The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-12-29


July I'd! Who can tell what is passing
in the mind of the foreman of the jury
or of the court? 1t will probably take
an act of God to stTaighten this thing
out. | expect he will have taken one
of these jurymen off the panel pointing
| dramatically in the directiOn) he has
taken jurors wife, and l expect he
will take juror if it cannot be done in
! any other way"
Wm. A, Edwards, a clerk, of Brooklyn,
| proceeded to tell of the moral Obliquities
of the prisoner, with whom he was ac-
| quainted when he had desk room in
Shaw's office ten years ago; witness heard
| a conversation with regard to initiating
wilkes Booth in order to obtain nOtOrity,
| and afterwards told Guiteau it was a
blOOdthiTsty remark, Guiteau denounced
the witness as a liar and requested
the court to kick him off the stand
DR.. TalcOtt stated that he had made
insanity a special study for the past
seven years; was at present medical
superintendent of the State hOmeOpath-
ic insane asylum at MiddletOwn, N. Y,
and had treated about 1000 cases of in
sanity. 81 have seen some cases where
patients had attempted murder under
the insane delusiOn that they were in
spired by the Lord. The characteristics
were great eXcitability, and they have
spoken of their intentions before at
tempting their murderOus work.
have never known a case where the
patient claimed insanity as excuse for
his crime. Upon the assumption that
the prisoner was telling the truth, so
far as he knew, with regard to the
actual transaction, and upon the as
sumption that a record of his life EN-
bodied main facts of his life, should
be of the opinion that on July I'd, when
he shot the President, the prisoner was
sane" Witness said he had heard hypO-
thetical cases read, and, assuming that
the propositions were true, he had no
hesitation in saying that the man was
sane. ScOVille crOss-eXamined the wit
ness, asking: "DO you believe in the
Deity's inspiring people to do things at
the present dayP" Not of that charac-
ter" came the prompt reply, followed by
an OutburSt of applause. Witness did
not believe the prisoners claim of in
spiratiOn to be an insane delusiOn. 81
do not believe that he believed he was
honestly inspired" Witness said he
eXaggerate his natural tendencies.
EgOtism, irritability and ingTatitude,
for the purpose of producing the inn
preston of insanity. He said that it
was possible for a man to commit muir
der when honestly feeling impelled bya
power he WAS unable to resist, and
when the acl was against his natural
feeling, and that such act did not prove
insanity so far as the brain was con-
cerned.
SATURDAY.
DR.. Stern said: Insanity is more
likely to exist in malfOTmed head
than with persons with symmetrical
heads" Witness admitted, in making
explanation, that he did not care about
criticising or passing an opinion of the
writing of other members of his profess
sion, and said that doctors frequently
disagreed on the subject of insanity.
The prisoner asked witness if held that
a man cannot be insane in a specific
act without his brain being diseased.
ScOville put the question, and witness
answered, "The very term insanity i'm
plies a diseased BRAIN" The prisoner
started with another question, and POr-
ter interrupted with a protest against
witness being catechised by Guiteau.
DR.. Jamin Strong, superintendent of
the Cleveland Insane Asylum, was the
next witness. This examination took
the same form as that of other experts.
He stated from personal examination
and observation of the prisoner in court
he firmly believed Guiteau to be sane.
DR.. A. NJ. Shaw, Superintendent of the
Insane Asylum, MiddletOwn, Conn.,,
took the stand. From personal exam
ination and observation of prisoner dur
ing the trial witness had formed the
opinion that he was sane.
The promise of District Attorney
COrkhilI some time ago that Guiteau's
trial would come to an end before the
year is not likely to be realized. 1t is
apparent to-day that it will not end be-
fore the middle of January, if it does
then. The entry of Charles H. Reed, of
Chicago, into the case, as counsel for
the defense has put the eminent law
yers employed for the prosecution on
their mettle and their actions show that
they realize that Reed is a frst-class
criminal lawyer. District Attorney
COrkhill manifests great uneasiness as
to Reeds entry into the case and is
very severe in his denunciatiOn of
Reeds connection with the case. The
latter has been named as COrkhilPs
probable successor as district attorney
which is believed to account for the
bad blood exhibited toward Reed by
COrkhill.
TUESDAY.
The seventh week of Guiteau's trial
began to-day with a crowded court room.
The prisoner appeared somewhat sub
dued, probably from the effects of his
TOO, zoo SumpJuOu5 christmas dinner.
DR.. Mcdonald, of the New York City In
sane Asylum, was called. Before the
examination began, Guiteau remarked
judilantly that he had had delightful
Christmas dinner, with flowers, fruits,
etc. The court raped vigorously for
order, and the prisoner to shut up.
Witness defined hallucinations, delu-
siOns, etc. Said insane people did not
make deliberate preparations for their
acts, but generally acted in a moment |
of passion. They didn't show the same
Judgment in selection of their victims |
as sane people. Sane people had |
definite motive, and their victims were |
persons against whom they had some |
grudge or grievance. Witness stated |
certain matters rejecting on the COM |
potency of DTs. Herman and Spitska as |
experts for the defense. He went to the |
jail to exsmine the mental condition of |
prisoner on the 18th of November. In |
with Guiteau he spoke of |
his act as conception of his own, and |
not an inspiration. 1t was repulsive to |
hlm. He tried two weeks to put it aside. |
The Almighty not interpOsing he formed |
a deliberate purpose to execute the act. |
He had no doubt that he would be ac- |
quilted on the ground of insanity; that |
while he was not medically, he was |
legally insane. Said he: 81 shall have |
tO hn sent to an inSana aSvIum- aOd bova