Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-28
GUITEAU UNMASKED.
AN EXPERT WITH EYES AS
WE'LL AS VIEWS.
The Murderer shown TO be Sane
The Part He is Playing Made Clear
His Jolly ChrIstmas-AnOther
Address TO the Public.

Address TO the Public.
WASHINGTON, December 27.-The crowd
at the Guiteau trial this morning was as
great as usual. When Guiteau reached his
seat he looked around and smilipgly said:
81 had nice Christmas dinner and hope
everybody else did. bad lots of fruit and
flowers and lady visitors and a good time
generally"
DIR. A. E. Mcdonald, Superintendent of
Wards Island Insane Asylum, took the
stand. Witness had had during his practice
six thousand cases of insanity under his
charge. Had given special attention to the
siucy OF insanity. He stated the difference be-
tween "delusiODs" snd "insane delusions," ;"
the former being subject to correction by
the judgment and the senses, the latter not
being cOTrectable, and for that reason de-
nominated insane delusioBs. He believed,
judging from his observation and ex-
perienee, that the claim of inspiration fire.
quently asserted by insane persons proceeds
from hallucinatiOn affecting the senses
Witness was asked II persons acting under
claim OF inspiration would indicate it in
any other way than by their
assertions, and replied: "Their
actions and behavior would indicate 1t as
well as their assertions" In answer to the
question If such a person would feel any
apprehension of bodily injury or take any
precautions against danger, he said: "lnspi-
ration always overrides all fear OF bodily
pain, and renders the person who believes
he Is acting under it wholly oblivious to
such considerations. They seldom plan with
deliberation, but on the contrary their acts
are sudden in both conception and execution
as rule, and they seldom attempt to avoid
consequences in any way"
Guiteau suggested that there were two
kinds OF insanity, the crank insanity and
the Abraham insanity, and that he be-
lOnged to the latter class.
Witness described what is commonly
called temporary ins sanity, and said he did
not believe in such insanity, and in all his
experience had never seen an instance OF it.
Dr.. Mcdonald did not believe in heredi-
tary insanity. An occasional defect might
be transmitted, but not the disease Itself,
AS rule the descendants of insane persons
did not become insane. IL they did every
body In the world would by this time be
insane. The tendency was more towards
health than inheritance OF disease. Neither
did he believe in "mOrsl insanity" The
phrase is recent, and has been since its in
ventiOn another name for wlckedness or
craft. 1t was first used during the French
revolution to excuse the slaughters Of that
period.
Counsel for the prosecution, in putting the
Ques lone referred to Dr. Spitzka as "horse
DOCTOR" and to another witness as an sag
nOstie." Mr.. Scoville called attention to
these ref sctions upon witnesses for the de
feDse. Judge Cox sustained the objection,
and the offensive terms were Withdrawn.
DIR. Mcdonald said that IN his interview
with Guitesu the latter had spoken OF his
act as q conception of his own. HIS phrase
OlOgy throughout that interview was vari-
alton upon II conceived the idea" He did
not then speak of inspiration, aud said he
had conceived the idea about six weeks
before carrying It iEto execution. He had
already said it was the act of God.
Guiteau, in reply to DIR. McDonald's
execution Of his idea to God as we'll as The
conception, replied: "GOd left the matters
OF detail to his chosen instruments "
Guitesu had discussed the question Of in
sanity wi him (McDonald), and to him
had said he had been looking no the ques-
tiOn OF insanity, and, while he was not
med c4lly insane, he was legally insane, and
expected an acGuittal on that ground, and
would be sent TO an asylum, and that after
being there short time he would apply for
a commission of inquiry, which, of course,
would fad that he was not insane, and his
discharge would follow. DIR. Mcdonald
saw nothing in Guiteau's face or in the
shape OF his head to indicate insanity.
The District Attorney here put the direct
question to DR.. Med 1nald, whether, from
his personal examination and careful con-
sideration of the prisoner during the trial,
he considered him sane or Insane.
DR.. Mcdonald replied: 81 believe him to
be sane man"
To further questions Dr.. Mcdonald said
he believed Guiteau had been playing
par in the court room. He had
car OIL
his assertionl that he had been prompted by
the Deity, and had observed that his ges-
liculation, iutonstion and facial expression
while using this expression were always the
same, except once, Guiteau, during an in
terview in jail, apparently forgetting his
part, half completed the assertion in an
ordinary conversational way, but, suddenly
recalling himself. stopped and commenced
the declaration over again with the IA
miliar Effects. AS to Guiteau's habit OF
interrupting In court, DIR. McDonsld
did not think an insane person would have
bad such a correct appreciation OF time and
effect or shown so much method In his in
terTuptiOns. An insane man, II moved by
impulse to interrupt, would have done so
regardless OF the stage of the proceedings.
The conduct Of an insane person would not
be characterized by such selection as had
been shown by the prisoner. he had OBJ
served that Gulteau's Interruptions had been
most frequent and excited when the evil
dence was telling against him.
Here Guiteau interrupted DR.. Mcdonald
by saying:
"You are making a great to do about
nothing. | do not pretend that am insane
now"
Witness noticed Guiteeuie conetant read
ing of the newspapers, and concluded that
newspaper comment had Influenced
GuiLesu's cOuduct. As an example of this
he cited Guiteau's threats against mis- former
wife, which had been referred to in the
newsp ipers before she came on the stand,
as evidences Of depravitY, and when the
opportunity offered Guiteau carefully re-
rained from executing his threats. Guiteau
frequently interrupted DR.. Mcdonald, com
batting his conclusions and advising him to
draw his money and go home.
Guiteau has given to the press another
statement, which be opens with "Merry
Christmas greeting to the American peo-
pie. In it he tells over Sgain bis story of
the killing of President Garfield and the
causes that led to it.