The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-15
PORTLAND, MONDAY MORNING, MAY IS, 1882.
GUITEAU'S CASE.
The Court in Banc Affirms the SEN
tence of the Lower Court.
AND THE ASSASSIN WILL BE
HANGED JUNE 80.

WASHINGTON, May 13.-Chief Justice Cartier
and Justices Macarthur, Hagner and james,
judges who sat in hearing in court in banc on
the case of Charles j. Guiteau, convicted of
murder OF President James A. Garfield, sem
fenced to be hung on June 30th next, were
in consultation for four hours to-day, trying to
reach decision in the case. 1t is said IN this
city they failed ard the court is equally divid-
cd, and re-argument will be- ordered before
five judges. Another consultation, however,
is to take place and an effort made to harmon
ize the views of the four judges and secure a
decision if possible
[LATER
WASHINGTON, May H. Although cur
rent report of disagreement among the
judges of the District Supreme Court IN re-
gard to the Guiteau case has been almost UNI
versally credited to-day and yesterday, there
is good reason at late hour tonight for be-
Heving it was wholly erroneous. The Post,
Tomorrow, will make the following positive
statement; "Chief Justice Cartier and Judges
Macarthur, Hagner and James held a CONSUL
tation Saturday summing up the arguments 4
the counsel in the application of Guiteau Tor
rehearing of his case. The consultation lasted
during four hours and was marked BY most
searching examination of authorities and most
rigorous analysis of every point made IN the
arguments. The judges were-~in thorough
harmony all through the consultation and in
reaching decision, not for one minute differ
ing in the general steps by which decision
was reached although of course each judge
had his individual opinions on the various
points of law and their application. Their de-
cisien will be announced Monday, May 22d,
Chief Justice Cartier probably delivering It,
This decision affirms the sentence OF the court
below and of course overrules the exceptions
This disposes OF Guiteau's last chance and he
will be hanged juno 30th, 1882
A Petition in Behalf of Guiteau.
BOSTON, May 13.-The Herald says a petition
l. 1osn ~. IN, profD and viz W
which is understood to be receiving many sig
natures. 1t is addressed to the President OF the
United States of America, and says: We, the
undersigned citizens of ths United States and
members of the medical profession, respectful
ly and urgently petition in the name OF psyche
logical science for a stay of execution in the
case of Charles J. Guiteau. Our petition is
based on the following facts:
First-For more than twenty years Gui-
teau has been hopelessly insane This IS
the concurrent verdict OF our leading authori-
ties.
Secondly-Under right management OF the
case these opinions could have been formally
brought before the court, and would have radl-
cally changed the character andsprobably also
the issue of the trial.
Third-The instincts and customs of all civ
ilized nations are opposed to the hanging OF the
insane. Years since the insanity OF Gulteau was
recognized by some of his relatives, and form
al efforts were made to send him to an asylum
as an incurable and dangerous lunatic. we
hold that no asylum would have refused admis-
sion to Guiteau, and in all probability none
would have discharged him.
If this petition should be granted we would
further petition for the appointment OF coma
mission of authorities, who did not testify at the
trial, to examine into the mental condition OF
Guiteau and report thereon, as is done in Ger
MANY and France before the trial of persons
evidencing insanity. If this course had been
pursued in the Guiteau case the country would
have been spared the disgrace of the protracted
trial of lunatic.