New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-08
is GUITEAU INSANEP
A PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT.
DISCUSSION BY TIE MEDICO-LLGAL SOCItIi-NV
ACTION TO BE TAKEN.

DISCUSSION
ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
At fine last meeting before the summer vacation
Of the Medico-Legal Society, held last night in the
Mott Memorial Hall, No. Madison aye,
there was an animated discussion Of the
suggestion that President Arthur should stay the
executIonin the OF Guiteau long enough to per-
init a commission of expert alienists to pass on the
before the society by the president, Clark
some considerations on the Presidents duty
in the premises. These considerations ne
prefaced with list of undisputed facts relative TO
the CASE. which were IN substance these The power
of the Government to have q commission OF scienI
tiic specialists pronounce on GulteaWs sanity had
not been exercised, nor had the defence procured
such commission with one or two exceptions.
ali the evidence III the case had been gwen by men
who were IN the pay of one side or the other tine
verdict o. the jury determined nothing IN sclen-
tic sense, as from 1t nobody was able TO say
whether the jury considered nun as sane OF
insane but responsible; large pro-
portion of the physicons and law
ycrs of the country now consider him insane; the
TACT that Mr.. Arthur was made President by the act
Of assassination and that the expressed purpose OF
the murderer was TO make him President. places
him in an Imposition, but II Is his rgn ana
his duty call scientific commission 10 lnYesigdte
the question of insanity before the day set for the
hanging. He urged that the society ought not 10
shrink from taking action because OF puphc
cdmor, If by DONG so II could save the honor ana
dignity of the country, ana halu
that if the sentence were commnted to I'M
prisonment for Ilio It would be h,,did ia
him responsible, and De worse punishment Tor
Gul.eau than hanging, because more DREADED by
HIM Mr. Bell advanced these thoughts nc said
the subject of Gulieau's insanity, but
because the question involved was grave
ana would be presented 10 the President III the
form of petition which IS beng clrcniated for
signatures among the phi slclanS OF the country.
Subsequently il appeared that this petition had
been drafted by DE- G. NJ Beard, who
aft ptp1 a read
but was prevented by the raising OF
point Of order II rccltes, IN very positive man
ner that Gulteau has been insane for twenty years.
as was now admitted by all the eminent illrnsts OF
this country. gives few points of proof and asks
that the hanging be post poned until commission
can pas Oh the question.
The president having answered question from one
of the members of the society, that the sugges o3s
were open Tor discussion and acton, Colonel Is. A
Willis arose and SAID
"Guitcau was not only tried by judge and a
Jury of twelve men, but by ali mankind, and the
moral and intellectual sense OF the people. which Is
the highest test to which the verdict could be sub
mittcd is that he has been nghteOusly condemned
have nothing to say about the insanity OF Gul-
teau but If this paper should go out a.
the expression of the MedIco-Legal society, the in
SANITY OF this corporate body would be, In my ludg
ment unquestiOned | therefore move that 1t 10
resolved that il Is the sense OF tins society tna
Charles j. Gulteau mus been 'mpartially ana talily
tried and Justly condemned to death, and his moral
Responsiveness unquestloned."
The TeSO. uGiOn was seconded by Ut. Howard anu
supported by General George W. Palmer and e. O.
Riddle The latter made the point that to appoint
the commission rs suggested would practically De
reoponing the ISSUE Ilcd before Judge Cox.
In reply TO a question of the president, DIR. Fred
cTick l.. Lent sand mat the overwhelming opinion
OF the writers the medical journals now was that
GuItcau was insane He believed that Gulteau mad
been insane Tor years, but be was unwilling 10 eX-
press an opinion 10 his responsibility.
Dr. Beard SAM: II GuIteau Is sane then all OF
Us are insane There was no difference oi opinion
il tins society on the subject, and ali the best men
in Boston Philadelphia, York, Chicago and ST..
Louis are unanimous this point as they have
never been before. mere Is not one eminent mcdl-
cal man III the country who has read the literature
OF Germany and France on the subject who does
not believe him insane" otI DR.. Beard dd not
favor corporate action concerning LIS petition 10
the President.
George l.. Avery wanted to know If every time a
murderer was convicted VINO had put in the plea I
insanity every doctor tho United Statcs to be
privileged to get up and demand To be sworn and
nave the case retired. He did not think action Of
any kind ought to be TAKEN and moved to lay the
+, solution on the table.
EX-SurrOgate CALVIN thought 1t unseemly TO hang
Guiteau whIle there grave doubts OF his sanity,
and reelected severely hs remarks on the methods
taken to induce the physicians to testify TO his san
ity and to intImidate them from testltylng to his
insanity.
DR.. c. l.. Dana thought the question turned on
Guiteau's responsibility, not his insanity. lie also
corrected DR.. Boards statements Not all, but only
"A majority of the European writers Thought HIM In
sane. lie had found only two EnglIsn authorities
Oh that side, and The Lancet considered HIM dirty
scamp Being pressed 10 a vote, the motion to Lay
Colonel WIlliSs motion Oh the table was carried by
a vote Of / 8 to IL.