The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-05

think he was sane or insane on the I'd of July?'
Guiteau-" He don't know anything about it"
Witness answered-"I think he was sane.'
Dr. Orpheus Evarts, Superintendent of the
private insane asylum at College Hill. Ohio,
was called. He says there is no uniformity of
head, either as regards size or form, in either
sane or insane persons. The express on of the
face, while some indication, is in no sense a
sure indication in determining sanity or
insanity of a person. Witness had ex-
amned the prisoner in Jail, and had conyersed
with him. and had closely watched his conduct
during the trial, and formed the opinion that
the prisoner on the I'd of July was sane.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY OF DIR. A. E. MDoNALD.
Dr. A. E. Mcdonald, Superintendent of
Wards Island Insane Hospital, testified that
during his practice he had treated 5000 cases
of insanity, and given special attention to the
study of insanity. The witness stated the diff
ference between " "delusions - and " insane de-
lusions," the one being subject of correction
by judgment and the senses, the latter not be-
ing correctable, and for that reason denominated
an insane delusion. Also illusions and halluci-
nations, giving illustrations from his own ex-
perience. He belived, judging from experience,
the claim of inspiration frequently asserted by
insane persons proceeded from a source of hal
lucination or insane delusion affecting the
acting under the claim of inspiration"
would indicate it in any other way than
by their assertions, and replied: Their
actions and behavior would indicate it, as
well as their assertions. To illustrate it, a
person claiming to be Jesus Christ, and acting
under an inspiration, clothed himself like the
Savior, gave away his property, and slept out
of doors, because the Savior had not where to
lay his head" Witness was asked if such a
person would feel any apprehension of bodily
i1rr tQ a ,r7fl N ard
against danger. He replied, "Inspiration
always overrides all fear of bodily pain or
injury, and renders the person who believes he
is acting under inspiration wholly obivious to
such considerations" Witness was asked if
such persons usually planned with deliber alton,
and replied: son the contrary, their acts are
sudden in both conception and execution,
rule, and they seldom attempt to avoid the
consequences in any way" "There are
two kinds of insanity, Doctor" suggested
the prisoner, tho crank insanity and the
Abraham insanity. The latter is the school I
belong to. Tell us what you think of Abra-
ham, Doctor" Witness described what was
commonly called temporary insanity, where
man commits an act which is the only evidence
of his insanity, and where a person is to all
appearances perfectly sane in all other respects,
both before and after the act. Guiteau-
"That's just my case exactly" Witness-"I
do not believe in such insanity, and in all my
experience have never seen an instance of it."
Witness thought person acting under inspira-
ton to commit certain act would not be de-
tered from the commission of that act through
any consideration of personal harm to other
persons. Guiteau-"Oh, you are talking about
cranks, now !; I don't belong to that school,"
Witness visited the prisoner in his cell at the
jail, remaining two hours, and making the
usual mental examination in such cases. He
talked over with the prisoner all the main incl
dents of his life up to and including the shoot
ing, of the President. The prisoner always
spoke OF the act as "My conception" and
"Soon after l conceived the removal CT the
President" Witness asked why, if the act was
the Almightys and he was simply an agent, he
was 3D. particular to practice his aim, and
why he did not trust the details to the Al
mighty and the prisoner hesitated, flushed a
little and said The Almighty often trusts
details to His agents. Witness talked at con-
siderable length with the prisoner in regard to
the crime, and asked him what plans or expec-
tations he had for the future, and his
reply reply J. wa was 80 to & the ,.d1e effect 1T that,
had studied up the subject of insanity, and be-
heved he would be found by jury to be legally
insane at the time of the commission of the
act, and would be acquitted. He was asked,
What do you suppose will be done with your
and replied, 81 will be sent to an insane
asylum, and find under the law, can after
few months have a commission of lunacy to
pass upon my case and of course they will find
me sane, and will be discharged" Witness
believed from his examination and observation
Of the prisoner in Court that he is perfectly
sane man. Witness then proceeded at some
length to give reasons for his opinion, using
the expression. 81 have frequently noticed
that his most violent Interruptions have been
made when the weight of evidence has been
against him." Counsel for defense
objected that witness was usurping
the functions of the jury, who alone
could pass upon the fact that evidence was for
or against the prisoner. The Court overruled
the objection, and an exception was noted by
defense. Guiteau, who had kept unusually
quiet all through the morning, here addressed
witness, speaking without any show of excite
ment: 'sYou are making a great ado about
nothing, Doctor; don't pretend that l am
insane now; tell us what you know about Abra-
ham, get your money and go home" Wit
ness, continuing Closely analyzed the con-
duct and remarks of prisoner during the
trial, and concluded he had been playing a part
ever since the first day. At the outset the
prisoner directed all his abuse against one of
the counsel; afterward against all of them.'
Guiteau looked over to the jury and said: /:
'fThese experts are doing this business with
good deal of parrot-like talk. DR.. Mcdonald
deviated somewhat fIom the course pursued
by the rest Of them. deem it but justice to
myself to say that did not say to him 1 had
examined the law in relation to this matter"
Corkhill read hypothetical question to which
the witness answered Assuming the facts
set forth to be true, and adding that statement
| to others, it strengthens my opinion that the
man was sane on the I'd of July" Colonel
Reed conducted long cross-examination, and
| proposed series of hypothetical questions,
based upon acts and conduct of the prisoner to
show such acts and such conduct would not be
inconsistent with the theory of insanity. Wit
| ness admitted that insane persons were more
| liable to be adjudged sane than sane persons
| were to be judged insane. Witness stated in
| sanity was the result of diseased BRAIN and
was asked, care you not confounding cause
| and effect, and cannot unusual excitation of
| the emotions, or excessive worry and care and
anxiety overturn reason and cause disease of
the brain 2" Witness admitted such might be
the case with some qualification that over
| work, care and anxiety might produce dy pep
| sia which with other causes, might lead to
| insanity, and that would make necessary disease
of the brain, and disease of the brain would in
| its turn simulate insanity, Question" Well,
now, is it not fact that you learn that the
brain is diseased from evidence of unsoundness
! of mind ?" Answer" From that and from
physical indications also." Pending further
cross-examination, the Court adjourned.
CoNTINUED-TEsTIMoNY OF OTHER EXPERTS.
The thirty-third day of the trial was marked
by the placing of the prisoner in the dock DIR.
Mcdonald continued his testimony. He was
asked by Scoville if he had ever known Of a
case Of temporary insanity. He replied s'Yes,
sir I know of a man who was insane for
twenty-four hours" Scoville (eagerly)-"And
then he got well p Witness-"No, sir he
died." [Laughter.1 Witness reiterated his
statement that he believed the prisoner had
been feigning insanity in the Court. DIR.
Randolph Barksdale, Superintendent Of the
Central Lunatic Asylum near Richmond,
Va, testified that he had visited
the prisoner in Jail and had closely observed
him in court believed the prisoner had been
| feigning in court taking as true the facts set
| forth in the two hypothetical questions Of the
| prosecution, the prisoner was sane when he
shot the President. DIR. John H. Collender, OF
Nashville, Superintendent OF the Tennessee
State Asylum FOR the Insane, testified that he
had given special attention to the study of in
sanity for the past twelve years, and during