Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-17
Is Guiteau Insane1
HOW SIMILAR PLEA WAS TREATED IN ENG


To the Editor Of THE EVENING Star.
VIII you please ascertain from some of the
numerous experts in mental diseases now OF
hand, if 1t is usual thing for an insane person
to admit his insanity? Is it not one of the I'm.
m6takabie symptoms of diseased mental
state for the patient, by every artifice at com
mand, and constant little receptions to endeavol
TO conceal his real condition, and turn the at
tention OF observers from his own peculiarities
while ne confidentialiy imparts to one and
another that this or that Individual among his
acquaintance is beyond all doubt deranged? In
short. Is it not the rule for an insane person tt
tnlnk every one crazy except himself Has one
ever been heard of who insisted on his own in
sanity, or tried by display Of sense to prove
himself out of his senses?
these queries are suggested BY the strange
spectacle daily presented to the world in the
trlai now in progress before the Criminal Court
here at the capital of the nation. The man on
tral murdered the President of the United
states. the cOmmander-in-chief of it's army and
navy and the lawfully chosen chief magistrate
Oh nlty millions OF citizens, and for this stipend
Gus crime defence Of insanity is set up to save
MS worthless life, when facts prove that the deed
was deliberately planned and pursued with a CO.
nerent purpose. adevilish perseverance and ma
Hgnant intensity for days and weeks until law
order and humanity were struck and insulted by
the ruthless preparation of his fell intent There
10 no conference insanity. A diseased mind IN
balanced and quickly diverted from it's purpose
is excitable. full of fantasies and impulses but
not coherent. l am constantly reminded while
reading the daily reports of this remarkable trial
OF Earl Ferrars, who was tried before the House
OF Lords April, 176O. for the brutal murder OF
his steward, and was defended on the plea
OF insanity. The day before the trial began
LORD Talbot remarked in the House of Lords
that: ''Never having been thought mad enough
hn bod l. loI,
will try to prove that he is too mad to be
hung." But Lord Talbot was mistaken There's
a stern, impartial way of administering criminal
law In England. Lord Ferrars was tried by
MS peers, but such was the horror and disgust
inspired by his crime that on the first day he an
peared IN the prisoners dock several of the
Iords, VINO mad stood up to obtain view of him.
on observing that he Strengthened himself up
as II TO invite attention. instantly turned their
backs on him. Only a few peeresses were
present at the trial. and they remained but a
short time, in strong contrast with certain recent
trials when women have crowded every avail
able sitting or standing place in the chamber
The trial lasted three days. and although it
was generally admitted and well-known fact
tnat there was an unmistakable faint of insanity
III MS 1amIy-the Washngtons;-althOugh he
was noDlelnan OF high rank and was connected
with some of the most powerful and influential
families In England, Lord Ferrars was SEN
fenced TO be hanged. not at Tower Hill where
CRIMINALS OF noble birth were usually executed,
put at Tyburn, where the lowest and most
brutal ma!efactOrs paid the penalty of their
crimes. He was hung, and his body anatomical.
az was then the law in England His victim
was only an humble. faithful poor servant. not
prince or prime minister, or even one of his
own order, but he was hung all the same But
the criminal now on trial in Washington for the
basest and most cold-blooded and unprovoked
murder that was ever committed. takes
more conspicuous part in the conduct of
his own trial than Earl Ferrars would have
attempted or been allowed to take. Our muir
derer, while clamoring to be thought insane,
disproves the fact by his shrewdness his quick
memory and the keen alertness with which he
follows testimony, corrects mistakes and recalls
data He reveals his depraved nature by his
low abuse of witnesses. his audacious insoence
to +he high officers Of the court and his ungoy-
ernabie temper, and by his outbreaks Of vulgar,
siangy language whenever events of his life of
which he is ashamed. are revealed. He forget:
nothing and remembers every one. also the
sums OF money he has borrowed Of each and
whenever he thinks the deity inspiration" per
IL getting loose, he falls back upon the political
excitement at Albany last June, and reiterates
over and over again, that IF it had not been
for the political crisis the President would not
have been shot" Is this man insane?