The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-01-05
GARFIELD'S ASSASSIN.
TUESDAY, DEC. ~:

The court room was densely packed. Upon
reaching his seat Guiteau looked around pat
ronizingly and said: ~ had nice Christmas
dinner and hope everybody else did. lad
good time" DR.. A.E. Mcdonald, superintend-
ont Of the Wards Island insane hospital, testi-
fed that during his practice he had treated
6, 600 cases OF insanity. He had given special
attention to the study OF insanity: Witness
sane delusion, tho ono being subject to correo-
ton by Judgment and the senses; the other was
not correctsble, and for that reason is des-
ignated as insane delusion He also described
illusions and Authorizations, giving illus.
trations from his own experience
temporary insanity when man commits an
act which ia the only evidence of his insanity,
and when the person is, to all appearances, per-
fectly sane In all other respects, both before
and after the act
Guiteau-That's just my case exactly.
Witness-I don't believe in such insanity; and
In all my experience have never seen an in
stance Of it.
Witness, in reply to a question, ''1n the
group of which that young man makes one, the
| other four will be pretty safe;" thought q per-
| son acting under an inspiration to commit GER
tain deods would not be deferred from the
| alton Of personal harm to other persons.
Witness had visited the prisoner in his cell at
tho jail, remaining two hours and making the
usual mental examination in snch cases. He
talked over with the prisoner the main incl
dents of his life up to and including the shoot
spoke of the act az "ny conception, J" and 90 on,
and "after conceived the removal of the pres
| ident" The witness asked why, if the act was
the Almighty's, and he was simply an agent, he
was 80 particular az to practice his aim, and
| why did he not trust the details to the AL
Snf7fy Cr,1 hal
little ana said: The Almighty often trusts de-
tails to his agents."
Witness believed from his examination and
observation Of the prisoner in court that he is
| perfectly sane man. Witness then proceeded
at some ts length to give reasons for his opinion,
| ticed that his most violent interruptions have
been made when the weight Of evidence has
been against him." Cotinsel for defence OBJ
jected that witness was usurping tho functions
Of tho jury, who alone could pass upon tho fact
that the evidence was for or against the pris-
oner. The court overruled the objection, and
an exception was noted by the defense. Quit
eau, who had kept unusually quiet all through
the morning, here addressed the witness, speak
ing without any show Of excitement: "iou
! are making q great ado about nothing,
| doctor. I don't pretend to be Insane now.
your money and go home" Witness, continu-
ing, closely analYEed the conduct and remarks
of the prisoner during the trial and concluded
! tho prisoner had been playing a part ever
| since the first day. At the outset. he said, the
! prisoner had directed all bis abuse against one
Of the counsel and afterward against all of
| them.
Assuming the facts set forth to be true, and
adding that statement to the others, it strength
ems my opinion that the man was sane on the
"a of July. Exception to question and answer
| was noted by defense.
Adjourned.