Evening star., 1931-12-13

Guiteau's defense In his trial for the
murder Of President Garfield was thst
:, of insanity. Numerous eX-
insanity perts were called to the
n.s. stand, both in his bahalf
ooiehse' and by the prosecution.
The Star of December 5, 1881, says:
James G. Kieman, the first expert
witness, was then called to the stand
and sworn.
first expert witness, was then called to
the stand and sworn.
Before any expert testimony be-
gins Guiteau exclaimed, I desire to
make a short speech. The very point
which I want the experts to pass upon
is this I have stated it repeatedly and
will do it again. When a man claims
that he Is impelled to do an Illegal act
from a power behind him, which he
cannot recall when his moral agency
is dominated; J want these experts to
say whether that is sanity or in
sanity
Or Kieman was continuing with his
testimony and. being examined with
reference to original insanity, mem
toned among other evidences a de-
formity of the head, one-half being
larger than the other.
That hits me exactly said the
prisoner. One side of my head Is
smaller than the other The doctors
were examining me the other night
When Mr. Corkhill, who had been
examining the witnesses, concluded. the
prisoner spoke up and asked: When
Hereditity numbus exists in a man.
doesn't that have to show itself sooner
or later?'
"The court permitted the witness to
reply, he said; Yes sir. 1t has to
show itself sooner or later. That's
all, said the prisoner, waving his hand
with an imperious air. Then speaking
to the court, the prisoner said: II the
political situation hadn't existed last
Spring there would have been no oc-
casion for this inspiration
THE witness was then submitted TO
a long examination by MFR Scoville rs
to cases which have come under his
observation. When a man undertook
to feign insanity, the witness said, he
generally first laid stress on a lack of
memory; then he claimed lack of
knowledge of ordinary events, and then
assumed incoherency In speech and
thought. The line between sanity and
insanity Is not always SO easily deter
mined.
My memory said the prisoner, lis
remarkably good, doctor. There is no
stimulation about me. I 60 straight al
ways
THE witness said it was easier to
determine whether a man was simulat-
ing insanity than to determine whether
he was insane. The witness having
said that out of rs persons there are
. who are not sane, and would
sooner or later be fit subjects for an
insane asylum, Mr. Davidge remarked:
"A most encouraging prospect for all
Of u.s.
They will take you, judge said
the prisoner with laugh, addressing
Mr.. Davidge.
Two of the jurors are doomed
said Mr., Davidge
Perhaps the lawyers will take their
places, said Mr.. Seoville,"
Later in the same day Col. Richard
hinton, editor OF the Sunday Gazette
Of Washington, testified that he had
seen the prisoner around the Republi~
can headquarters in New York in the
campaign of 1880 and had formed the
opinion that he was decidedly ILL.,
balanced, cranky egotist The witness
being asked what he thought OF The
prisoners speech, Garfield axninat
Hancock" said that he thought Il ri.
diculous
That's false!' yelled the prisoner.
and, turning to Mr.. Scoville, sddsd.
II you are Trying 10 make me out a
TOOL, stop. don't take any stock In
your line OF defense that am fool,
and ] have told you so 40 times i'm
private
THE witness then eontinuso. ys~
marking that Guiteau was a laugnrnx
stock about the committee rooms,
That's false!' yelled the prisoner.
I don't know anything about YOU
Turning to MIR. Scoville; IF YOU nut
any more such cranky fellows on he
stand I'll blow you up again."