The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-01-14

came the bridge which carried the Grim
inals tn safety; but the far-seeing. ire
preSsible Emperor thought it would he Il
good plan to crush ont this kind of daE-
gerous material by the extreme penalty
of the law and the result was that fanat-
icism did not bloom ont any more in this
kind of way. Whilst experts, or
those who have had experience in the
management of insane people. can give
their belief, that has little TODD with the
actual and proper settlement of the queS-
ton as to the responsibility of the crank.
An honest man or woman who has been
insane. yet restored to health, should be
the ones to decide this most important
point. Shakespeare settled tn subject
when he asked. "Who can minister to Il
mind diseased? - Now. this most super
iur of human beings did not dare to an-
swer his own inquiry. II the experts
could take hold of broken mind as the
surgeons do of shattered limb. posi-
bly, they might cure it; but if human
soul by some inscrutable means. like Il
ship at sea. finds it's bottom covered with
barnacles. or terrible rent in the hold
torn by hidden rock. only the builder
can plunge into the vast ocean of mys-
terry and mend the sinking wreck.
Taking the testimony of the experts.
DR.. Gray seemed wisest and best inform
ed, and he was very careful not to com
nit himself. He conscirntiously let the
jury know how very little we know about
insanity. but he did bear out the fact
that mind a little off color. or what j.
vulgarly called crank. for the want
of better term. is not relieved of re-
lieved Of responsibility and should be pun
ished for crime committed the same as
other criminals.
Notwithstanding the prisoner has been
allowed better food and has had the slim
nlant Of excitement imported by his
trial, there is a change gradually steal
ing over his features. which. rig htly i'll
terpretcd, means despair. His naturally
pale face has assumed a kind Of aShen
hue which makes sombre background
for the lightning play of the fierce pas
sions with which he is continually inter
rupting the court. There are no partic-
ular points to mark this man. He is like
the great masses Of the human family
l,1 l,la nj Il
as do the leaves of the forest.
There is something very touching in
the appearance OF Mr.. ScovilIe. brother
in law and counsel for the assassin. lie
seems to have advanced ten years in age
since the trial began. He has grown
very much thinner, anda painful, eager.
anxious expression is stamped on his
otherwise kindly face. And the sister.
who comes 50 regularly and shares the
odium and disgrace of the brother. 1t is
said her husband was very much averSe
to having anythin.r to do with the trial,
but when SO many lawyers refused. he
yielded to the earnest entreaties of his
wife.
But instead of becoming an object of
loathing to the ladies of Washington,
like her brother. the assassin, her woman
~ devotion is appreciated. 1t is true she
has not been crowned with laurel or well
coined to hoSpitable boards. but woman's
heart at Washington beats in sympathy
with this sister, for II" place can be 50
vile that it is not purified and uplited by
the presence of the same spirit tnat quail
ilied Mary to become the mother Of
Jesus.
John W. Guiteau, the brother. has also
won the respect of the community. He
is trying to make the public understand
that only an idiot or mad man would be
guilty of the crime which brother has
committed. He feels the disgrace is SO
deep and burning that all facts connected
with the assaSsiu's lire should come to
light. Unlike his sister he has pity. but
no affection. and if he can be made to
believe that his brother is responsible,
he, like Mr.. Scoville, under the same cir
cumStances. will be among the first to
approve the carrying out of the extreme
penalty Of the law.