The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-05
GUITEAU'S TRIAL.
The Testimony in Kebuttal Continued,
And the Defense Growing Somewhat
Weaker-Experts Are Almost Unnn-
fnous rs to the Prison
er's SANITY.

CHARLES n. REED, OF CHICAGO, ASSISTS coUN-
Sell FOR THE DEFENsE-GUITEAU TIRING OF
EXPERT TESTIMONY.
As the trial progresses public interest in it
wanes, and the proceedings are becoming pain
fully monotonous. The thirtieth day was
marked by the introduction by Guiteau OF
Charles II. Reed. for twelve years District At
torney at Chicago, as counsel for the defense.
After some discussion by counsel relative to
striking out portions of DIR. Diamonds testi-
mony, Guiteau said "There's vast amount
of rubbish getting into this case that has moth
ing to do with it. want to know what all this
has got to do with the condition of my mind
on the I'd of July. You can't tell what is
going on now in that foreman's mind, or Judge
Cox's. How can you tell what was in mine on
the I'd of July? All this nonsense about
whether I'm sane now or was five years ago has
nothing whatever to do with this case" St-ik-
ing the table and becoming more and more ex-
cited he continued: "If I can't get justice
here, l expect an act of God for my protection.
He has taken away the wife of one of the
jurors, for which l am very sorry, and If
necessary He will take one Of the jurors right
out of the box to save my life
in the interest Of truth and justice"
VIM. A. Edward, of Brooklyn, testified that he
was q clerk in Shaw's law Office and overheard
a conversation between Shaw and Guiteau
when the latter, as testified to by Shaw, said
he would some day "kill some big man as
Booth had DONE" [Shaw, in his testimony,
said no other person WAS present during this
conversation.1 On cross-examination by Reed,
witness was asked "If Shaw testified that no
one was present and you testify under oath
that you were present, which Of You told the
truth? Answer-"Why, have told the truth.
Shaw is apt to get excited when upon the
stand Witness gave an account of a fraudu-
lent real estate transaction in which the
prisoner attempted to involve him (witness)
in. Guiteau sneeringly commented on the
ridiculous assumption of the witness, and SEQ
vile attempted to quiet him. Guiteau re-
chance of getting the laugh on him." Reed
questioned witness st some length and Gui-
teau interrupted, saying "Why, this whole
thing is lie. My counsel are taking this mat
ter too seriously. Call it by the right name, a
lie, and let it CO." Finally he became very i'm
patient at the lengthy cross-examination and
called out petulently, ''Why, this whole thing
is farce. This fellow ten years ago
was clerk in Shaw's office, getting
about IS week. The idea that I
transaction, such q numskull as this fellow is !;
why, Judge Cox ought to kick him off the
stand" DR.. Spencer Fl. Talcott, Medical
Superintendent of the Homeopathy Asylum for
the Insane, at Middletown, N. Y, had treated
over 1000 cases of insanity. Witness had
closely observed the prisoner, and listened to
his testimony on the stand. "Upon the
assumption that he (Guiteau) was telling the
truth in regard to the transaction and in
regard to the events of his life as
he described them, I should say that
he was sane on the I'd of July"
The witness also replied: Assuming to be
true the fact set forth in the hypothetical ques-
ton, should say the prisoner was sane ON the
I'd of july" Guiteau began his usual har-
rangue on the witness and was finally COM
manded by the Court to keep quiet. He re-
piled: '.All right, your Honor, I'll be quiet
now" Davidge instantly called the attention Of
the Court to the fact that the prisoner was able
to control his "free agency" now, and keep
quiet when he wanted to. Said Guiteau 81
don't pretend to say am insane now, any
more than you are, but on the I'd of July, and
for thirty days prior, was insane. That's the
issue. You are as bad as a man born with
the diarrhea. Now you keep quiet"
DIR. Henry P. Stearns, Superintendent of the
witness. During the past eight years from 800
to 1000 cases of insanity had come under his
supervision. Witness had four examinations
of the prisoner in jail. Guiteau interrupted ::
"You came as friend, and I, supposing you
were going to testify for the defense, talked
very freely with you about my religious feelings
and about myself, but Corkhill's money was
too much for you. I want to say here that
don't pretend that am any more insane at this
minute than Davidge isl won't say Corkhill,
for l think he is cracked laughter, but 1 rest
my case ON this claim, that was insane on the
I'd of July when my inspiration and the state
of my mind impelled me onto the President :"
Witness detailed at great length the results Of
his examinations and interviews with Guiteau.
Pending the cross-examination Court ad-
journed.