Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-02
TRIAL Of aUl1EAu.
DR.. Gray's Testimony Con.
tinued.
He Pronounces Guiteau Sane.
WAsH1xG1ox. Dec. 81.

daughter, 10 which the jury heartily joined.
DIR. GRAY took the stand and resumed The
story Of his conversation with the prisoner in
the Jail. Guiteau interrupted him, saving,
THAT don't correspond with your story
yesterday. You went into the inspiration
lhen-'
Scoville objected to the statement of the
witness. He said nothing of inspiration or
Divine pressure and charged that the witness
must give the conversation in substance as it
occurred; that it would be the pleasure of the
jury to say what should be inferred from it.
Witness qualified the statement by adding,
~ asked him questio rs and INV statement is
based on his replies" Witness said, the
prisoner used the expression ''when l made
up my mind"
Guiteau shouted out here: Making up my
mind was the result of the grinding pres
sure. That's where the inspiration comes in.
Please get that straight while you are about
it.
Scoville again objected that the witness
was losing sight of the question and going
into an argument.
Guteau-He has forgotten what he testi-
fed yesterday. Corkhill must have gotten
hold of him and instructed him what to say
today. That's what's the matter with him.
Scoville disclaimed any desire to interrupt
the witness but the prosecution held him to
the strict requirement that he should. make
his objects specifically and he must therefore
stop the witness at any point where he was
satisfied an object would lie.
Guiteau continually interjected comments,
and with Scoville's frequent objections, the
witness became seriously disturbed and when
asked TO go on said ''There has been so many
interruptions that don't know where / am. .
Guiteaa quickly retorted: 1 shouldn't
think you did or any one else. l have been
trying all the morning to find out where you
are. The fact is you are badly lost this
morning. We will have to send boy to
find you.
Witness was about to state some reasons
which induced him (witness) to form the
opinion that the prisoner was sane at the
time he visited him in the Jail when Guiteau
again interrupted and called out
DIR. Gray is devoting himself to an argu-
ment to the jury this morning, which he has
no right to do. He should confine himself to
the facts. Porter will take care of the argu-
ments. Judge Porter mean.
ScoviIle again objected that the witness
was volunteering an argument instead of
adhereing to a statement of facts. The wit
ness with some feeling replied: l am under
oath, Mr.. Scoville, and don't care to volun-
teer anything which is not strictly and sp-
propriately evidence in the case.
Guiteau-Then you had better stop talk
ing if you don't want to volunteer ANYTHING.
Witness had seen number of cases where
persons labOring under insane delusions had
committed acts of violence and had after
wards recovered their sanity, but did not re-
call an insanse of recovery within a shorter
period than three months.
Witness was asked to give his opinion on
''heredity" and replied:
1t is the transmission of likeness and sim
ilitude. 1t is the rule in physical character
istics but in the transmission of susceptibility
to disease it is the exception-an accident
and not the rule.
Witness had never heard the word ''pres-
sure" used in connection with an insane case
other than in physical sense. He presum-
ed it might be used to indicate strength of
feeling. He did not think man acting under
Giving pressure who should commit a hom.
;cide would be apt to appeal to the law and
the civil authorities for protection from the
consequences of his act.
Witness did not find a single circumstance
as narrated by the prisoner that would indi-
cate to his (witness) mind insanity. He was
of the opinion, judging by his examination
of the prisoner in the Jail and from his OBJ
servation of him in the court that he was
sane at this time.
L Corkhill then read to the witness with the
apparent view of its vivisection, the hypo-
thetical question of the defence, and, turning
to Scoville, said, You see, Scoville, have
submitted your own question.
Scoville-Yes, only you do not read it
with the same emphasis that you do your
own.
Precisely so; because 1 don't believe in
it as do in mine"
Witness replied, wonld not like to an
swer that hypothetical question because it
evidently means to apply to the prisoner, and
could not answer it if referring to him.
Knowing what do of him from my own OBJ
servation and examination. could not an
swer it as hypothetical case because, in my
Judgment it does not describe an insane
state.
The witness then analysed the question
clause by clause and severely criticised it.
Col. Corkhill then read the lengthy hypo-
thetical questions of the prosecution.
Guiteau suggested that there was no neces-
sity to repeat THAT bosh,' as every body has
heard it dozen times.
The suggestion was unheeded and the pris-
oner added, Two-thirds of that is false and il
makes me mad every time hear it read As
the reading proceeded he continually called
out, That is false, all false, that's Smiths lie.
and similar expressions.
Witness replied, l believe him to have
been sane on July I'd.
Guteau shouted, The whole satisfaction
of that thing is false. How could the doctor
give truthful answer.
The witness then gave in full details
what he had observed in the conduct and saw
ings of the prisoner in the court that lead
him (witness) to believe in his insanity. Re-
ferring to the prisoners claim that the Deity
inspired the act, he was interrupted bv Gui-
teau, who called out, Yes, and He will take
care of it too, DR.. Gray, I'll stake my life on
it.
Witness was asked Do you think the
prisoner has been feigning in court, and re-
piled: Yes do; he claims an inspiration
from the Deity. do not believe that he be-
lieves any such thing, and in such sense he
is feigning and acting part
Guiteau-No such thing. never feign
You are paid for your opinion. but the jury
is not.
Scoville then began a cross examination.
The witness was asked if he had testified AZ
an expert in cases of persons on trial for
capital crimes, but before he could reply
Guiteau supplemented the question by shout
ing ont: H"'v many men have you helped
to hang?
Witness Is not aware of case where he