The Republican journal., 1881-12-01
The Assassin on Trial.

TO DEMONSTRATE HIS INSANITY. THE RULES OF
THE COURT DEFlED AND SET AT NAUGHT
Wednesday Nov Odd was the ninth day of the
Gmteau trial. Lawyer Scovle concluded his
opening address to the jury, devoting himself as
on Tuesday, to an endeavor to show that the pris-
was insane Four witnesses for the defence
were called The first Mr. Barton of Kalamazoo,
who had heard Guiteau lecture, and thought his
mind badly arranged, but not deranged;' the
second MI. Davis of Erie, who testified that he
knew OF an aunt of GuIteaus who was insane the
third, Mr. Wicoxsop of Freeport ILL.,, who knew
Guiteau father, and knew his peculiarties and
the fourth, DR.. John A. Rice of Minton, Wis, who
in 1876 examined Guiteau at his SISTERS request,
and who testified that he then believed Guiteau
insane. DR. Rice did not then consider that Gul-
teaus intellect was impaired only his Judgment ::
1t was emotional insanity. The prisoner made
several angry demonstrations during the day, and
was particularly noisy and abusive when his law
yer stated that Gulteaus stump speeches could not
have been made by sane person II am no fool -"
he shouted Il had the ideas but lacked the rep
ptation' The prisoner also made his customary
remark to the effect that the Diety was conduct
ing his case and once he cracked joke which
caused burst Of laughter, and made it difficult
for even the Judge to keep a straight face The
trial lacks the solemnity and good order that ought
to characterize it. Webb Of the Boston journal
says that scenes permitted at the trial of the
Presidents murderer which would not be allowed
IN Justices court at the trial of chicken thief y
llt dlSO SHOWS lHdl III ali HIS dutlCS ana ueCldTd
tons the assassin keeps steadily view the line of
his defence saying and doing nothing that may
weaken it Says Webb
There was another illustration to-day of the
soundness OF his reasoning power. In one of his
casual Ltterances Yesterday he mad used the word
Julius in connection with the negro race To
day, remembering evidently that there is one
coiorvd man upon the Jury and that the fact had
not been overlooked that the defence generally
peremptorily challenged all colored men Guiteau
Vast mon tho r-y,,dI ,,1f ,,,o
nectlon with the negro race. | meant no discredit
TO the race 1t is getting Low eolored man is
| a good deal better than white man What
ShreWGer thing could the most skillful criminal
lawyer pleading even for his own life, have done
than this If this Is madness. it is madness with
a remarkable method. So it has been all through
the trial Guteau makes side remarks, saving
Things which make the audience laugh seems
absent minded, is grotesque, basphemous, raves.
pounds the table, but he never for moment loses
the thread OF the argument. He makes subtle dis
unctlOn to words; he breaks in and comments
upon witness manner OF expression be suggests
| questions tor cross examination, and does every
tnlng that a man would do, if he does other
| things that a rational man might not. Abnormal
egotlsm, "lncoherence Of thought" pseudo re
igious belief, Is what one of Guiteau's experts
called 1t to-day; but 1t was an abn rmal egotism,
that sane witness admitted, which enabled Gui-
teau to borrow which outside the soft language
Of the defence means to stea) some clothing dis
OF returning to IT. 1t is the abnormal egoiism Of
dead beat. controlled by violent passion and in
descuba5le malice
Thursday being Thanksgiving Day the court
was not IN session The Washington specials re
port Judge Cox as puzzled to know how to stop
Gulteaus dsagreeable Interruptions in court He
does not think 1t quite correct to send him out OF
court. and il he were gagged it would create sy m
pathy In his favor in the jury box
Under threat from Judge Cox that Guiteau
be IN he Eep but
the assassin actually kept quiet for fifteen min
utes at time on Friday, this showing that there
are motives which will work on An unregulated
mind, which would have no effect on person
really insane. Fridays session of the Court was
crowded with ladies, elegantly dressed and equip
ped with opera glasses. Indeed it is said that
W ashington never enjoyed such fine matiaee per
formances as during "Guteau's engagement 3"
Gpteau made another long statement at the open
ing OF the Court IL which he fairly convicts the
newspapers OF having mlsled the Deity. under
whose direction the assassin removed Garfield :"
Gnteau denies that he is afraid to die and warns
of all cranks who have the consent of Detty to
practice on him with pistols After Guiteau sat
down there were sharp colloquieS between coun-
sci. and Guleau got badly excited and warned his
eX wife not to appear to testify against him Sew
eTal witnesses then testified to Guiteaus mental
peculiaTtles. with frequent interruptions from
Guteau Sc0Tllle asked for order to compel
Lawyer Sorrs OF Chicago to appear for the defence
bat DO action taken \ German amused the
Court with his peculiar testimony and Guiteau
tackled him amid merrlment A Chicago LAWYER
Mr. North, testlf d Guiteau was an exaggerated
fac-simile Of his father Chip OF the old block"
chimed in Gniteau. Witness said he ALWAYS felt
in Guiteaus presence that the quilts might fly ont
al any time That's because we were not on
good terms said Guiteau. II like you better
now The unarranged man has some method and
tick in his Encouragement
Saturday the court room was densey packed
with people who evidently came to be amused
The assassin was still permitted to insult the
Judge and counsel, and In the course of the day
made characteristic attack upon Henry Yard
Beecher The testimony of Thomas North was
resumed but was unlmpOrtant Gen Logan
was on the stand and said the general impression
he formed of Guiteau that there was some
thi < wrong IN his mental arrangement Several
other witnesses, including Mrs. Scovlle sister to
the prisoner and wife to his counsel testified to
Their belief that he was insane
Monday the assassin was allowed to do AS be
pleas ed III the way Of interrupting counsel and
making remarks Judge Cox being unable as vet
10 determine upon any method. not open to OBJ
lection to keep him still. Gateau informed the
newspaper men present that they were all crapks
and that he appeared as his own counsel Mrs
Scovllles examination in chief was concluded and
her cross examination postponed G S JosselvI
who knew Guieau during his STAY in the Oneida
Community, thought his most marked characters
ne vas has intense eg0tlSm. John W Guiteau
brother of the prisoner, believed him responsible
but not sane. He had never detected the slight
est trace OF insanity i'll his father and did not know
OF the insanity Of his aunt and two uncles except
by report. In reply to questions from Mr. Scov1lle
be reiterated his belief that the prisoner is morally
responsible tor the crime Sarah W Parker Of
Chicago, widow of Guiteau's cousin thought the
accused insane, as did T. W Jones who boarded
at the same time with the prisoner in Chicago in
lN'a Some stir was created by the swearing of
Gnltean, but it was only to identify some letters
tuesday. the thirteenth iaV of the trial hn
sassn was called to the stand He at first objected
to teshtyng, but finally said--'l am willing to an
Swer provided the prosecution will not take ad-
vantage OF my presence on the stand to force me
10 state my entire defence. Letters written by
Gulteau to his father and other members of the
family were read by Mr. Scovle and commented
upon by Gulteau After the reading the assassin
resumed the witness stand He told of his expert
ence in the Oneida community, of his suit against
the New York Herald, and Of his adventures in the
lecture field There was nothing new in his testi-
mony which was not completed when the court
adjourned Tuesday.