Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-04
Testimony OF the Experts.

The week has been devoted to the taking
of expert testimony by the prosecution 10
establish the fact of Guiteau's mental
soundness. II has been a disastrous week
of undoubted capacity and extended expert
ence has been uniformly and emphatically
to the fact that the prisoner is entirely sane.
Medical men skilled by study and by obser-
walton in all the devious and subtle ways in
which real mental unsoundness displays it.
self, have watched the prisoner closely in
all his antics in court and have observed the
mental acuteness he has shown on the stand
as q witness, and his quick perception of
the decisive force of certain evidence against
him. These men have not hestated to say
that the prisoner has been playing part
during all the tedious weeks of this trial.
His theory Of inspiration has been thor
oughly riddled and his crime shown TO be
the act of a man proceeding with cool, cal
culating deliberation under the impulse of
feelings that were repeatedly placed under
easy and effective control.
DIR. A. +. Macdonald, superintendent Of
Wards Island New York; insane hospital,
testified that persons acting under the claim
Of inspiration indicate it in their actions
and behavior as we'll as their assertions.
He illustrated by saying, "a person claim
ing to be Jesus Christ and acting under in
SEPARATION clothed himself like the Savior,
gave away his property and slept out Of
doors, because the Savior had not where to
lay his head" lie further testified that
"inspiration always overrides all fear of
bodily pain or injury and renders the person
who believes he is acting under an inspira-
tion wholly oblivious to such considerations,
that their acts are sudden both in concep-
ton and execution, as a rule, and they sell
dom attempt to avoid the consequences in
any way" In the cross examination, Mr..
Scoville directed his questions to the subject
of temporary insanity. In reply to counsels
question the doctor said he "once knew a
man that was insane twenty-four hours"
"And then he got well ?" eagerly queried
Mr.. Scoville. "No, sir, he died." was the
reply. In connection with Guiteaus latest
theory that he was insane on the I'd of July
but was sane before and is sane now, this
episode was interesting and Imaginable in its
outcome. This witness believed from his
observations of the prisoner in court that he
had been feigning insanity, analysed his
conduct and remarked upon the fact that
Guiteau's interruptions were most violent
when the weight of testimony was against
him. DIR. Calender, superintendent of the
state insane asylum of Tennessee, at Nash
vile, said that person laboring under an
insane delusion that he was inspired TO kill
the president of the United States would,
even if he did not talk about it, disclose
his purpose by his changed manner and con-
versation. DIR. Randolph Barksdale, super
intendent of lunatic asylum near Rich
mond, Virginia, believed the prisoner sane
and that he had been feigning in court DIR.
Walter Kempster of the Wisconsin asylum
testified to the prisoners sanity. He said
that persons acting under inspiration or de-
fusion act quickly and upon sudden impulse,
delaying to consider neither opportunity
nor weapons; that it would be impossible
to conceive, without actually witnessing it,
the energy and impetuosity and determine
ton with which persons acting under an
insane delusion carry out their purpose.
DR.. John p. Gray, superintendent of the
New York state lunatic asylum, was the last
witness called for the prosecution. AS the
student and observer of twelve thousand
cases, his statements as to Guiteaus mental
status we reregarded with special interest. |
He considered the prisoner a sane man, and |
gave good reasons for his belief He did |
not believe in "moral insanity" Insanity
itself has no more tendency to excite to |
crime than neuralgia or any other disease |
In an interview with the prisoner at the |
Jail, DIR. Gray asked him if the president |
had offered him the Paris consulship during |
the time that he had been rejecting upon
the subject of removing him, would he still
have shot him ? Guiteau answered, Well, |
that would have settled the matter should |
have taken the position and left" Thus |
the entire theory of inspiration is made sub
servient to the qualification of the assassin's |
selfish purposes.
The great feature of the week was the re-
moval of Guiteau to the dock, on motion of |
the prosecution. His Interruptions have |
been frequent and abusive and his speeches |
blasphemous. The order of removal to the |
dock was accompanied by an explanation
from Judge Cox that Guiteau had been al |
lowed great latitude in court by request of |
the district attorney that his true mental |
condition might be the more easily judged |
by the jury, and the workings of his mind |
observed by the experts. From his position
in the dock he continued his speeches and |
interruptions, rather enjoying his more con-
spicuous position after the timidity occa-
stoned by his increased exposure had disap-
peared. The defense is expected to use up |
another week in sur-rebuttal and in the TAX
ing of newly discovered testimony.