Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-08
THE GREAT MURDER TRIAL
GUITEAU FAMILY DISSENSIONS,
NOT AGREED ON THE INSANITY QUESTION
PRESIDENT ARTHUR'S DEPOSITION

PRESIDENT ARTHUR'S DEPOSITION.
There was no evidence OF diminution OF interest
| IN the Guiteau trial this morning. The police were
required usual to fight back the crowd at all the
| entrances to the east wing The court room was
| soon filled UP. Messrs. Reed Amerling. j. W.
| Gulfeau and other adherentS OF the defence were
| early on the ground. Among the notables present
We're Representatives "Richelieu" Robinson and J.
| Hyatt Smith, of New York. and kenna, OF West
| Virginia, Melbourne, OF Texas, and ex-CongresS-
man Rice, of Ohio. The northwest quarter Of the
bar, Just opposite the prisoners dock. has come to
be called the congressional corner for most of the
congressional visitors are shown to seats in this
section. Marshal Henry made his customary
morning address, requesting the crowd of specta-
tors to maintain order and not TO make confusion
by leaving the room before recess
GUITEAU OPENS THE PROCEEDINGs, AS USUAL.
When the court was called to order the first
word uttered, as usual, was by the prisoner, who
as soon as his hands We're freed, blurted out: GA
crank in Chicago says talked with him about
| this case. don't know the man: it's false"
TESTIMONY OF GUITEAU's FEMALE COUSIN FROM
COLORADO.
Mr. COrkhill called as the first witness Mrs.
Julia Ann Wilson, OF Leadvile, Col She is the
lady who came here with Mrs. Dunmire Guiteau's
eX-Wife She has a Sallow parchment-like CON-
pleXlon, black hair and eyes and a clear. strong
voice She was attired In bla OK with fur-lned
cloak. She testified that L. W. Guiteau was her
mothers brother, and that she knew the old gen.
tleman well. His brother. her uncle Abram. was
frequent visitor at her mothers house in Ann
Arbor. She gave considerable information about
the various members OF the family. The witness
was the daughter OF Mrs. Maynard, whose sanity
has been brought into question by evidence for
the defence. She testified that her mother was a
l0vable, Christian woman. She testified that she
never saw trace of tiightiness even in her sick
OF hef mother, breathing out a daughters devo-
dence FOR defence given by the witness Davis, al
leglng that Mrs. Maynard had deluSion that she
was TO go to the pOorhOuSe.
MI. ScOville asked whether she was present when
Davis visited her mother.
~ know no such person, cousin George" she
replied "It is not probable that he was there for
Ihe hyslclanS forbade her TO see VISITORS She
had never heard her mother she said, talk OF fears
OF poverty in her latter years.
VICTIM OF MEsMERIsM.
In reference to her sister Abby MAYNARD repre-
sented In the testimony for defence as an imbecile
the witness said that for many years she was con-
sdered the brightest child I'm the family but after
wards there was a decided change She said a
professor OF mesmerism formed class at Ann Ar
Dor, and her father and others became members
Abby being little croSS-eyed they attempted to
cure her, and partially succeeded. She became
me subject, and the professor used frequently to
put her in that state After he lett others used her
as subject. She seemed to remain completely
under the Influence OF the professor, and mourned
when he left The witness herself could easily in
huence her, and Used frequently to do il until for
hidden by her father. 81 could stop her with my
hnger halfway up block, Father could do the
her mental nature seemed to undergo AN entire tire
chahge. she seemed to be incapacitated for men
One of the Jurors, Mr. Wormley having to con-
suit physician, business was suspended for a few
minutes at this point When Mr. Wormley returned
10 MS seat, The examination OF Mrs. Wilson was
witness WI phaS
that she had never seen any thing during her motif
ers life In her speech or her conduct, that was s
kOta witness, in reference to the alleged insanity
OF OF Mrs. Maynard and Abby Maynard, was read.
me witness said she had never heard OF the facts
sworn to, as she was not living when the alleged
occurrences took place.
Mr. Scovie objected to her negative heresay tes-
timony.
GUITEAU INTERRUPTS JUDGE PORTER
Judge Porter insisted that family tradition was
evidence in such cases as this.
While Judge Porter was speaking on the point
he raised, the prisoner interrupted him, saying:
"Your objection was too late, Jugde Porter
Judge Porter proceeded, in his most impressive
effect OF one Of his best rounded sentences was
spoiled by the prisoner. who grnned and said:
,,' NOW hold your laundering TIL you get to the
jury, Judge. You are doing this thing altog ther
too much"
THE PRISONER OBJECTS TO BEING CALLED A CRIMI-
NAL UNTIL. HE Is CONVICTED.
Judge Porter, referring to the prisoner as "this
crlminal' the prisoner cried out: 81 am not
criminal, and l object to the use Of that word,
sir. Just wait till am convicted"
Mr.. Scovie's objection to the testimony was
sustained
The witness said she had never heard the
slightest suspicion of her mothers insanity She
had never heard any tntimation that her aunt,
Mrs. Parker was insane The witness described
at some length the condition Of her sister. who is
now In an asylum for the insane at Pontiac Mfchi-
gan. The witness thought her condition was best
described by saying that she had childish mind
in an old body. She was put in the asylum be-
cause there was no other place where she could be
cared for.
She had never known anything that Indicated
insanity In her uncles, Luther w. and Abram
Mrs. Wilson was cross-examined for some time
by MT: Scoyllle, whom she kept addressing as
the characteristics OF the Guiteau family the wit
ness said. They were a very loving people. The
witness said she did not know whether she had a
preJud1ce against showing that there was heredi-
tary insanity In the family; she objected to unfair
statements being made; she might possibly be
ltary insanity on account OF her children.
MRS. sCOyILLR IN TEARS.
while Mrs. Wilson was testtfying in reference to
family matters Mrs Scoville completely broke
down and wept. She endeavored to hide her grief
behind the wide fan she always carries. The pris-
oner leaned over to her and endeavored to console
her, thus exhibiting for the first time anything
like brotherly feeling.
Mrs. Wilson, having been asked as to her own
father, said he became insane before he died from
softening OF the brain.
Mr.. JOHN ". GuITEAU INTERPosEs
Mr. John W. Guiteau here rose and said: ssIf the
court please, it may not be quite relevant but
would like to call attention 10 the question and an
sWer about Mrs. Wilson's father, and have II
stricken out. While have no sentiment regard
Ing thls question OF insanity SO far as truth is con-
cerned, don't like to have matters OF this kind
not aHecung any blood relation OF the prisoner
dragged In and going out to the wOrldn
MI: COfkn1ll, rising, said the only member of the
Maynard "'' A"o1
Oner. ~ WV piie-
Sand Mr.. Parker" added the district attorney.
ana he added that they had not objected to the
testimony regarding Dir. Maynard because it tend
ed M 70 SHOW that II Abby Maynard inherited insaT-
lty, IL was from her father.
- don't know Mrs. Wilson very welI,n said the
prisoner; ~ haven't seen her for years she is a
very me lady, but of course she is preiudtced
against showing insanity in the family.1
NM sCoViLLE AND THE PRISONER BOTH PITCH INTO
JOHN W. GUITEAU.
Mr. scovllie rose and objected to having John
W. Guiteau constantly hampering him In this
case.
The prisoner here became excited and banged
his fist on the table. 81 think 1t perfect nuis-
ance, ne shouted, referring to his brother. 'sHe