Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-02-02
EXHIBITING GUITEAU's BODY.
A Plan To Pay OF Debts and Give Relief t.
tho Insane.

A Plan TO Pay OF Debts and Give Relief to
tho Insane.
Mr.. Scoville was asked if it was true
that he had accepted, on behalf of Gui.
teau's relatives, the proposition from a
firm in Philadelphia to refrigerate and ex-
hibit Guiteau's body and replied at first
evasively. ''You can say that Guiteau' S
body is not yet for sale. There is a mo-
ton for a new trial pending and after that
there will probably be an appeal to the
court in general term to be prosecuted
"To be sure, you do not think the time
| has arrived to enter into any contracts Of
such q nature, but is it true, as alleged,
that you look upon such proposition
with some favor ?''
have no right to dispose of Guiteau' s
body" replied Mr.. Scoville. cit is for
his sister and brother to determine what
Shall be done with it. So far as am con-
cerned personally see no reason why such
an arrangement should not be made. OF
course bis family would not consent to any
arrangement or any disposition of the
body with view to deriving any pecuniary
aid from it. If they should consent to
tho Philadelphia proposition it would be
upon the conditions that a post mortcm
examination Of the brain should first be
made, to determine beyond doubt the dis
puted question whether or not he has any
disease of the brain then the firm that
proposes to exhibit the body would be re-
quired to give positive assurance to the
relatives tnat no indisnities shall be
offered the remains. The proceeds Of such
exhibition would be used by the
family. first, in paying of: Guiteau's
debts, and the remainder. if any,
un,rlI In atnl %l,o
troll Of trustees, to the amclioration OF
the condition of the insane Or to the ad-
vancement of the ant capital punishment
possible continued Mr.. Scovile, "to
bury the remains aud protect them from
body snatchers. They would have far
more incentive TO steal his remains than
those Of A. T. Stewart and could do So
with much less difficulty. Nothing but
cremation o. sinking them in the ocean
would prove effective against this class of
speculators, and if they can he made to
subScrve some worthy philanthropy it
seems to mt far better to dispose of them
liz this way"
Mr.. ScOville says he has received a few
responses to his published appeal and
some small contributions. 1t is the gen
cral opinion, however, that he will aban-
don the case if his motion is denied by
Judge Cox on Friday.
District Attorney Corli!ill declined to
say tonight whether the government
would take possession of Guiteau'S body,
;:s he intended to speak about it on Friday
Lawyers outside the case say that the
government will have authority over the
body. The matter of it's disposition
has not been considered by the
authorities, but the supposition is that
the body will he delivered to the family if
they request it, rs it is not customary in
civilized countries to pursue man after
he is dead or in any way mistreat the
body. Mr.. Charles Reed, who assisted
in the defense Of Guitcau, says the propo-
sition publicly to exhibit his body is mon
strous and an outrage upon common de-
ccncy. He says that such a thing would
not be allowed &; that the person seeking
to make the exhibition would be liable to
to arrest and punishment as public nu
Sancc.