The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-01-14

sylvania; is now superintendent OF the Tennessee
Hospital for the Insane; there are about 400
inmates there now; has had about 1000 patients
under his charge He had examined the prisoner;
had noticed the actions of the prisoner while
attending court, and thinks him sane man.
During the examination of this witness long
discussion ensued between counsel-the prisoner
taking part, as usual-which resulted in an order
of the Court placing the latter in the dock.
In making the order Judge Cox said that the
latitude granted the prisoner had been for the
purpose Of allowing the experts to examine him
more closely. in order to the better form their
opinions as to his sanity.
Thursday-Dr Calender was recalled and
cross examined but adhered to his expressed
belief that prisoner was sane.
DR.. Walter Kempster, of Wisconsin, pronounced
the prisoner sane and that he was feigning
At the opening of the court, on Friday Guiteau
began the proceedings by reading what purported
to be telegram, as follows:
"Mr CHARLES J. GUITEAU,
WASHINGTON, D. c.:
"All Boston sympathizes with you. You ought
to be President.
Signed A HOST OF ADMIRERS.
After which he continued:
L don't know but two men in America who
want me hanged. One is Porter, because he ex-
poets to get $1,000 for ii the other is Corkhill
Corkhill is booked to * moved anyway. He
wants to get even with me, because he thinks
am the man that did it, After pause. It is
said that am two severe in my language. l
will explain that. Woe unto YOU he exclaim-
ed, with the defamation OF preacher, we hypO-
critics, scribes and Pharisees how can you escape
damnation in hell you generation OF vipers; how
can you escape the damnatiOn in hell? Who was
it said that? The meek and iCwly Jesus! put
my ideas in sharp language, an | have the ex-
ample of the Saviour Of mankind for doing it.
He called things by their right names. When
any one assaulted Him, He struck lack. He did
not lay down like craven, nor don't
The cross examination of Dr. Kempster, of
Winnebago was about to be resumed by Mr. SEQ
vile, when the prisoner again broke out: 81 refer
my nomination for presidency to the Republican
national convention of 1884. will be there. |
do not think that this jury is going into the
hanging business in order to enable Mr.. Porter
to get $4,000. The American people do not want
to have me hanged. They might as well try to
hang 8 man for killing another during the war
as to hang me. My motive was patriotic, under
Divine pressure to save the Nation from another
war. But [ am going to discuss that when we
get to the Jury" The examination of DR.. Kemp
ster was then resumed being directed chiefly to
an effort to show discrepancies between the tes-
timony of the witness and the statements in his
annual reports as superintendent of the Northern
Insane Asylum.
After a warm alteration between counsel, Dr.
John P. Gray, of Utica n. Y. (the last of the ex-
pert witnesses for the prosecution, called to
the stand. He stated, in reply to questions by
the District Attorney, that he is medical superin-
tendent of the New York State Lunatic Asylum,
and has been connected with that institution
since September, 1850. He has had under his
Immediate control and observation an aggregate
of about twelve thousand insane persons, embrac-
ing all classes of society, all occupations and pro-
LESSONS. He defined insanity as disease of the
brain, in which there is an association of mental
disturbance, change in the individual, depar
ture from himself and from his own ordinary
standard Of mental action, and a change in his
way of feeling, thinking, and acting.
Here the witness was interrupted by the
prisoner shouting out: That is my case. /
shot the President on the I'd of July: and |
would not do 1t again for million dollars
The witness went on to define and illustrate
the distinction between delusions illusions, and
Authorizations, and was again interrupted by the
prisoner shouting out: You are a very learned
man, Doctor; but you forget that Abrahamic
class-the class that belong to-"
The witness said he did not believe in moral
insanity, and had not for years. That term
intended to signify peryersion of the moral
character, leaving the intellectual faculties still
sound.
The District Attorney-Ifa man is an habitual
liar and cheat, would those qualities indicate in
sanity?
depravity.
The District Attorney-Has insanity any ten
dency to make men criminals?
The Witness-No. No more than neuralgia,
ordyspepsia, anything else. 1t is only disease.
1t does not put anything new in man. It only
perVerts what is there.
The witness continued his testimony, detailing
the incidents of his various interviews with the
prisoner, who he said, stated that the idea of re-
moving the President flashed across his mind in
the night Witness asked him how he finally
came to the conclusion that he would do the act
He said that he had resolved to do it; that he
believed that the political situation fully justi-
fed it,
The Prisoner-That kills the Paris eonsulship
proposition. The prosecution cannot convict me
unless they can show some kind of malice. The
only malice which could come was from the Paris
consulship idea, and what the Doctor says kills
that idea.
Witness further stated that the prisoner had
claimed that he was legally insane, not medically
insane.
Saturday.-Dr Gray's examination was con-
tinued and he reiterated his statement that he
believed the prisoner sane man.
Mr. Scoville objected to the witness giving an
opinion of the prisoners sanity, concluded from
The Court ruled that the witness should proceed
with his opinion.
DIR. Gray continued and said the prisoner told
him that he had been perfectly healthy prior to
the shooting; he claimed no inspiration of any
kind in answer to witness questions regarding
his application for office.