The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1882-07-07
GuIteuu's Execution.

diciive and dangerous ciiminal.under
the usual forms OF law. on the 30th
day OF jane. Murder is but murder
upon VIII, msosver committed, how
ever differently communities may be
affected by tho loss Of particular
members by means Of such crime.
Guiteau. Is the first criminal to ex-
plate Els crime in tho usual peace fdl
civil way, for the murder Of o Presi.
dent Of the United States, and this
fact gives his execution moro than
ordinary Importance.
It is painfully noticeable however.
that while on the day OF his execution
the excited rabble rent the air q the
Capital City Of the Uuitetl States
with exuitant shouts Of. vengeful
joy. grave men, who are used to
thinking seriously anu reasoning
philosophically. were regso,ting sin-
csrcly that tho r'csidcug had not req
spited tho criminal, 30 rs TO give
greater time in which th~ proof OF
Guiteau's insanity might be estab-
lished. Here arc two extremes,
which are equally:harmful. The one,
proceeding upon veugoiulness, which
is u stranger to civil law and forbid
den thereby. while tho other is nm
nhealthy sentimentality, which inn
poses upon the state tho double bur-
den of proving the killing and man.
ui.cturins tie proof Of jnstifica-
ton.
The killing in this case was never
denied. The intention was avowed
by the criminal himself He claimed
that lie did it under direct com.
mand of God. Upon this the plea
Of INSANITY is set up, as defense
Scriptural writer's who claim that
they had direct commissions from
God, to do certain things, were moi
in their day, and are not cow, regard
ed as insare. But, it is commonly
agreed that the time for direct com.
missions from God is forever past;
and, all who claim now, to act by
command from ID i,y arc regarded
as insane or as impcs,ors.
The distinction between tho iupane
and the impostor depends upon
whether tho claimant kills o human
being in cid blood, rs q part Of the
commission. We heard Of grave
thinker saying on tho day OF exccu-
ton that it was terrifying, to think
it possible that, n SAFE man would
kill President OF the United Stat Q!
We can see nothing moro terrify.
ing in it, than in the fact that. men
have from time immemmorial attack.
I'd tho executive head Of the great
est Government known to the world,
and from almost all kinds OF alleged
nations. envy, ambition, malice
aud notoriety mainly. Tha, Gli'eau
was prompted by both the last emu.
merat:ons. we believe time will show.
His whole family connection has. al.
ready, been given great prominence.
and they will all be heard from in
the future; but not from within the
walls Of an insane Asylum.
We Think it would have been tho
most dangerous and harmful prece-
dent that cold possibly have boon set
before the country, had & liteau been
acquitted upon the plea OF insanity,
when the frat suspicion Of his insani-
,y, was brought to the public notice
by his oct Of killing The President
Had he been an established luuatic
before. or il he had been ono re-
!e,sed from an Asylum. then no dan
.er could lave como out OF his re-
lease after killing tho President.
/ Nothing berond the ordinary es-
tsLlishment OF fact, before n jury
should have boon rqnired ip this
case. Nothing beyond the Ordinary
latitude should have b,s6 allowed
the defense in establishing the d,ubi
of guilt necessary to acqniial. Even
more than this was aitoHcd upon the
trial. and still tho jury were mol
doubtful. The plea Of insanity. like
the cloak Of hypocracs, shelters
many villain.
President Arthur fas been Grill.
c;scd severely for submitting the
question Of reprieve to the cil'inot.
Nothing could have been more prop.
or under the circumstances. He had
been charged with completely in
Guiteaus crime. and yet he said to
the petitioner. Il sec no sufficient
cause for repricve. but l will leave
the question before my council OF
advisors and il they see proper,l will
grant il.