Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-17
MRS scOvILLg,s LErTER.


Mrs. Sooyille's letter to Mrs. Garfield
tends to show that there is close connec-
tion in temperament between Guiteau and
his sister. The fundamental indecency and
improperly of this appeal could only have
escaped the perception of woman who
partook largely of the assassin's nature,
nor can any consideration of sisserly afec-
ton atone for the shamelessness of this re-
course. 1t would further appear that Mrs.
Seville was resolved TO create the impress
sion that there is insanity in her family, on
her side at least. for nothing could be
wilder than the notion that any appeal to
Mrs. Garfield coald effect the fate of her
detestable brother. 1t ia with great reIuc-
lance that we mention Mira. Qarfieid's name
in this connection at all. She ought to
have BEEN spared this outrage, had it been
possible. But it is now necessary to point
ont that whatever her personal feelings in
the matter may be. che has no more to do
with the conrse of justice than Mrs. SEQ
vile herself. Guiteau has been convicted
of the murder of President Garfield, after
perfectly fair trial. The jury at the
same time decided that be was not
insane. Mrs. Scovilie pretends to believe
that he is insane. We are strongly in
clined to her opinion, but we are still more
strongly convinced that if Guiteau be mad,
his madness ought not to save him from
the gallows. In fact we are satisfied that
the best use to make of murderers of his
type is to hang them. And as to Mrs. Sco-
Ville's talk about the "poor boy" and the
trials and tribulations which he encoun-
tered, his history shows that his own per-
verse and malign disposition was the true
cause of all his difficulties, and that he was
only too well treated by those who had
to do with him. Mrs. Scoville declares
that on one occasion she felt proud of her
brother during his trial. II 50, she is the
only creature in the United States ca
pable of experiencing such sensation. We
presume that her very hysterical and disa-
grseabIe letter-which is SO strongly sug-
gestive of Guiteau's composition tina. it
might have been written by him-was
mailed without her husbands knowledge,
or possibly against his expressed desire.
1t cannot be believed that he, as
lawyer, and as man with some character
to lose, would have approved so o5jectiona,
bic composition. Nor can it be believed
that Mrs. Scoville was inspired wholly or
solely by sisterly affection, for it cannot
be forgotten that previous to Gaiteau's
assassination of President Garfield sep
aration of several years had existed
between the brother and sister, and that
she had, so far as is known, manifested no
concern about him in any way. The truth
would rather seem to be that these two
persons possess mental systems SO nearly
allied as to be almost synonymous. and
thai Mrs. Scoville has really been led in
this way to what locks like a genuine
admiration for her brother. Il Is to be
regretted that she did rot keep this feeling
to herself, however. aad it is shove al to
be regretted that poor Mrs. Garfield should
have besn molested by letter which is
as thoroughly ba in taste as It IS foolish in