Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-12
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. 4 T'OTI'HRING DEFENSE. Guiteau's Plea of Insanity
 Losing Strength. ExpERTs GOING AGAINST HIM. The Deprayity Theory
 Growing in Favor. His Counsel Seriously Alarmed. A Possible Interruption of
 the Trial.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. ! Guiteau's Insanity Plea Experts Obliged to Consider Him Responsible Pubic Opinion Against the Plea Growing Dafly-A POstponement of the Trial One of the POssfbilities-Th As- sassin Laboring Under Severe Mental Distress.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-In conversation Dr. Nichols, of the Bloomingdale Insane
 asylum, who had been called as an expert by | the defence, said that if he had been asked | by Mir. Scoville whether he considered Guiteau accountable or not, be would have
 been compelled to say that he believed the prisoner fully responsible for his crime. He
 added that Dr. Godding, of the Government Insane asylum here, who was called to the | stand by the defence, had said that he, too, believed Guiteau accountable, and would have ! so answered had the question been asked l him. The hypothetical case which Mir. Sco- vile put to them they answered in the afr
 native, and it meant nothing when applied ! to the case of the accused. Dr. Nichols says that the experts are practically unanimous in their opinion as to Guiteau's accounta- l bility. They have been forced to
 this conclusion by their observation of him. His pulse, the moisture of his skin, his appe | tite and other points upon which experts l base their opinion as to insanity, outside of observation, also convince the medical gen. tlemen present of Guiteau's sanity. It is the commonly received opinion here that Mir. Scovile felt that 8 direct question as to Gui- teau's sanity asked of his own witnesses would have resulted disastrously to his client, there hot ha xpit suppositious case which he put to them It is believed that in no recent murder trial has there ever been such unanimity among the experts as with the gentlemen assembled here. If Guiteau's defense fails in this, it is difficult to see what can save him from the gallows.
 The impression is becoming stronger that the evidence of the last few days has con- vinced many who formerly thought Guiteau crank on the subject of notoriety that the moral deprayity theory of the prosecution was more in accord with his general conduct. There was the usual crowd of visitors at the jail to-day, but few persons were allowed glimpse of the prisoner. Counsel on both sides were desirous of keeping reporters from interviewing him. It was with difficult ty that representative of the National Asso- ciated Press obtained even permission to see him, and solemn pledge had to be given to
 Warden Crocker that no questions should be
 
 least of an interview. The assassin was not found in his cell. He had been allowed to traverse the corri- dors under sufficient guard for recreation. The warden states that he IS laboring under severe mental excitement, and the trial ends. General Crocker says his de- pertinent is orderly and gentlemanly, but that the exciting incidents of the last week have unnerved him. When the writer saw him he was resting uneasily on couch in a large cell at the end of the corridor in which his own cell is situated. His face was pale and deeply anxious in expression. He moved uneasily as the visitors entered. Not word was said, but the restless eyes of the prisoner followed their every movement, and seemed hungry for information of the outside world. Bible rested on the sill of the grated window. Pa pers of a legal form were scattered around and the morning journals were on the couch. Guiteau closed his eyes wearily and changed his position several times. The government physician who saw him this morning said his digestive organs were out of order, but he could find no other symptoms of physical disorder. To non-professlonal mind the prisoners appearance was indicative of se- were mental strain and uncomfortable fear of an unfavorable result of his trial. The an- nouncement that Scoville would lecture on Wednesday evening has created futter of excitement. A number of people pronounce this step not un- heard of in criminal trials, but unpro- fessional in the highest degree The opinion is generally expressed that the design is to influence public sentiment before thecase goes to the jury and is desperate effort to save the neck of the assassin. Few express any desire of listening to the extraordinary dis course. While the conviction prevails that Guiteau should hang and the opinion becomes stronger as his depraved character is set forth, there are certain parties who state that several members of the jury believe in relig- ious inspiration and may be inclined to favor the prisoners theory of the Deity's inspiring him to remove the late President. The pris- oner is said to be restless at nights. He re- tires early, but does not get asleep until after midnight.
 The continued indisposition of Ralph Wormley, juror in the case, threatens seri- ously to complicate the progress of the trial. His physician fears that Wormley will be un- able to be in attendance much longer, if in- deed he is able to come out to-naorrow. He is threatened with erysip ipelas in the face. Sco- vile says he shall not consent to proceeding without full panel. In an interview to- night Scovi1le further said that such feeling of ill-wil toward the prisoner was growing up throughout the country that he did not know but-it would be best if some thing should happen to put stop to..the pres- ent proceedinsgs till public sentiment was more quiet, hence if the juror is unable to
 attend to his duty the case may yet have to
 be stopped and may have to be begun de aaoUo in the March term. Scoville says the recent tone of the press has been little better than offering premium Efor the assassination of Guiteau. At least he thinks there has been enough said about hanging Guiteau to 8 gallows to cause re- gret in the future, but he is sure if that end ever did come post-mortem examina- tion would show himIto have been insane. Sco- vile thinks the trial will last month lon ger and that counsel for the government who expectl speedy end, will be greatly disappointed.