The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-02-23
CANTON. OHIO, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 49, 1882

to hang crazy man, as an example to
other crazy men.
know that my brother has been, in
some essential matters of judgment, de-
fective since his birth. L know that he
is an exaggerated counterpart of his
father, who was, in some things, insane;
that there is strong hereditary taint of
insanity in the family, and that he is
now not himself. This sudden, super
natural development of intellect in
some directions, is of itself a symptom
of insanity.
Knowing him, understanding him, as
| claim, better than anyone else, assert
and can prove that my brother has al
ways intended to do right and live
honestly. His shortcomings have been
those OF an unbalanced, distracted brain,
rather than bad heart. His heart has
never been kind and tender as that of a
woman. But he has been most unfOr-
tunate; he was neither born right,
reared right, nor married right. Even
with his defective organization, had he,
instead of being forced into the Oneida
Community, been allowed to obtain a
good education, entered upon some
practical business, so that his mind
would not drift into vagaries; and, most
important of all, dahe, when married,
found his wife helpful, honest woman,
fOrtably, happily, and respected to its
close, as did his father. But, alas! his
mother died; father married a woman
who disliked his children, and Charles,
the only one needing home with them,
was almost turned away from his faith
er's house; nder in years, weak in body
and mind, no one to guide him. no one
to care for him (but himself, L did what
| could, it was but little) the boy dTifted
out into the cruel world. Everything
went wrong with him, and now, with
sorrow unspeakable, l look upon the
wreck of what might have been.
Shall the true story of Charles Gui-
teau's life ever be told, the world will
see that he has been more sinned against
than SHINING, He has never smoked, or
drank, or gambled, OF lied, or been pro-
fame, or been in any way vicious. De-
tectiVes securing the country for months
have found. WhatP That he did not
always pay his board, that he borrowed
800 from a minister, which he never
returned, that he pawned a watch for
$25, that he sinned against himself, to
give an unworthy woman legal divorce.
Little did 1 ever think the time would
ever come when she, the woman who
could not say he had ever wrOnged her,
would travel across the continent to
swear his life away. When he dismissed
the woman he had once loved, with his
blessing, L was moved to tears. If ever
my poor brother proved that the blood
of gentleman flowed in his veins, he
proved it then. Wreck though he is,
was proud of him.
cannot close this letter without one
word of explanation or excuse for the
strange testimony of my brother, j. w.
Guiteau. l very much fear, although
unintentiOnal, that through his deter
from the taint of insanity, he has sacri-
feed his own brother. In this he has
been ably seconded by the step-mOtheT
and her family. Verify, the poor insane
| boy has been previously sinned against
My dear madam, | write this to the
widow of our dead President, in behalf
of a man not himself in condition to
realize the extent of the terrible wrong
or to understand your suffering5 or mine
Never can | rest satisfied until | be
allowed, on bended knees, under the
weight of this humiliation and disgrace
few brief moments in which to pour
forth to your merciful heart the plead
ings of one who must ever feel sisters
love for an insane, mOtheTless boy, even
though by the whole world condemned
and despised. | beg you let me say to
you and yours what we would say, if in
his right mind, Forgive, even as Christ
shall forgive us all"
With the utmost sorrow and respect, /
remain sincerely yours,
FRANCES NJ. SCOvILLE,
532 West Monroe street.