The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-06-23
GUITEAU.

1t has developed that Guiteau IS
not without friends; or rather, it
has developed that there are still
persons entertaining the idea of a
possibility of his being insane, and
these are persons other than his
counsel and his sister. On Thurs
day, by appointment, several
doctors and lady had an interview
with President Arthur on the sub
iect of giving Guiteau a reprieVe,
presenting a petition and making a
personal appeal to that effect. The
delay was asked that commission
might be appointed to make a thor
o ugh examination into the question
OF the assassin's lunacy. The petit
ton was received and a promise
made that the matter would be
submitted to the encouragement.
Notwithstanding his appeal there
is no reasonable probability that
Guiteau will escape death; and
it will always remain question
in the minds Of many whether an
insane man, or an assassin, muir
dered Garfield. While the reprieve
is not likely to be granted, it GER
tainIy could be of no harm; and
though every reason conspires to
convince one that the appointment
of the proposed medical commission
would result simply in a renewal Of
the declaration that Guiteau was
fully responsible for his act, such a
course would allay the feeling which
will otherwise exist that an irrespOn-
sible person has been executed for
a crime for the commission Of which
he was unjustly held amenable. Of
course, if the government is deter
mined to have an eye for an eye, and
so on, if the object is for revenge,
the sooner Guiteau is put out of the
way, the more speedily will this
rooted public desire be satiated,.
If Justice is wished, the ends
of justice can be as well salts
fed in two or three months from
now. Guiteau has had ha1d road
to travel if he is insane. The pub
lie has refused to believe him so,
and though he may be as mad as a
March hare, in the past state of pub
lie feeling he would still have been
responsible. The jury which tried
him, being American citizens, must
have noted the hatred to Guiteau,
but they could decide no other way
than they did, as there was no Ques-
ton as to the killing, the whole mat
ter resting ON the testimony of
crank experts. Any jury Of laymen
would be forced to decide with the
preponderanee of expert testimony;
this testimony must have also been
more or less affected by the Univer-
sal sentiment against a belief in
Guiteau's insanity. Under these
circumstances, what would be really
and truly a fair trial, was a matter of
impossibility at the time of the trial
anyway.
Now comes the petition for Presi-
dent Arthur to reprieve Glliteau.
1t must be very trying matter for
Arthur to determine. A still en-
ragged public watches him closely,
many evil mouths ready on the
slightest provocation to renew his
alleged interested completely with
the assassin in the great but das-
tardIy deed. It is unnatural to sup
pose that the President can keep
these thoughts from his mind.
However free from bias he may be
by nature, the circumstances sur
rounding the case must have made
such deep and lasting impression
o u his mind, and that impression
is one which will not he favorable
to the asSaSsin's cause. Guiteau is
surrounded by a natien Of enemies
what is morally looked upon as a
fair hearing will be a moral impos-
sibility i'll his case.
1t may be better that the contro.
versy about his sanity be brought
to speedy close, by placing him
within the arms Of the grave; and
whether he is sane or insane, a
great nation yet mourning the loss
of a beloved President, will believe
his death is a just retri-
button for an heinous offense; it
will be warning to others, whether
sound or imbecile, that the United
States will never encourage assas-
sins of any class whatever.