Morris tribune., 1882-01-12
A Summary of the Gni,eau Trial,

A Summary of the Gniteau Trial.
| Washington Special to the Cincinnati Com.
mercial The expert testimony In the trial OF
Guiteau, which has practically closed Dr..
Gray's cross examination only remaining, would
alone make it u celebrated case. Twenty three
physicians have been examined upon the stand
with regard to insanity Ole (Dr. horace Bar
kerr was questioned generally upon the sub
ject as bearing upon responsibility for
the crime, etc., without any direct reference to
the prisoner Seven physicians were asked and
answered hypothetical Questions for q defense
which assumed the insanity OF the prisoner,
and could hardly be answered, II at all, in any
other way than by an admission that assuming
the statements to be true, he was insane.
These were Dr. Charles H. Nichols of blooming
| dale asylum. Dr.. Charles H. Folsom of Hsr-
ward medical college. DIR. Gooding of the govern
ment hospital for insane, DIR. James McBrid.
| OF the asylum near Milwaukee, Wis DR..
Walter Charming OF Brooklyn, Mass, pr.
Theodore ". Fisher Of Boston, sud rr jstaeq
| g. sRiefnan OF ChiGago. .TEa defence t:iade no
| attempt to elicit from these gentlemen the re-.
| suit OF the examinations made at the isiL II
is understood that if they had been questioned
upon this point, most, if not all of them would
have pronounced Guiteau sane.
| Fourteen experts in insanity have testified
that Guiteau is, in their opinion sane. These
included four experts originally summoBsd for
| tho defense. Dt. Saltel Worcester OF Salem.
Mass Theodore Dimon of Auburn, DR.. Seldom
H. Talcott of the New York Homeopathic asylum
| of Middletown, and Henry P Stearns of the Re-
treat for the insane at Hartford, Conn. The
remaining ten were DR.. Lnring Dr. Aiivn Mc
Lean Hamilton of New York, DR.. Jamfn Strong
of asylum near Cleveland, O., DR.. s. NJ. Shew
Or orIhsns MdaOw4 Fgsr. ., ts 09on Sosso III, asylum
near Cincinnati. pr; 4. Il. Mcdonald Of the
| dale of Richmond asylum, Dr. John H. Clllen-
der of Nashville asylum, DR.. Walter Kempstel
| of the Northern asylum Of Wisconsin, snd DR.
John 2. Gray Of Utica, N Y. All these gentle
men positively pronounced Guiteau sane To
their number can be added Dr. N sble Young,
| Jail physician. OF twenty four physicians il
all examined one emily, DR.. ap.tska Of New York,
| gave 1t as h!a personal judgment that the
| prisoner is insane. There were number of
experts in attendance, such as DR.. Pliny
| Earl, who would have testified that
Guiteau was sane, but was allowed to go home
| on account of sickness or for domestic reasons
The testimony given by fourteen experts csvsr
every ground upon Which insanity has been or
can be claimed. AS accumulated, it is an ava
lanche of proof against the assassin 1t has
been shown he has none of the physical signs
Of insanity in the skull, condition Of the skin,
tongue or palate, appearance Of the eye, habits
of sleep, digestion, ETC. 1t has been shown that
if he is insane he is an exception to all the in
tellectual manifestations He has all the traits
and symptoms which man claiming his de-
lusion ought not to have, and none of the
symptoms and traits which he ought to
have: If he is insane there must be new
classification of insanity, and Quit ,auism must
be given place in the books with mania, mel
ancholia and dsn,entia.
The t:nani11itS of the experts has Been re-
malkable. There has been practically no diff
ference of opinion except upon the point wheth-
r1sfs hos vi,
Many of the physicians who have been present
express qualification at the fact that in the tri
al which will probably be precedent upon the
subject Of insanity for many years, sourd,
strict rule OF responsibility for crime has been
laid down which is likely to put an end to many
false and loose MOTORS upon the subject.
GUITEAUs PRIVILEGES RESTRICTED.
No person has been permitted to Guiteau
to-day with the exception of the Jail officials said
Warden, Crocker. No one has seen him yester-
day, and until the termination Of his trial his
sci and his brother CT sister are the only persons
who will lie sert,,it.ed. I'd visit histiA ;al3 -
This rule the warden explained was strictly in ac-
cordance with the wishes of the prisoners COUNSEL
and he added:
1t quite agrees with mine, as it did at the time
the prisoner was not allowed to any visitors, to
read any newspapers or learn anything regarding
the condition of his victim. This course which was
rather Withholding of indulgence discretionary
with the warden than application of unusual rigor,
was made subject of a vast amount of criticism
Upon the arrival of Scoyille the prisoner was al
lowed to receive visitors and read tho papers, and
as he is quite ready to talk and at times has not
been III accotd with ScUville he has doubtless said
and written great many things to which his
friends have taken exceptions. 1t has been, how
to people who would never have been admitted but
at the request of friends and counsel SO many
correspondents draw on their imaginationS almost
entirely and describe realities what exists
only as a fgment in their brains, that
am quite disposed TO be pleased with the PROPOSE
ton not to allow Guiteau to be interviewed any
A COrreSDOnQent
up i'll vivid portraiture an account OF what he
termed Guiteacs New Years reception: that 200
or 300 peoples tho majority ladies; called on the
prisoner, brought him flowers and delicacies and
chatted with him. in short, that Guiteau was per-
mitted to hold regular levee in the corridors. As
ventv matter OF tniTs tact not above
| New Years day. and only incidentally
they would see any of the prisoners who are per-
mitted to be seen upon days when yistols are ,ad-
prisoners are allowed to visit them and bring little
! presents or delicates 1t is not matter simply
entrusted to the discretion cf the warden, but he is
obliged TO admit visitors upon these occasions. 1t
is my opinion also that large majority of visitors
at the north room daily are strangers from abroad
who take in Guteans trial as one of the sights of
| the capitol" .
| MORE REFLECTIVE.
Warden Crocker continued:
| think Guiteau has appeared rather more serious
Until quite recently the thought that he had been
the central figure in public attention has gratifed
| his vanity and intense egotisln, and over
shadoVsa wdnas4uy M oner segn Sen5aera'i0ns ,n He
disposition, IS is shown all through his career by
the persistence with which he has pursued certair.
| plans or prospects that most any other man would
| have abandoned as impractcable. He undoubtedly
! exaggerated the state of public feeling just
prior to the shooting af ;ths president,
and over sahguho, view in his mental
composition led him to believe the stalwarts would
| in some way stand between him and harm, if he
| conld have succeeded in bridging over the brief
period during which he might be exposed to the
| righteous Indignation of the outraged public He
| has undoubtedly fed his hcpes OF acuuittal
upon this expectation of iuterpostion OF
some sort on the part of the stalwarts of the
that he has overestimated his assistance from this
quarter. and now that the trial is approaching its
conclusion and the interest in connecion with it is
wearing of, he - realizes mere nearly his
| true situation. He gives no evidence as
yet of despondency or breaking down.
He is still sanguine that something will intervene
| TO save him.
What seems to be the opinion Of the Jail officials
and attendants as to his sanity" inquired the re-
porter.
emphasis There has been fothing on his psri
during the six months he has been here that would
Indicate insanity. His derortment has been re-
markably even, no one day VARYING rom another"
| GUITEAU TROUBLESOME SISTER.
| Washington Special to the Chicago Herald
Mrs. Scoville is giving her husband and
! Charley Reed no end of trouble by attempting
to Interfere and dictate the line of the defense
each day. She has become convinced at lasI
that the life of her miserable brother is ir
danger, and that he will be found guilty by the
| jury and end his life ON the scaffold, and she
now throws all the blame upon her husband
| asserting that he has miamanaged the case and
enabled the prosecution to weave web around
Guiteau from which he cannot escape. She il
in o terrible condition, and the prediction il
made that the trial will yet drive her insane
Every effort has been made to induce her tc
return to Chicago, but she will not leave. MIR
Reed expects the case to come to an end the
latter part of next week.
Guiteau on the Road to tho GaIlows.
Washington special on Tuesday says
Guiteau's relatives have given up all hope oi
an acquittal, and realizesthat the prisoner il
en- route to the gallows John Guiteau admit
ted this He said
believe the jury will hang him, sane or in
sane. The tendency of this expert testimony
has been very strong against him. Thosi
gentlemen have the theory that there canno
be insanity without disease They are honest
in their theory, but their theory is wrong. Tn,
truth is, my brother is an idiot. There ar,
different kinds of idiots. He was born withou
ordinary common sense