Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1882-01-02
..rEANsIroRY" INSANITY.

II tho first jury that acquitted q man
accused OF the crime Of murder on the
ground OF "transitory" insanity could
have foresesn the evil effects which their
verdict would have upon community in
future. they would doubtless have re-
fused to consider the plea. The mum.
Der OF cowardly murdersrs who have
since profted by the lesson then taught,
and have assumed "transitory" insan.
ity in order to ''remove" Q person whom
they hated with little danger to them.
s.lyes, cannot Of course be known, but
1t is many. A compiled history Of the
many trials and acquittals Of murder
because OF alleged trausitory insanity,
since the plea wal FIRST successfully in
terpossd. would be very interesting
reading.
Perhaps In no trial OF the kind during
the last two or three years, until the
Guiteau trial. has the plea Of "tran.
STORY" insanity appeared more absurd
than the case OF Schroeder Of Oakland.
California. Who was acquitted by a jury
OF the dsliberats murder Of DR.. Leisvrs
on that plea. In the case. the wife,
Who was believed to have been unchsste
before her marriage to Schroeder. &C.
cussd DR.. Lefevre Of adultery with her
TO her husband. and the husband six
weeks after having eondoned the alleged
offense went to Lsievre's Office and cow
ardly shot aud killed him. The trial
was Of the melo-dramatic order. with
tears. gush and affected devotion on the
part OF the wife. The jury after delib.
Grating about sixty hours finally rendered
q verde. Of no. guilty on the ground OF
"tzansitory" insanity. and Mr.. Schros-
der was permitted to walk out OF the
courtroom a free man.
Guiteau. whose trial has caused much
u~n.,vorable comment. both ut homo and
abroad. had evidently carefully studied
the 'trsnsitory" insanity plea long be-
fore his trial commenced. and, knowing
the usual elect Of that plea upon jurors,
anticipated with much confidence o
failure to conyic. because OF 1t. Ap.
p~earances, however, now seem to indi-
cate that he will not make the plea q
successful defense. His acts during the
trial. instead Of indicating insanity, in
dictate, as has been said, devilish de-
praviiy. Aud dsferring the assassination
OF the President several times because OF
uniavorabls circumstances. aud writing
. note Just before the shooting. for the
purpose OF protecting himself. from vio'
lspcs at the hands OF the people, show a
sans mind up to the very time Of the
preparation Of his crime. And facts
recently brought out in evidence show
tina. Guiteau has been for years what Is
known as o ''dead.beai." 1t appears
that for many years he has rejected all
honest work. living by his wits and by
borrowing money OF every man from
whom he could obtain il.
Az IL becoming more and more appar-
ent every day. the plea Of "transi,ory"
insanity Is On absurd one. 1t has OBJ
s,ructsd justice long enough. and 1t Is
time IL should c.ase to be favorably con.
sidsred by %juries. "Transiiory' insan.
ity. which Is nothing but upgovernable
passions proceeding from dsprsved in.
s~tincts. should be held to be on sggra-
waiting circumstance IN connection with
murder. rather than a saving plea. And.
II for no other reason than to stop the
further Interpolation Of the plea in cases
OF deliberate and cowardly murder, Gui-
teau's jury should convict him. and the
hapgman should speedily thereafter exc
cute the sentence Of the Court.