The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-12-06
The Trial.

ing.
At ten o'clock Mrs. Scoville resumed her
testimony. She described Guiteau's actions
in his visit to her in rs. and said size was
convinced that he was then insane and should
be put in an asylum.
Frequent objections were raised by counsel
for the prosecution to The character of the
questians propounded hv Scoville, and con-
siderable discussion ensued between cOunsel
upon the admission Of certain evidence At
the same tire some irritsbility was mani
tested.
"rhe witness does not understand tue rule
of evidence, gentlemen" said S~coville.
eyes, but you are supposed to-" was the
reply.
The witness was asked if she had ever be-
fore been on the witness stand. She replied
with much emphasis: "No; and I'm no law.
yer either" Mrs. ScovilIe's examination
was concluded.
Gross examination was postponed IN order
to allow George d. Burroughs, OF Chicago, to
testify, as he desired to leave to-day. This
witness boarded with S~coville at the time OF
Uulledu ) Vlslb III 90, anu iHauo up 'lo ih'Ad
that the prisoner was either "a fool or crazy.
He was satisfied that Guitcau was unsettled
in his Intellect.
There was a brief interval before t.e next
witness appeared, and Guiteav look advan-
tage of the opportunity aud broke out with
IL desire TO let all these crank newspaper men
know that l appear as my own counsel. That
is my answer to all the silly stulr they have
been delivering themselves OF for some days
past. Some Of these newspaper men have
gone crazy. l appear here in part as my OWL
counsel as l have a right 10 under the law
and constitution of America" No effort was
made to check Guiteau, and no notice what
ever of The Interruption was taken by the
Court.
G. S. Jo.elyn, OF the Oneida community,
thought Guiteau's marked Characteristic was
intense esotism.
John w. Guiteau, brother of the prisoner,
was next examined. He had not been OH good
terms with his brother for some years,
but bad no doubt at all of bis sa nifty
until he received some letters in October.
Since he had come on here and had seen his
brother in the cour. loom aud at Jail he had
become satisfied he was Insane.
On being cross.exainineG, the witness adj
nitted that before he had come to Washing
ton he had always, in talking Of the case,
said he believed his brother was responsible
but not sane; responsible because Us he
thought at some period of his life the prisoner
had voluntarily surrendered himself TO evil
practices rather than good.
Guiteau WINGED under these statements,
evidently fearing that his brothers. candor
would injure his case. With considerable
bitterness he interrupted With, "My brother
and ] have not been on good terms for fifteen
Yeas. He always 'ympathized with my
father on that one-idea community business,
Will, Scoville and my sister sympathiz0d
with me. The last time l saw my brother in
Boston We hal some angry words, SO he does
not come here TO testify for me- with tie
ordinary force a brother usually does come,
and l am glad 10 find he las changed his
views, however, in my case. l want the pub
lie to understand about this"
Guitteau continued to interrupt, explain
and correct the witness. Once the Judge
and Davidse attempted to stop him but he
waved his land inperiously, saying, "You
keep quiet, Judge, il you please" Shortly
after the witness was asked in connection
with an incident he had related if he at that
time thought the prisoner insane. GutteSu
quickly anticipated hisreply by saying, "why
of course he has always thought l
was badly cracked" the witness said
he never noticed The Sigh est traces of insan-
ity in his father.
After recess The witness was questioned at
some length as to Guiteau's family. He did
not know of the sanity of his aunt. and two
uncles except by report. On b.ing asked by
Scovi!le to explain he went on by saying his
brother was morally responsible and that he
was under the influence of the devil. The
witness explained the peculiar belief of his
brother of the arts and covert influences OF
Christ and the devil which were being exer-
cised upon mankind and that one or the other
always gained the a~scendency. He agreed
with his father and believed at some time his
brother had through his intense egotism and
surrendered himself to the infu-
ence OF the devil and that being a free NOR
al agent he was morally responsible to God
for his crime. That was his idea of respon-
sibility in this case. The prisoner here i ter
rupted somewhat petulantly, "you've got that
thing wrong side up my friend, it is a poor
theory and a very poor position for you to
take"
Witness Perhaps l have bat l don't think
SO.
Mrs. Salah W. Parker of Chicago, widow
az EuiIa,uts ,nIsin tnStiEah L., la f.ot Of