Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-01
THE cRANK's DEFENCE
THE THEORY UPON WHICH THE ASSAS-
SIN EXPECTS TO ESCAPE.
Continuation of Guiteau's Testimony-He
Claims to Have Been in the Employ
of Jesus Christ, Who will See to
His Defence.
A RESUME OF HIS NAGAB0N0 LIFE.

his UtlcHCc'
A RESUME OF HIS NAGAB0N0 LIFE,
The developments Of yesterday i'll the
Guiteau trial were not sensational IN
any sense. In fact, they consisted sole
ly i'm the developments OF the theory Oh
Insanity foreshadowed by Mr.. Scoville
i'm his opening address to the jury, and
to build up which he has devoted his
entire energies. Whatever may be the
result on the jury, it can safely be said
that, despite his humility, Mr.. Scoville
has demonstrated that he is man of
large sense, lawyer of wide reading,
and an advocate of great shrewdness.
He has made no mistake. His con-
duct from the beginning has
been courteous and dignified,
and he has succeeded in impressing the
public with a sentiment of sympathy
for himself, if not the prisoner, as one
battling for the life of relative against
overwhelming forces, unsustained and
maided. While this Is true, the pris-
oner has earned no shadow Ofplty. His
conduct, his interruptions, his attacks
upon the witnesses, his distempered
harangues. have been of no benefit. he
has now developed, under the skilfut-
so slsiIlful, indeed, that it has scarcely
been observed of Scoville,
his whole defense, and that is: That he
was inspired by God to murder the Pres
dent. As to the soundness of his mind
on all other points, there is no question
The only point to be decided, and over
which the medical epXerts will war with
each other, is: Was there, at the time
of the killing, such an hallucination in
the mind of the prisoner as to relieve
him from responsibility for his acts?
-
The Days Proceedings in Court.
WASHINGTON, November 30-Guiteau's
recital. yesterday, of his varied experience
as a religious tramp and deadbeat seems to
heve whetted the interest in the case, for
despite the rain, the crowd was as great as
Yesterday. Upon opening court Guiteau
was taken directly to
The Witness Box.
| Witness was asked by Scoyillc To identify
| some PAPERS The first shown him was
| a handbfll announcing lecture at Evans
| ton, Ills, yes" said Guiteau, turning it
around to the jury, and with air OF satisfac-
| ton, that was the announcement OF one
of my lectures. Shall read?'
Scoville-No, will put these papers in
| evidence.
| Guiteau then gave his ideas concerning
| the religious tenetS of the Oneida Commu-
| nity. Witness commenced to say 1865 IN
stead of 1878, and, his attention being called
TO it, explained: II don't feel very wei
to-day. NV brain don't work right prOba-
| ., Initnou tlnn
| sumed the narrative of his experiences in
trying to lecture. On one occasion he tried
| TO lecture against Bob Ingersoll, who was
| TO deliver n lecture against hell, while he,
| witness, proposed to lecture on the exist
| enco OF "A hell. He found, however, that
| people were very ready to pay fifty cents
| to hear that
There Was No Hell,
but wouldn't pay a cent to hear that there
was hell.
| Witness was asked to identify book
| handed him and said: "Oh yes, that is my
revised work called Truth companion
book to the bible. haven't seen it since it
was taken from me when l was arrested y
| Witness then desired to read q passage,
and read page or two descriptive of the
trials of the Apostle Paul in endeavoring
to introduce Christianity. That was just
my case" said Guiteau. striking his fist
| unon the desk. IL StrOve to enlighten the
world just as Paul did. | had no money
and no friends, and | had just about as
rough q time as the Apostle had
The witness went to New York from Bos.
ton on the steamer Stonnington when she
struck the Narragansctt. Thought his time
had come then, but it hadn't Witness
wrote his spcech-Garfield against Han.
cock-in the public library at Boston. 1t
was originally intended for Grant, as he
(witness) supposed that Grant would be
nominated at Chicago, but after Garfield
was nominated it had all to be worked over.
When in New York witness called on
| General Arthur to offer his servi-
ccs during the campaign. He also called
at the Republican headquartersand saw all
The Big Men.
They were all glad to see him. He con-
suited with Gov. Jewell, Gen. Arthur and
others. They were very friendly, but told
him they must have men of big reputation,
like Grant and Conkling to do speaking.
Witness adddc: 81 was on free and easy
terms with Arthur, Jewell and the rest OF
them,H Witness made his first application
for Office soon after Gen. Garfield'S election.
He called on Gen. Garfield at the White
| House, after Garfield was at leasure. Said
Guiteau: u shook hands with and handed
him my speech on which was written
Paris CorsuIship.
He knew me at once. / lct: him reading
the speech, and that is the only interview
| | ever had with President Garfield | wish
to state here that my getting Office or not
| getting Office had nothing to do with my
removing the President. That was an act
| OF inspiration, and was done as political
| necessity.
| / =.
| the State Department and his interviews
with Secretary Blaine, describing, as he
! termed it, the nOdus operdndi of getting at
! the Secretary of State. Witness described
| the last interview with Blaine. who rather
| hurt his feelings by his abrupt manner,
| which was so in contrast to his previous
| cordiality. Witness then determined to
see the President and with considerable ex
| hibition and excitement related
his efforts to see the PreSi-
| ident Witness continued: The party was
at loggerheads. and got very much wor-
| ried over it. | wrote several notes to the
| President, telling him something must be
| done, but he paid no attention TO il. |
| kept worrying. he continued over the pO-
| litical situation, and | knew this nation
was
Coming to Grief
Witness was then asked as TO the inSpira-
ton which ne had Sald lmpelIed MN 10 re-
| move the President. and replied: THE
inspiration, as | understand it, is where q
mans mind is taken possession of by SD
premc Power: where he acts outside OF
himself. Witness then desired to read from
a printed slip purporting to b. an inter
view with prisoner, giving his theory on
the SujeCt.
Counsel for the prosecution objected
to the reading or using Of it
by witness to refresh his memory. A dis
cussion ensued, the prisoner insisting that
he was not feeling well, had not vet gotten
over his Thanksgiving indulgenteS, and
didn't feel able TO state it SO thoroughly
now as he did then.
The Court ruled against the use OF the
slip, and Guiteau resumed Suddenly on
Wednesday evening after Conkling's reSig
nation he thought If President Garfield was
off, Out OF the Way
all would go we'll He tried to shake il of,
hut II grew In a fortnightS time il had