The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-12-17

Gulteau. Senator Benjamin Harrison, of In
diana, testified that the prisoner asked him in
Washington last spring to help him get Office,
but the witness told him he was already
overloaded with applications from his own
State. He had never questioned Gui-
teau's sanity. Guiteau patronizingly said of
Senator Harrison: "You are a good fellow.
Senator. l remember you very we'll Our con-
versations were generally social" The next
witness was Isaac F. Lloyd, of New York, Sec
rotary of the Mutual Life Insurance company
He presented applications for insurance =
oner, and one from the prisoners father. The
point made was that those applications con-
tanned negative answers to the question whether
there was insanity in the family. Upon objec-
ton by prisoners counsel the court excluded
the applications of the prisoners
father and brother. But the great
sensation of the day was created
whose office Guiteau had desk ten years ago,
testified that the prisoner told him in 1872 that
he (Gulteau) was bound to be notorious before
he died; that if he could not get notoriety for
good, he would get it for evil that he would
shoot some of our big men, and would initiate
Wilkes Booth. AS the story was told, and the
spectators felt how completely it fitted the pop
Mar conception of the assassins character,
profound sensation was visible. The assassin
ie,' he shouted, shaking his hand at the wit
ness. you're mean, low, dirty liar. 1never
had any such conversation, you low,
dirty, low-lived whelp. My wife and
you know something of each other.
She told me you came up to visit her"
he said, with grin of pure malice; " I'll show
you up" The assassin went on to pour out a
torrent Of abuse on the witness, which lasted
almost without break through both the direct
and cross-examination. Mr.. Scovilie did his
best to break the effect of the evidence by
showing that Mr. Shaw had not allowed the ex
preston OF such sentiments to alter his rela-
tons with Guiteau, but the witness explained
that he had not really supposed the man would
do what he said.
DR.. Spitzka was called as the first witness by
Mr.. Scoville, on the twenty-third day. His
speciality is nervous and mental diseases, hav-
ing pursued his studies in this country and
Vienna. His competitive paper on this subject
obtained prize in 1878. He testified that he
examined the prisoner on the previous day,
that he might speak intelligently if compelled
to testify; his decision that the prisoner was
insane; "Guiteau's tendency is toward mental
decisions; the formation of delusive opinions
and morbid projects, is a moral monstrosity
with imbecility of judgment. I judged him
insane before l had asked him question:" said
the witness His eyes and the expression of
his face are as well marked for insanity as any
ever saw" Mr.. Scoville then put hypothetical
question summarizing incidents in the prisoners
history, and asking finally if in witness opinion
the prisoner was insane when he shot the Pres
ident The doctor thought the man was prob
ably insane at that time. Mr.. Davidge opened
the cross examination by asking definition of
insanity. The doctor declined to formulate
definition, but gave an approximate reply. Mr..
Davldge made some attempts to probe DIR.
Spitzka's professional record and standing with
the intent to throw discredit upon him. This
led to passage of wits between them in which
both suffered to some extent. AS far back as
October 81 the doctor had, he said, fixed
opinion that Guiteau was insane founded on his
writings, on his picture and on the published
opinions of various lay people who had seen the
prisoner; on this account he declined to testify
for the prosecution when approached by Judge
Porter, and he was unwilling to testify on
either side. Witness had examined the pris-
oner, representing himself to be phrenolo-
gist, that the prisoner might not know him
and act part. DR.. SpitZka thought Guiteau
exhibited the usual characteristics of insane
people, and narrated the substance of his talk
with him. He thought the prisoner knew the
ordinary legal consequences of criminal acts,
but was morbidly egotistical, with a tendency
to delusive opinions and morbid projects. For
instance the prisoner told him the American
people would never see him die disgraceful
death; that he would go to Europe for three
months and then return and lecture with great
success. Witness thought his act of shooting
to be morbid project. Guiteau was unusu-
ally boisterOus, and denounced the press and
district attorney with great violence Ee
agreed with the witness Spitzka that he was in
sane and should not be hung for his crime.
While being manacled during recess Guiteau
broke out with: 81 am not afraid to go to the
gallows if the Lord Almighty wishes me to go
there. | expect an act of God that will blow
this court and jury out of that window to protect
me, if necessary. want to thunder that in the
ears Of the American people," At another time
after particularly boisterous look from Gui-
teau voice from the most crowded corner of
the courtroom exclaimed, "Shoot him now !'
The prisoner glanced around in frightened
manner, while there was a good deal of sup
pressed commotiOn among the spectators. The
deputy marshal endeavored to discover the Of
fender, but was unsuccessful in his search.
On the twenty fourth day the examination of
DIR. Spltzka as witness for the defense was
concluded, and the prosecution called several
more witnesses in rebuttal. DR.. Spitzka said
he didn't believe Guiteau was shamming in
sanity. He told of remarkable dream the
prisoner had related to him., in which Guiteau
dreamed he was holding big reception in the
White House. The prisoner interrupted the
witness to give his own description of the dream,
which occurred about week previous. Mr..
Corkhill handed DR.. Spitzka slip of paper
on which was penciled an oblong figure
which he claimed represented the shape of
a human head. DIR. Spitzka drew diagram
Of the contour of head, after explain
ing that the irregularity of Guiteau's
head was three times that of an ordinary per-
son. Being asked if he believed in God DR..
Spitzka objected to answering 'on principle"
as he termed it, sin country where civil
and religious liberty are guaranteed" "And
irreligious liberty" remarked Mr.. Davidge; but
this elected no laughter from the audience.
Guiteau, who first stated that man had given
him a hat to measure his head, said in seri-
GUS manner: ''Do you believe in God, Cork
hill? I have been digging up your record and
stinks worse than anything else" DR.;
Fordyce Barker, of New York, testified
for the prosecution that there is no such
thing as hereditary insanity, but only
an hereditary tendency to insanity. He
did not believe in moral insanity; that was
simply wickedness. DR.. Barker said he had
not made personal examination OF the pris-
oner, and his testimony was directed to the
general features and indications OF insanity.
with view of showing that Guiteau's plea OF
insanity is unfounded. Judge Cox took part IN
the questioning Of this witness. :, Guiteau
asked him, "Where a man does an luegal ACT
from an irresistible pressure is that sanity OF
insanity?" The witness reply that that fact
showed insanity pleased the prisoner; VINO cr re-
marked: "That's my case, SIR" Mrs: SEQ