New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-29
APPROACHING THE GALLOWS
THE LAST DAYS OF GUTTEAU's BAD LIFE
A FINAL EFFORT FOR A REPRIEvE-TALKs OF THE
REV. DIR. HICKS WITH THE AssAssrN-GUrTEAVS
VARYING MOoDs-TRE GALLONS DESCRIBED.

VARYING MOoDs-TEE GALLOws DESCRIBED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIDUsE.i
WASHINGTON, June 2S.-The final effort for a ro-
pricve for Guiteau was made this morning. Tho
Rev. DR.. Hicks and Miss Chevailler, of the Society
for the Protection of the Insane, called at tho
White House to present letter from Mrs. Scoville
to the President This was in lieu of a personal
call upon the President which she had intended TO
mSke but from which she dissuaded by her
brother and friends, both for her sake and the
Presidents DR.. Hicks did not ask 20 sec
tho President, though he was told that hS
could do so. He left his message with the Presi-
dents private secretary. 1t was simply 10 say to
the President that while ne had not signed the ap-
plication for respite, it would make him very
happy if the President would grant 1t. lie felt sure
the country would approve it n wise and rIght
step, taken to discover through scientific and
thorough examination whether Guiteau was insane
or not lie thought the great newspapers would
see it in that way, after the first surprise over.
and he would promise TO do what be could TO in
form the people upon it, and show that the act was
done only with the highest motives Of justice.
DR.. Hicks said afterward that the Presidents
bearing in the interview with himself and John w.
Guiteau yesterday gave him a little en-
couragement-very faint, but still little.
Only these three persons were in the
room during the interview which took
place in the library room. John w. Guiteau, who
is perhaps more basel by his natural feelings,
though he takes a view of the whole matter strange
ly Independent of the considerations that would
move ordinary men, got the same impression. He
says the President said, " You have idea how
much L have felt this matter" ard promised to
give IL attention. Mr. Guteau said he seemed to
feel it " overwhelmingly" and it could only be
planned, he thought, on the supposlliOn that the
President believed his brother insane DIR. Hicks
says the President seemed especially sruck by tho
letters from John III. Moves and other members Of
the Oneida Community, extracts from which were
given in THE TRIBUNE dispatches to-day, in which
the opinion was expressed fifteen sixteen years
ago that Guiteau was on the verge of insanity.
WHY THE LETTERS WERE NOT USED on THE TRIAL
Mr. Gutcau explained to the President how it
was that these letters were not used on
the trial The writers all living, and
were familiar with Charles Guiteaus career.
Their testimony would have been in accordance
with their letters, except that they would probably
have called it a of demonism or possession OF
an evil spirit for which Guteau, from their relig-
ious point of view, himself responsible. But
these men would also have testified that Luther w.
Guiteau was OF sound mind aud hearty, without
anything like insanity in him. and this would have
broken down Mr. Scovlle's theory of hereditary in-
sanity, which was the whole of his defence Mr.
Guteau explained his own failure to come forward
with this evidence at earlier period by saying
that he had given up the utterly hop eless,
but when he saw that q man of Dr. Goddng's
standing in the profession, and other distinguished
experts had come forward and gwen their opinions
that his brother insane he thought
the weight of their views might bring
about respite. In conclusion. hs
told the President he had a request 10 make, and
did not want him 10 take into consideration his feel
ings those of his brother or family, bat simply 10
do what he thought was right, and he Mr. Guiteaul
would be entirely content.
Dr. Hicks John w. Guiteau and Charles II. Reed.
Guiteau's counsel, rode over TO the Jail with The
TRIBUNE correspondent this morning. John Guiteau
was going his brother for the first time in two
months and Mr. Reed was goiug to say goodbye 70
his client, and then leave town, he said until tho
execution was over. The start was made from DR.,
Hicks's house. where a number of tho features OF
the case were discussed in general talk. Among
other things it decided that every effort must
be made to dissuade Mrs. Scoyille from attending
the execution, on the ground that it would be
shock terrible enough to make any wOrian insane.
DI, BEARD INSISTING ON INSANITY.
When DR.. Hicks and Miss Chevaillier came in from
the Presidents number of letters were handed to
the former-some friendly and some abusive. The
following wac from DR.. George NJ. Beard, of New
York:
You are an expert on GuIteau. The interviews in
The TRIBUNE and Herald show that, mp 10 certain
point you understand him better than most Of ne med
cal Your conduct some hat Tcdeems the horrors
ot the tnal and the horrors OF tins hour In your ser
and far more effectively than could M laOors IA tue
Guiteau repaid by meeting you am convinced
that the unchanged mental OF Guiteau s bringing
thousands a knowledge and admission OF the truth
His conduct the scahOld Will, 70 the popular mind
confirm the verdict OF terrible insanity for all time fhe
wbOle Nation ana all hnuolS Wiz soou oe eAp.tOs %
Cuitcau LunItlcs have been hanged IN passion, IN
haste In ignorance but never before IN human history
has nation deliberately hanged person hnown to bs
insane
Dr. Hicks is almost as much oyerrun with people
now as General CrOcker is. his morning the
patent scaiiod man. L. 5. COlburn, turned mp &C
his house with picture of his patent gallows and
begged the doctor to take it out 10 Guitean and
persuade him to insist upon being hanged on one Of
his machines. Ie seemed to think that the in
genulty and beauty Of his galows would ap.
peal to Guitcau at once. DIR. uicks was
naturally very angry and said he would
make no such brutal proposal g. told him" said
Dr. Hicks. that was not in the hanging business,
but if he would 20 away and hang himself on
of his own scaitOlds, | would cheerluliy certify TO
the machine" Then the winsomo Inventor wanted
to know if Dir. Guiteau wanted any singing at ths
execution, and expressed a willingness 10 90 somc
He was evidently a Garfield aycngcrP and wanted
to kill Gui;eau way II he couldn't another Dr.
Hicks discouraged this idea Also ami wasn0t moved
by the scaffold mans statement that he had
verse already composed, which had come naturally
into his mind while he was riding through tho
be utiful scenery of Pennsylvania. This perth
nacious individual left picture ot the gllows at tho
Riggs House last night for Mr. Reed, and asked
him to lake it to tho jail aud show i, 10 Guiteau.
What with scenes Ike these, and with Dr. Mary
Walker oXpounding 10 group IN the White House,
this morning. her views upon the necessity for a
respite for UuItcau. which she had not been permit
ted to intct upon the President Washing on is
full of oucer people these days There seems TO be