Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-31
TRIAL OF euITEAu
Drawing to q Close.
Evidence for the Prosecution all in.
ScoviIIe Wants a Week More,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.

uc IDuft IDOu y a. HdCktO THIS IDfUOOU
and an immense crowd was around the doors.
At ten O'Clock the prisoner was led in by the
bailiffs. As he passed table at which his
counsel sat he paused moment and whis-
pered to Scoviile: If you will only keep
quiet today will laugh this case ont Of
court.
As soon as he had reached his seat in the
dock he shouted out:
Some of the leading papers in America
consider me the greatest fellow they have ev-
er met. Some time about eight last night |
received kilograms. which will read for the
for the edifcation of this audience and the
American people MIR. Charles j. Guiteau,
Washington, d. C. All Boston sympathizes
with you. You ought to be President. Sign
ed, host Of admirers.
Pausing a moment he branched If into .
rambling harangue, quoting Scripture, and
comparing himself to the meek and lowly
Jesus" who used plain language, though
sometimes severe. AZ have been accused of
using harsh language he added, ''but take
as my pattern the Savior of mankind"
After pause as if to note the effect Of his
blasphemous speech, he continued: ] shall
submit my name to the next republican con-
vention. l shall expect to be before it.
There are only two men in this country who
want me hung; one is Judge Porter, who
expects to get $1,000 from this government if
am convicted, and the other is Corkhill.
who expects to get bounced, and who knows
/ am the cause Of it.
The counsel tor the prosecution having en-
tered the room DIR. kempster took the stand
and Scoville resumed the cross-examinatiOn.
Guiteau appeared to be quite satisfied with
his initial effort of the day and leaned back
in his seat and busted himself with his morn
ing papers; he has apparently recovered
from the nervousness he displayed yesterday
at not sitting so near the window. Yesterday
he turned his back upon the audience and
faced the window nearly all dav, at no time
fully turning his back to the window. But
this forenoon he sat facing the court and jury
with as much confidence and composure as
would be expected from a spectator.
Scoville directed his question to the sub
ject of instantaneous decisions with view to
showing that persons laboring under such
decisions often exercise wonderful self
control for the sake of accomplishing their
purpose.
The witness did not believe in temporary
insanity in the sense that q person could be
insane and wholly recover from it in an hour
The witness was asked if he believed Sickles
was sane or insane when he shot Key, and
replied:
think he was sane, sir.
Guiteau-The jury didn't agree with YOU.
sir, they thought he was insane.
The case of Coles, who shot Hiscock, at
Albany, n. Y, was cited. and the witness
stated that Coles was undoubtedly insane.
Upon leaving the stand, COrkhill announc-
ed that he had but one more witness to in
troduce on the part of the government, a fact
which he believed would be highly satisfac-
tory to the jury, who had for two long time
been kept in seclusiOn by this trial. and
probably to all concerned. He would like to
hear from Scoville as to how much time he
might want to consume upon sur-rebuttal
that some idea might be had how much longer
this trial would continue.
Scoville replied: We have some witnesses
whose names have been presented since we
closed our case, and shall ask the court to
permit him to have them sworn, and our rea-
son will be upon the ground of newly dis
covered evidence material to the case. | shalt
only ask your honor, however, to allow me
to ask few questions of these witnesses
relative to independent facts not heretofore
known to me.
Col. Corkhil-We would like to know
what you expect to prove.
Scoville-We have evidence to offer rela-
tive to the state of the prisoners mind just
before the shooting.
DaNluSe-OOuiu you give US AL luea now
much time you will want upon our rebuttal ?
Scoville-Several days, probably a week.
Davidge-We must object, your honor, to
to the re- opening of this case.
Scoville insisted that he did not desire to
delay the trial or consume the time o. the
court,
The prosecution had consumed weeks with
these expert witnesses, meeting with them
nightly and comforting with them in the prep
aration of this case and he didn't propose to
be cut short in matter of time. He could re-
new, however, his proposition that the jury
be allowed to separate and to go to their
homes, relying upon their honor and integ-
rity,
Guiteau said: I agree with that too, your
honor, they're heightened, honorable men,
and | amt afraid to trust them anywhere
The American people don't want me hung
anyhow, and the best thing the prosecution
can do. is to dismiss the indictment, and let
us all go home.
Judge Potter called attention to the out
bursts of the prisoner and minated that il
they were to be continued he must request
the dock TO be moved to the further corner OF
the room where at least the prisoner could
not disturb the jury. do not ask he ad-
ded. for immediate action. your honor.
Guiteau-Oh you don't Mr.. Judge Porter.
Scoville-I wish Judge Porter would
make his motions when he desires argu-
ment or action upon them, and not be con-
tinually making his little speech to the jury
Judge Porter-As | had an undoubted
right to do.
Referring to the proposition to allow the
jury to separate, Judge Porter favored grant
ing some latitude, and though they should be
allowed to go their homes with bailiff to &C.
compauv each of them
DR.. John p. Gray, medical superintendent
of the New York State lunatic ASYLUM. then
took the stand. Witness had made the study
of insanity his business since 1850, and in
that time had treated or investigated Il, 900
cases of insanity: had never seen single
instance where the only indication of insanity
was an exhibition of immortality or wicked
ness; he did not believe in what had been
called "moral insanity" 1t was impossible
to discover mental unity so as to locate the
impairment of moral nature that was not &C.
companied by intellectual deterioration. In
sanity in itself hsd no more tendency to ex-
cite to crime than neuralgia or any other
disease. 1t pvss nothing new into q mans
nature, it only perverts what is already there
Witness at some length classified in the va
rious groups of the insane that had come un-
der his attention and described the various