.
The witness replied to both questions. that
MS opinion was nat the prisoner ut the time Of
tue shooting was sane.
THE ErouDle with that is that twO-thirds of
1t Is false. sad the prisoner, when Mr.. Cuikhili
mac hnlshed readin" the hypothetical case.
Ibe witness was then turned over TO MIR. Sco-
vile Tor croSe-eAamnatiOn
The witness said he Lad no reason when at
jail. to believe the prisoner was sianMno:
there were several experts present when the
Witl:css first saw the prisoner AT Jail: witness
described the physical examination made He
dld not think the prisoner had been plaving a
part III the court-room-a part in the sense of
stimulating insanity: the Witness said ne lad not
had much experience witl insane. persons eX-
cept stctl rs he had had during a limited period
at the Auburn prison; it had been frequently the
case there that prisoners had fegned insanity:
he tad not had much difficulty in detecting the
siialH- Ihe witness said he had found that
insane people We're often immoral in his eyneri-
ence this occurred oftenef than with sane peo-
PIE; he did not think immortality indicated
sanity: insane people were frequently cunning
shrcWd and deceitfu
Mr.. ScOVilie taking cGpg of the EycNIEG
Sr Ar fora guide, examined the witness upon
the various postulateS in the governments ny
potheticai case The witness was also exam
ined at length as to manifestations of insanity
There were many cases of insanity in which the
mora' ,ln side side OF the patient, seemed to
such eases the moral sense seemed blunted
his experience had been with insane criminals
altogether. i'm whom the moral nature was per-
verified before they became insane.
The witness said there was no uniform stand
ard by which persons Insanity could be de-
termined. The only evidence Of insanity that
the witness would admit in various hypothetical
questions asked by Mr. ScOyilIe was alleged in
conference and the conduct of the prisoner when,
as alleged, he raised an axe against his sister.
The witness considered DR.. Rice an incOmpe-
tent observer Of insane persons; when he (the
Witness) became competent he learned for the
first time how little he had known about the
subject.
GUITEAU BOASTS OF BEING QUIET
Mr.. Scoville asked the witness how long he
had to study before he was able to distinguish
always between sanity and insanity.
II don't know quite enough, yet, suppose"
said the witness
That's the best thing you have said vet"
said the prisoner looking up. Then turning to
the spectators, he said: "Mr. Scovile is doing
all the talking this morning. gentlemen and
ladies'. am keeping quiet"
MIR. ScOville asked the witness If he thought
DR.. Wooster. who was Oh the stand YESTERDAY.
was old enough to distinguish between sanity
or insanity.
He was old enough to be summoned by the
defence as witness. remarked Mr. Davidge
Your $500, judge drew him away" said the
prisoner
Mr.. Scoville did not urge the question, admit
ting that it was improper.
The witness did not think a religious convic-
ton in a Christian country constituted insan-
ity.
GUTTEAU SAYS HE IS A GREAT MAN NOW AND
HIGH-TONED LADIES WANT HIS AUTOGRAPH.
Mr.. ScOville having occasion to stop to look
for letter. the prisoner said: ''That reminds
me to say opened my own mail this morning
for the first time in long while, and there is
only one crank letter in the lot. People are
tonng down-tOning down! There's a great
demand for my autograph, too. l am a great
man now. don't care much about it. whether
crank letter in the whole lot--that is pretty
good showing. Another thing about the appli-
Cation for autographs is they come from some of
the high-tOned ladies of Washington. They
send in their albums. You see am going up
outside"
LETTER TO THE PRISONER FROM DIR. sPITzKA-
OTHER LETTERS
Further on in the examination. the prisoner
holding up letter, said: IL have letter from
DR.. Spitzka in which he says he has received
200 letters since he testifedhere, congratulatine
him, and he had only received three communi
cations containing threats and two letters from
lunatics. That's pretty good showing-2OO
letters of cOmmendation, aad he didn't get paid
for coming here like these ether fellows"
"We have not time now to listen to YOUR cor
respOndence." said the court.
another letter." continued the prisoner.
''fiOm some one in Cincinnati, in the same
tone"
Mr.. ScOville undertook to check the prisoner.
but he broke out, saying: .sAIso, letter from
Daniel F. Beatty, Offering $500 reward for the
person who wrote that crank letter."
THE COURT AGAIN ORDERS GHITEAu TO BE QUIET,
But lie KsHIS ON.
The court again enjoined the prisoner to keep
81