The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-07-08
The Hanging of Guiteau.

Eetg0 pubic VIII ftallLS tiistt HIS SASNutAoh
was mistake. Already reason is asserting
itself, and here and there a paper or an in
dividual is doubling the justice Of his con
demnation
No one cares for Guiteau. but all have
an interest in the honor and reputation Of
this government. Equal ard exact justice
to all is one Of the great foundation stones
of the structure Can anyone say that
exact Justice was done Guiteau? Can any
one say that he had an impartial trial ?
We think not. Just whilst the entire
people we're incensed and outraged at his
crime he was brought to trial. Publies sen
timent against him prevented hin from
obtaining that legal ability for his defense
thai the Importance Of his case demanded.
1t was certain condemnation for any prom
inent man to either volunteer or for fee
to defend him. The people were erazed.
Sensible people were caught up by the ex-
element and carried along with the popu-
lar carrent. Newspapers and public speak
ers gushed over, aud the whole affair be-
came disgusting and nauseatiug.
Such was the condition of the public mind
when Gniteau was brought to trial. Under
ordinary circumstances a man charged With
murder would have been given postpone
ment Guiteaus oiFense was only murder,
under the law. The killing of the Presi-
dent was no greater ofense, under the
statutes, than the killing Of any other hn-
man being. Bat public sentiment demand
ed his blood, and he was brought TO answer
at once. An through the tedious trial he
was treated as an insane lnantreated %
By Judge, jury ana counsel Guiteau was
permitted to interrupt the proceedings con
tinualIy, 70 make Wild speeches and to
abuse and denounce the counsel for the
defense as well as for the prosecution.
Would any sane man have been permitted
such license Would the counsel submit
to being called liars, and to be told thai
they stank in the nossriis of all decent men,
and other such expressions, except thar
they thought the actor was insane ? Would
any Judge permit a sane man 10 thus de-
grade and dishon0E temple Of jussieeg
Not 1t al. The idea i preposterous Yet
the trial proceeded aud verdict Of guilty
was rendered, The higher court, sowhish
IN appeal was taken, sanctioned al that
was done below, and one court or the Cab
met. We now forget which. decided that
The jury settled the question Of the ac-
eusel's insanisy. A jury, mark you of
u=professional men, decidine the question
Of insanity. asad scarcely had the life been
ehoaed out Of the assassin body before
learned physicians began the task Of e..
aiming his eyes, brains and other faraia-
lions j,sst ID determine ttat one pesaf.
His lawyer asked for a commission. On his
mental condition. just before bis execution.
They could haze decided then as vel,
nearly. Is afterwari. But this was denied
and the moose was adjusted, and she nsan
who was treated Is insane It his trial and
since, Was swung off a though he was .
sane aud responsible being.
VIXEN Guiteau 6rst shocked the Amer
can people BY the assassination Of the chief
Of Tie Republic, the ADVOCATE considered
his acts and utteranees and poinssd out the
seaside sad insane, leaving the reader N
doubt j 10 his sanity as was the writer.
Since then It has settled into the coHvic-
lion. formed from the attesances o. iuiteau,
that he was not responsible being. and We
have concluded that the government, At the
instance Of thoughsless elamor has al
lowed itself % stand before the world as the
cxeeutioner Of an insane man, The prin-
ciple Of capital punishment Is to warn man
kind Of the penalty for killing fellow
man, but il is just a. sensible 20 hang .
wooden figure = to hang aus Insane man
70 frighten into reetipade another insane
man
Since his execution the conclusion thai
Guiteaa was not responsible has been fur
Their strengthened. The hrst net Of th'
physicians making an autopsy was =. lin
s.easxelgss to secretg rsgardiag iadiridna
epinion+ Why was this We're theJ
% discover tlAe truth or suppress III The
must hare bad Ilsisgisines On the subject
or Why the bond Of secrecy IL + no
hard to determine the question, and # j
should Be found that Guiteau was not
responsible creature. the public. viii neye
know il through thefhysiciAns making tn
autopsy as d body, but It viii leak out il
time.
Had Guiteau been sane, and been &C
corded new triad, such as Stokes was gisel
for the murder Of Fisk. in New York som
wears ago, he never would hav.f come to th
gallows. Stokes shot Fisk, coolly and delhi
erately, but bis money. friends and position
secured him able counsel and an impartia
jury. There was 40 denying Of the shooting
in his case, but it was claimed that his phys
clans had caused his death by malpractice
They proved this 50 far as TO leave doub
in the minds Of the jury, and that doubi
as the rule Of the law requires, was give
to the accused, who got off With only
short term ef imprisonment
Suppose that line had been proceeded o.
in the case Of Guiteau, land under tn
usual circumstances it would have beel
done1 what would have been the result
rs It not certain that great doubts woul'
have arisen as to whether Gnifeau's ball q
the physicians killed the President? Di1
not an examination Of the Presidents bod,
show that the ball had not taken the eours'
that his surgeons thought It had and tina
it lodged some three or four inches from
the spot they had located it Did the
not treat pus cavity, most likely caused
LII %, .,,,fair,,y lff1p xrsar