New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-27


by TRIBUNE correspondent, said that he was
willing to speak freely upon such matters as it
proper the public should know. "Thcre is no
change" he said, referring to the assassin, in his
mind He makes the same affirmation he has always
made concerning his inspiration. and indulges
IN the same denunciatlon of the power by which
he s 10 be hanged, declaring at the time that
he has no fear of any personal suffering he may be
called on to undergo He calls down maledictions
upon the Nation, if he is TO be hanged He seems
to be possessed with that spirit At the same time
he is devout and religious, though not repentant,
and exhibits little or no emotion"
TIE TRIBUNE correspondent referred to the fact
that while Guiteau making his strongest relig-
ious professions during the trial there was no conn
terpart to it in his daily life 10 exhibition of
religious feeling.
"Yes." said DR.. Hicks, "hc accounts for that by
saying that he badgered, misunderstood NAL
treated had no defence and not allowed TO urge
his theory of the 1t irrtated him. This is
his own explanation. ] had never seen him until
was called to act as his spiritual adviser. | was
somewhat prepared to exhibitions of violence,
rage, perhaps vindctveness and malice and | was
agreeably surprised TO find that there was nothing
of the sort in his intercourse with me. In our first
interviews | necessarily examined him upon his
theory of his act and his general moral state. We
went over the whole ground he doing most of the
talking and / listening and questioning HIM at
many points, in order to get at his motive and lead
him, if | could to an impression of his guilt"
81 soon saw that he was profoundly IN earnest.
lie believes that he is inspired. He is thoroughly
Indifferent at tins time to his physical fate. The
only thing which dsturbs him is for one to advance
the theory of insanity. He protests against that
with all his might and pleads with me in the most
earnest way to save him from the disgrace of being
considered an insane man, and to write him down to
history as sane. He says that is the greatest burden
he has to bear. He expresses a readiness 10 die,
and to die on the scaffod fit Gods WILL although
ho predicts fearful results from Gods wrath
against the Nation. His descriptions OF what
will come to pass are very iIri1, and to
save thc Nation that disgrace he would be
willing be says, to accept an unconditional pa dom
lie is willing 70 accept respite Tor two or three
moaths, not for the purpose of having the question
of his sanity tested but in order that he may edu-
cate the people OF the country up to TO his point of
belief He says that he does not object to any in
vestigation these cranks may make; that he
would submit to it for the satisfaction of the
'cranks' but that his only object IN being willing
to be repreyed would be that stated.
He Is a phenomenon. There is no understanding
him. unless you say hc is insane But do not con-
slider myself competent 10 give an opinion upon the
sanity or insanity of the l see some of the
papers have credited me with saying that l did
not believe that he insane.
have not said it, 1t is only upon
the suppositon of his sincerity that you can argue
with him. You can overthrow him, and he will
acknowledge that he il beaten and tlS1A you toT
your superior in nformatiOn and rectfy his views but
there is no other way to reach him. | soon found
that if attempted any other he shut the bars down
rl, hntTa tala
care not to go too far with him. and in that way
| have acquired considerable influence over
him when he if exasperated thinks he has
some little personal grievance, five minutes talk
reconcile, him to his surroundings and he becomes
agreeable gcntiemany and quiet. He joins in
prayer without egOtism. He is very humble
in his prayers and peculiar In his
use of words. Hi, prayers are almost always com
posed of crptural phrases, showing his familiarity
with the Bible He Is well acquainted with certain
lines of Bible truth, especially in the life and
teaching, of Christ He can repeat readily, and al
most entire. chapters from the Gospel of John. In
his prayers, for example, no addresses God as
righteous Father phrase used by the Saviour.
''In my first talks with him he rather fond Of
drifting away from his own case. l think 1t grew
out of the great desire his part to put me in pos
session of his peculiar views. When this had been
him 10 any given subject until it exhausted.
For instance, / would ask him TO dwell
upon certain chapter set OF phrases, to mediate
uuon them ana give me his views on the next day.
On the morrow | would find him well pre-
pared iust rs if it had been a Sunday y-schoOl
lesson. Sometimes he would give some stIlk-
ing thoughts of his own, always expressed
III the terscst language. That is marHed
characteristic Of hs lie IS usually senlentIous, al
most ep 1ammatic. He shows little or no emotion
and little OF 70 feeling concerning his ieatiyes
speaks of them only with the most g neral terms
of affection. lie says he has been alienated from
his people for many years,inl could no, waste time
irving to convince them OF his theories of Inspiration
The only time he has ever spoken OF any OF them
with ANYTHING ike feeling was once wien he re-
ferrcd to has sister, and then he shaded lis words
very neatly HIS choice OF words IS often admira
He spends most of ms time in reading the Bible
bu; hc has no OtncT rcngIous books. lie mas beeh
greatly interested during the last day OF TWO, since
/ informed hun of the failure ol the applca-
ton fOr "A stay, IN The question OF deaii, Gcsui-
actual f. OF Christ. lie discusses these very intel
hgeutiy and III way that Is very interesting 20 ne.
Will constantly obtrude itself that the man
is 10 die his talk would seem bright,
practical and hOpeluljus as II he was looking lOI-
ward 10 "a long life IN winch to practice lis ldeas;
He thinks hc has been greatly misunderstood ana
abused by the press, ana Is exceedingly anxious
tna he sIall be- und 'rsOOd, his woids studied, his
motives thoroughly consideTe.i, and the result of
nls act wei lhcd in the light of his inspira-
ton. lie insists upon it that he saved tie
Nation from great disaster, aAd pIOphcsleS tbdt
the time will come when all men VIII agree to 1T, but
100 latc 10 save him. lie fuily realizes tna and he
speaks of ~ very checriully. lie says life would
lose all attrctlv Tor hn If lie should De NEAR
ceraIed i'll an asylum or prison. lie al
ways expresses great desire Tor me,
never thlt he may save himself
but that he may carry out ms
purpose OF Instructng the world IN his theories Vi
Christian truth, he Deiieyng hm>cf TO be especl-
ally inspired. Ills faVOre expression you Know, Is
tna he Is GOds man. lie says that ii II l. God
viii that Inc should 20, he has IL compliant. as