Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-01-11

the Insane, mad devoted MS attention
to the study of insanity for the past
fifteen years. The witness was famil
lar with the process of taking the con-
formity Of the head, and did not believe
it was of much importance. AS a rule
no Importance could be attached to the
shape of the head in determining the
question of sanity or insanity. Wit
ness exhibited a number of slips show.
ing the shape. as taken by the con-
formator' of heads of number of gen.
tlemen, including Treasurer Gilfllan,
Col Ingersoll, Judge Garter, w. j.
Sibley and Col Corkhill. In the case
of Col Ingersoll, witness remarked,
(pointing with his fnger,) this side
appears fat as compared with the
other
Guiteau-That shows that Bob and
are both cracked in the same direc.
tion.
Col. Corkhill's head,' said the wit
ness, has very marked depression
upon one side.'
Guiteau (interrupting)-I'll bet you
could put your foot in the depression
in his head.
Witness Continuing THE depres-
sion is very similar to that noticed in
the prisoners head. Laughter.
Guiteau-Oh, he's cracked a great
deal worse than | am.
the witness related incidents with
in bis knowledge of persons who had
committed crimes while acting under
an insane delusion and defined what
he considered insane delusion to be.
Guiteau shouted to him, oh, you're
talking about cranks. Tell US some
thing about Abraham and then there
would be some sense to your remarks
THE MORAL INSANITY DODGE.
The witness was then asked if he
had ever seen a case where a person
committed crime and claimed Divine
inspiration. and ifso, how such persons
deported themselves before and after
the act. He replied that in such cases
delusion Cor inspiration, as they claim
it to be, comes to person suddenly
and with intense pressure, and that
such persons act quickly and upon a
sudden impulse, delaying neither to
consider the opportunity nor weapons;
that it would be impossible to conceive
without actually witnessing it the
energy, impetuosity and determination
with which persons acting under an
insane delusion carry out their purpo-
ses, and that it would be equally i'm
possible to describe it with language.
Guiteau-You don't agree with
Abraham, Doctor He took plenty of
time to make his arrangements.
Witness said he did not believe in
the distinct type of insanity which
could be called moral insanity. 1t was
simply q convenient term which had
been invented to excuse the commission
of heinous crimes. Witness had never
seen Q case where an insane man, after
committing crime, paraded bis insan-
ity and urged it as an excuse for his
crime, paraded his insanity and urged
it as an excuse for his crime Insane
murderers do not boast of their acts,
but on the contrary very rarely allude
to them unless a good deal of ingenui-
ty is used to draw them out The
witness, until he entered this court
room had never heard of case of al
legged inspiration that came from with
in. Always such persons claimed to
have heard the voice of God, or seen
image, or something of that sort. Such
inspiration Is never conviction arriv-
ed at after mature reflection on the
part of the person SO affected.
Witness being asked if the belief of
the prisoners father, l.. w. Guiteau,
that the disease could be cured by
prayer, should be taken as evidence of
insanity, replied: "By no means. We
all know that thousands and thousands
of sane people prayed daily for the sal
vation of President Garfeld's lite. They
would hardly have done 80 if they had
not entertained some belief in the eff
cacy of prayer
Guiteau-It shows that the Lord
and people don't agree on this business
The people are beginning to come over
to my side and the Lords, though.
Col. Corkhill had read the hypothet
ical questions of the prosecution, and
witness replied to each, taking the
facts set forth to be true. in my opinion
he was sane.
FRIDAY
WASHINGTON, December 30.-At
ten o'clock Guiteau was led into Court
by the bailiffs. AS he passed the table
at which his counsel sat, he paused a
moment, and whispered to Scoville,
If you will only keep quiet to-day, L
will laugh this case out of Court AS
soon as he reached the dock he shouted
out Some of the leading papers in
America consider me the greatest fel-
low they have met in some time. At
o'clock last. night I received a tele'
gram which I will read for the edifi.
cation of this audience and the Ameri'
can people:
Mr.. Char.es j. Guiteau, Washington,
d. c.:
All Boston sympathizes with you
You ought to be President.
A Host OF ADMIRERS.
Pausing a moment, he branched of
into a rambling harangue, quoting
Scripture and comparing himself TO
the meek and lowly Jesus who usec
plain language, though sometimes Sc
we're. i have been accused of using
too harsh language he added, but
take my pattern from the Savior o
mankind. | shall submit my name tc
the next National Republican Conven
tion | shall expect to be before it
There are only two men in the country
who want me hung. One is judge
Porter, who expects to get $4,000 from
the Government if | am convicted
and the other is Corkhill, who expects
to get bounced, and who knows l an
| the cause of it,