Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-09

NIX
DIR. Spitxka.
in session in this city. Apart from the
prominent part he played in one of the
great tragedies Of the nation, he is a man
of interesting personality, a ready speaker
and a man Of culture. A Star reporter call
ed upon him at his hotel yesterday after
noon and had long and pleasant remi-
niscent chat about the details of that great
murder trial and the incidents that led to
his own connection with 1t. Much of what
ne said was matter that has never been
made public before.
Il am glad to have my side of the matter
printed In The Star" said DR.. Spitzka, for
Washington was the place where l first
came before the public eye, and inasmuch
~ as i. was not IN a pleasant manner at all
IL now seems like case Of poetic justice
that 1 should have a chance to give the
reasons for the attitude I took then in the
columns of The Star a paper that SO fully
reported an that l had to say at the time.
do not know that have acted wisely in
keeping quiet for so long, but I will tell
you all about 1t now.
His First Impressions of Guiteau
when the assassination of President
Garfield occurred there were so many doc
uments introduced that 1 came to the con-
clusion that there was serious doubt as to
the sanity Of Guiteau. There was an edi-
torial printed in a medical review at the
time dealing with the question Of Guiteaus
sanity that was ignoramus-like, II
may use the phrase, that l considered 1t
my duty to science to write a scientific cor
rection Of the statements there made.
was as far from seeking notoriety then as
now, and l signed my article 'Philalethus.'
prof. Francis Hastings Hamilton who
treated President Garfield. had kindly
feeling toward me. and he recommended
me as an expert medical witness for the
counsel for the government. Judge Porter
called and aDnrOached in New
York with reference to the matter. l felt
then. as young and poor man and only
known through the medium Of a few prize
essays. very much flattered by such an
offer from a man who seemed to be both
scholar and a gentleman.
II soon came to the opinion that had
been mistaken on both counts. for he I'M
blushingly told me that no medical witness
would be called who would not commit HIM
self to the statement, In advance, that
Guiteau was not only responsible, but Of
sound mind, aside from the question Of re-
sponsibility. ] told Judge Porter that had
knowledge Of so many collateral facts that
they justified me in cautioning him that
might, on examination of Guiteau. find him
to be of unsound mind: that would never
testify in a case without a personal ex-
animation. and that the alternatives Of the
side that employed me would be either to
accept my report or not to have my evil
dence at all. He said that his instructions
were such that he regretted not being able
to comply with my conditions.
subpOenaed by Mrs. ScOvi1le.
"A month or SO after that received a
subpoena from Mr.. Scoville, Guteau's broth
er-in-law and counsel, to appear as a wit
ness for the defense. AS knew perfectly
well how unpopular an attitude a man
might have to take II he found the prisoner
insane, I wrote, rather fn"'gnantly, ask
ing Mr.. Scoviile what he meant by sending
a subpoena to man who had not eX-
official OpfniOn about Gllftoal.
had never known him, and never examined
him, and had already declined to examine
him on behalf of the government. l re-
ceived a very courteous response. an apollo
gy, in fact, and forgot all about the trial
as far as l was personally concerned until
/ received a note containing these words:
Owing to the great stress under which
labor in defending Guiteau. and honestly
believing him to be insane, and knowing
from several sources as well as from your
general reputation that when once convinc-
ed of the truth. and compelled to testify,
no matter how reluctantly. you will have
the courage OF your scientific convictions, l
shall have an attachment issued against
your person unless you signify your inten-
ton of attending voluntarily This was af-
ter the defense had begun. I paid no fur
Their attention to the matter. for j did not
suppose l could be compelled to go to
Washington under compulsory process. All
this that am telling you now has never
been made public before, though 1t has
II was very reluctant to go.and as 1t turn
ed out my professional practice received a
hard blow for six months for the testimony
/ gave on the stand. There was reaction
in the end that proved once more that it
Is the best plan to tell the truth, regardless
Of everything else.
Tried to Avoid Testifying.
''In order to avoid having to come to
Washington, I went off on Long Island to
visit friend and to hunt hares for the first
time in my life. One day on returning to
his house 1 learned from his wife that a
United States deputy marshal had called
there and had been inquiring in HickSville
had that they were really in earnest in
trying to find me- To avoid arrest I went
in carriage to a station farther from the
place where l was stopping, but when l
reached the New York ferry I found from
the afternoon papers that the marshais
had been to my Office. Even then I could
have eluded them, but my wife was So
much worried by these men that 1 packed
went to the house of a friend Of mine. and
he said to me: 'Spitzka. If you are suro af-
ter examining Guiteau that he Is insane,
go right ahead. Refuse to testify. Make
them compel you to, and then be perfectly
fearless
II remember 1 arrived in Washington on
a Friday. Court had adjourned over Sat
urday and Sunday, and during those three
tectiva He followed me everywhere. l
was a young man then, and i led him a
merry chase. 1t did not occur to me. how
ever, until 1 was on the witness stand and
being subjected to cross-examination that
their object in shadowing me this way was
to try to get me into some compromising
position that they might use as fit matter
for cross-examinatiOn to show what man.
ner of man / was. No one ever had great
er occasion than / had to be thankful to
the teachings of his parents never to SO
into any place where he would be ashamed
to be seen in daylight.
Mr.. Scoville called on me at the fremont
House. He said that the defense could COM
pei me to testify. He gave me the testi-
mony of the other physicians for the de-
Tense, and 1 found that it was all hypO-
thetical, and rather than testify hypotheti-
cally. 1 preferred. If compelled to testify
to examine the prisoner first"
His Present Opinion.
DR.. Spitzka after recalling some Of the
scenes that occurred during his long cross
examination went on to say:
After these digressions I may state
briefly what my present opinion concerning
Guiteau's mentax state is.
early In life Guiteau showed signs of de-