The Rock Island Argus., 1882-01-13

| WASHINGTON, Jan.13.-Davidge fpaus
! ing moment )--ssJust listen to hImr
| Guiteau (sneeringly)-'sTheyw would lis
| ten to you, but your talk is weak. 1t is
| hardly worth listening to-, For several
minutes Guiteau continued to interject
comments with the evident intention of
annoying Davidge, but finding he could
not effect this, he gradually subsided into
complete silence.
In the beginning, said Davidge, it was
sought to show that the prisoner was off
his balance; now the Court tells you to
10 ok for that degree of insanity that dis
ables man from knowing that what he
was doing was wrong. This is the test you
are to apply upon the question of inspir-
alton / think I viii be able to show to
your satisfaction how little there is in this
claim. The only question was that OF in
sanity. He then argued that the prisoner
had that degree of intelligence, legal
knowledge and moral sense which rendered
| him responsible for his acts. In a telling
| passage he showed that the prisoner him
| self had wit enough to see the fatal weak
ness of Scoville's line of defense, and repu-
dated it, arguing it in his own behalf;
that he was no imbecile, but sane man,
whose intellect and will had been domin-
ated over during a specified period of
| time, rendering MIN uTeSpOH-
| sible for this particular crime.
He had reviewed the circumstances of
the crime, the victim and the criminal.
His analysis of Guiteau's character was
graphic and effective. IF, he exclaimed,
81 were to sum up the moral and lnteilec-
tual qualities of the man, / should say that
he had the daring of vulture combined
with the heart of wolf" In speaking of
| Guiteaus plan, he remarked upon his
greater fear of the mob than that of the law,
and exclaimed: 1--WE must say to our
shame, that this estimate has founda-
| tion." It rested, he added with the jury
| TO show to the world whether Guiteau 8
opinion was well founded.
Upon reassembling of the court, Davidge
| considered in order each member OF the
| Guiteau family whose mental condition
has been considered here. But unanswer-
able expert testimony, he said, showed
| how much effect this collateral insanity
could have on the prisoner. 1t is hollow
mockery to discuss it.
Guiteau at once shouted 81 have al
ways been a Christian man, and for SIX
wears have been strictly virtuous: don't
| forget that either"
| Dayidpe continued: There is not a
SINGLE fact, or single job, or title to show
that this prisoner was not perfectly respon-
| sible fos his act on the I'd of July. The
| iurv will find the defense have carefully
nieked out and held 4ap TO view everything
Ia the entire career of this ynap which may
he considered odd or peculiar, and 1t is
| for vou to consider how much value can
no attached to this evidence, when you
come to consider gheEhGg this man did no'
know on the I'd of July il was wrong fol-
| him to kill tbs Chief Magistrate Of the
Nation.
Davidge then took up the Oneida Com
munity, and spoke of GuiteaU's wallowlne
there for six years.
| Guiteau shouted 'And say 1t Is faise
| I didu'tB wallow. / am just as pure as yoa
are, Davidge. and good deal purer.
went there to save my soul, not from lust
Put that down, Davidge, and don't you
| forget it .
| Davidge discussed the evidence OF
Charles Reed, who conyersed with tht
prisoner the Tuesday before the shooting
and who thought he appeared little on
| his balance.
| Dayidge said: rs 1t so very strange
gentlemen, that this prisoner would nave
appeared queer, when at that very time ne
| was carving in his breast the purpose OF
his monstrous crime? This witness (Reed)
came to see the prisoner at the jail, as he
saws. at the instance of Scoville, and hli
| evidence regarding that occasion Is manu-
factured evidence.
! Gniteau interrupted in bragadocia tones
You'd better look out. Reed speaks to
| marrow. He may tear you to pieces III
Lse had lots of experience in handling
| slacaa fellows as you, and has sent some o.
them to- prison.
| Darid9e explained. in using the term h'
meant no sef1ection upon Reed, but 1t wa
an easy thing for the prisoner, after tn
act to strike the wall and simulate lnsan
itv for the benefit of the gentleman TO
| whom he would shortly appear as witness
| for defense.
/ Guiteau-'I never feigned insanity.
never claimed to be insane after the SECOND
of july. am as sane as you are, and
i better man, too"
Davidge-.Do you hear that gentlemen
Contrast that with what yon have seel
here day after day.
J Davidge continued to disintegrate tn
evidence and argued its wortniessness
- x,fsa sar11y nv n eFtfa