New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-15
GUITEAUs POSSIBLE INSANITY

WORD AGAINST THE PREJUDGING BY THE PRESS
OF CASES ABOUT To Go BEFORE A JURY.
TO the EdttOr Of The TribWne.
SIR: After careful reading of the commune
cation OF Justice i'll this mornings TRIBUNE would
say that in my humble judgment THE TRIBUNE right
and audable in coupling its comments the probability
that defence of insanity would be attempted with the
candld expression NO one can say negatively that
Guitcau is not a lunac." If "Jusce be a practical
jur1st he must surely know that great difficulty In
modern administration Of criminal arises from the
readiness with which who do not wish to serve as
jurors take newspaper articles the basis Of fixed
opinion on the guilt of the accused on account of which
they are set aside If Gueau had wealthy friends they
might not unwsely spend money in circulating through
the District of Columbia any positive, unqualified
editorials against him found in influential papers, in
the hope of establishing opinion universal that the
Distrct-Attorncy might be unable to impane Jury.
When this occurs in Il State have the venue
changed on the ground Of excessive prejudice against
the prisoner. There may be a law for sending trial out
of the District this ground but heard
Anyway the papers should discuss crime about to be
tried inpersonaly and mpartiay, unless they wish
give jurymen chance of Publish all facts
certanly and tell the people all they will Of the
general doctrine of the law don't PREJUDICE very
question. THE TRIBUNE's general course in limiting
its editorials on pending trials in this way is COM
mendabe.
Justice" seems to ignore the modern doctrine OF in
sane decisions Surely is established that by positive
disease of the brain is subject decisions they will
eAcurt hlln from punishment for act which they
would justify if they Whether the dclusion is
product or disease or not ia the vital question. But
certainty 1t is conceivable that man should from
tai disease become victim OF imagnngs that the Re
bellon had revived and rampant that the Vice
President loyal but the President leagued with
ne kenes ana was plotting to knap the chief officers
ana deliver them to the Conederates and to surrender
buildings that Congress had put District under mar
tla law and sherman had stationed scouts the victim
being one to watch the points of departure and shoot
GOWN any one detected in an overt act for
tins reasonable purpose Stimulated by decisions Of this
sort he might deliberately go armed and keep watch for
days he might believe that the President carry ing
away the Secretary of State bodily he surrendered
the enemy he might fire the shot acting supposed
military orders; appeal to General Sherman for the
sale conduct such as he supposed had been promised
either OF the scouts who might need it and exut in
idea that the loyal VicePresdcnt had been substituted
In ONCE for the disloyal President You will
not Deneve Guteau had any such ideas. Neither do
bit such deusons conceivable. Until the physical
history and condition of the known il is auiie
ilgh 10 declare that negatively, that his
conduct however deliberate cunning and suitable To
wicked purpose, may not have sprung from lunacy.
Aep-l Ork July 5. 1sSl. LAWYER