Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
and his moral responsibility for the time

and his moral responsibility for the time
destroyed.
His counsel, consisting Of his brother
in-law, George Scoville. and Charles j.
Reed, ignored this plea entirely and en-
tered for him plea of insanity. The as
the presiding judge. Walter 8. Cox, the
right to act as his own counsel. and. fail
ing in this. put In his work In support OF
his theory by frequent Interruptions OF
counsel and witnesses. which sometimes
degenerated into violent abuse. open in
suit. and occasional obscenity. but al
ways pointed and purposeful.
1.-The defense introduced nearly two score
vor of the plea of insanity, and when they
rested their case 1t undoubtedly looked
strong. The prosecution proved the &C
tual killing and its incidents. and then
met the necessity for establishing the
moral responsibility Of the ASSASSIN by
calling a number Of the most eminent ex-
perts in the country, who testified: after
personal examination. to their belel IN
the prisoners sanity. and many OF them
agreed that his extravagant conduct IN
the courtroom was merely an acted or
over-acted part. Guiteau himself. during
the entire trial. displayed marvellous
uuickness of perception In regard 10
points that might make for or against
and a keenness Of comment and repartee
that stamped him, to my mind, a man OF
unusual ability and cleverness.
THE jury deliberated on the Verdict
just fifty-six minutes. and at the hour OF
5:36 O'Clock, on the evening Of January
*. 1882. / pronounced our verdict. The
scene in and around the courtroom at
that time battles all description: the
trial had commenced the 18th. OF the pre-
yious November. thus lacking in It's dura-
ton only ten days in filing out the meas
ure of three months. The only notable
event that occurred to any of us was the
death of Mr.. Hobbs wife. which caused
an intermission in the trial. l believe
and the nervous strain was probably evil
dent in our appearance at the close. An
affecting spectacle during the trial was
the devotion displayed by the prisoner
sister, Mrs Scoville.
"a number of side shows occurred dur
ing the course of the trial. One OF these
was the Betty and the baby incident.
which will still be recalled by many. This
was brought about by the attempted KILL
ing of Guiteau by Sergt Mason. Sergt.
Mason was one of the guard of soldiery
stationed around the jail. To use his
own language. he grew tired or riding
over the cobble stones every day to guard
such cur as Guiteau. and resolved to
put an end to him. When his detach-
ment came up on the morning Of the nth
of september, 1881. to relieve the night
guard at the Jail. Mason sprang out or
the wagon. walked to the window OF the
Jail at which the prisoner was most IRE
uuently SEEM raised his loaded musket
and fred at the scarcely visible figure in,
side. The bullet grazed Guiteau's head
and perforated his coat. hanging on the
wall behind. Sergt Mason promptly sur
rendered himself to his commanding Of
ficer and was duly put In jail Then 1t
was that d large portion of the public
grew almost wildly hysterical at discover
ing that Sergt. Mason had wife and
small child and subscription was put
on foot to provide for them during the