Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1881 — THE GUITEAU TRIAL. [ARTICLE]

THE GUITEAU TRIAL.

TWENTY-THIRD DAT. , The day was devoted to the examination of Dr. Edward Charles Spitzga, of New York, who claimed to have made the study of nervous and mental disease! a specialty. He had, on the preceding day, examined the prisoner in jail, and was satisfied of hia insanity. He considered the mam features of the prisoner s case to be a tendency to the formation of delusive opinions and morbid projects, and strong indication of imbecility of judgment. “And while,” said witness, “ I have no other evidence tuau the expression of his face, I should hive no doubt that he is a moral imbecile or mora monstrosity.” __ Witness would not undertake to exp ice. a'dr cided opinion as to the mental condition of th< prisoner July 2. Guiteau—“ There was no depravity abou this business-at all, and I tbink it is a burning shame for gentlemen of ihe prosecution to nai f upon that word depravity. I have been a consis tent Christian all my life, and because I com mitted adultery to get rid of a woman I did no love, and owe a few hundred dollars, it is i burning shame for the prosecuu on to blackei mV character.” Despite cries of “Silence, silence,” and “Order,” Guiteau continued, to strike upon tin table and shriek out at the top of ins voice “ I am not afraid to go to the gallows if the Lord Almighty wishes me to go there. I expect an act of God that will blow this court and jury out that window to protect me, it necessary. I want to thunder this m the eari of the American people.” Davidge (with an air of disgust)—“Ob, this pantomime business is getting played out !” Guiteau—“ You aro getting played out, and your theory of prosecution, too.” About this time some one m the audience, incensed at the assassin’s impertinence, created a sensation by crying out, ” Shoot him now 1 ” The bailiffs restored order after a few moments, and the Inal preceded. Col. Corkliill sharply questioned the witness in regard to an article he had contributed to a medical journal. A spicy colloquy lollowed, whi h Guiteau int riuptbd by snouting: “It seems to cause you considerable trouble. You bad bettor cool olf, Corkliill. I haven’t seen you heated so bolore. It’s 3 o'clock. We had better go 1 ome.” The witness was asked if he had not appeared as an expert in a certain case, and, after taking a fee on ono s.de, returned it, and taken. a larger one from tho other side. The witness replied with somo warmth, “You have uo basis for such a question ; and uo man dares make the assertion upon which he could found it.” Guiteau again interrupted in a groat rage, and, in a voice whch completely drowned the utteraiicis of the counsel and witness, felled out : “ That’s a very dirty question for you to ask, Corkliill. It just suits your brain. I’m going to ask Arthur lo kick you out of this case. Why, this man :s one of the first scientists of the country. Why, he would’nt condescend to spit on you, Corkliill. You are in bad repute, Corkhill, with every member of this bar. You are an unmitigated nuisance in this case.” The witness finally answered, “Most decidedly, no.” The court adjourned without concluding the examination. TWENTY-FOURTH DAY. Dr. Rpitzka resumed the witnosg stand. Corkhill handed to witness a slip of paper upon which was drawn a diagram and human head, and said: “Now, supposing this to bo the prisoner’s bead, will you please point out the inequalities to which you referred yesterday ?" Before any reply could be made Guitoau raised a laugh by saying : “ That accounts for it. A Lattor camo to see mo this morning and offered me a hat if I would let him take my Bead. I got the liar, but you don’t pay for it, Corkhill. Oh, uo, the Government will havo to do so.” Witness went on, giving his reasons for considering the prisoner insane. Upon a question being asked by Corkhill, Guiteau broke in with : “I have been looking up your record, Corkhill, and I’ll show you up.” Subsequently, Guiteau again interrupted the examination, and shouted : “I see that craDk, Tahnago, has been doing some sensationalism business in this case. He had better go slow. He has been before his synod sevoral tmi :s for lying. I have got my eve on several of these cranks, and if they don't go slow I’ll give some more of them some freo advertising. The high-toned portion of tho American people are beginning to tako the right view of this case.” Witness thought the proper way to summon experts would bo for the court to summon them, irrespective of the chauces of what tneir testimony might be. Corkhill insisted the witness had attacked the character and honesty of the experts who were supposed to entertain opposite opinions from hints'if on the prisoner’s sanity. Gui eau interrupted iu his most angry mood, and. shaking his head at Col. Corkhill, shouted : “It’s the unanimous judgment of the American people that you aie' a consummate jackass, Corkhill. This gentleman is an honest man, and if your skull was not so thick yon would tee it,.”

Witness desired to explain his position, and said ; “I do not hesitate to reiterato my opinion that the expert who will in this court testify that the prisoner is sane is iu my opinion, no expert, or a dishonest one.” Dr. Fordyee Barker, of New York, was next examined. The audience listened intently as the distinguished physician defined insanity and the several phases thereof. Dr. Barker’s comprehensive and positive conclusions were all in accord with the theory of the prosecution. Judge Cox requesicd witness to explain to the jury what he meant by irresistible impulse, and the answer was: “Perversions of emotion to such a degree as to produco conduct entirely at variance with the individual’s former life, and to such a degree as to completely control the will power, constitute an irresistible impulse.” Guiteau—“ Doctor, I want to ask you, where a man is impelled to commit crime by an impulse ho can’t resist, is he sano or insane?” Answer—“ When that fact can bo proved, sir, it is insanity.” Guiteau— “ That’s just my case, sir,” with an air of perfect satisfaction; then, turning to Scoville: “ Come, that’s the whole case. Now let's have recess. I’m getting hungry.” Mrs. Seovillo desired to ask a question. Guiteau (impatiently.)—“ Oh, you keep still; it’s all they can do to pmt up with me.” Judge Cox assented, and Mrs. Scoville asked: “ Can a man be born insaue?” Answer—“No, madamo ; he could be bom an idiot or imbecile. Insanity is an acquired state after birth.” Dr. Barker, in answer to a question, declared positively that he thought Guiteau responsible for his crime. Mr. Gobell, in fho insurance business, H. T. Ketcham, a lawyer, Mr. Wood, and Samuel D. Phelps, a broker, each testified to the perfect saneness of the assassin, whose bitterness of language increased as the insanity dodge wa# weakened by their evidence. TWENTY-FIFTH DAT. Ilev. Dr. John L. Withrow, of Boston, was placed upon the witness stand. Ho said the prisoner desired to deliver a lecture in his (witness’) church, in answer to Ingersoll, but witness declined to have the church used for that purpose, Witness observed him during the winter at meetings and social gatherings of the church. Never saw the least indication of unsoundueis of mind, but, on the contrary, thought he possessed unusual shrewdness. Cori eeting himself, witness added : “ I should say cutencss.” Guiteau—“ What’s the difference, doctor?” Answer —“ The one means brighter than the other.” Col. Corkhill—“And of larger caliber.” Guiteau— “He didn’t say that, Corkhill. You must have slept well last night. That’s the smartest thing you have said yet.” Witness said the prisoner generally took part in discussions upon whatever subject might be under discussion ; that he was always critical and accusative rather than concilatory and kind. Guiteau—“l always spoke to the point, incisive and gritty. That’s me. There’s no nonsense or romance in'my composition. If there had been I might have gone through the world more smoothly. It’s very evident to the mind of every one that the sole object of this kind of examination is to show that I knew the difference between right and wrong. That has nothing whatever to do with this case. The only question is, whether or not my free moral agency was destroyed when I was impelled upon the President. That’s the point, Judge; and it knocks the bottom out of your theory.” After a short pause he broke ent again, and with increased vehemence : “ I’m not here to save my neck from the gallows. I’m here for vindication, for justice, and for right.” . Judge Cox—“ Well, that will do now. -Suspend your remarks.” Guiteau--- 11 All right. When I get to the jury I am going to talk to them on this subject, This is just ahttle incident*! speech.”

Charles A. Bryan, of the New York Equitable Life Insurance Company, knew the prisoner in New York. Witness was proceeding to relate the circumstances of Gnitean’s connection with bis company, when Guiteau indignantly shouted: “Well, now, I want to say right here, when a witness comes here and tells what is false I shall tell him, You are mistaken, sir; that is false; that is a he; and, finally, you are a miserable whelp ; that is as far as I shall go. It’s equivalent to the bar-room expression, ‘Go down below,’ but 1 don’t go that far.” Witness said the prisoner asked a loan on the strength of a Consulship he was to have. He considered him sane. Henry M. Collier, attorney, of Newark, took the stand. : - “I remember you, sir,” shouted Guiteau. “If you are the man that put up that Herald job on me—. Keep quiet, sir (turning to Scoville). I will dispose of this man in short order. He brought suit against me to pay over certain money, and the court ruled I should keep it. That kills liis evidence.” Witness related an instance of Gniteau’s collecting $175, and failing to pay it over. His evidence proved extremely damaging to the Erisoner’s oft-asserted claim of having always ved an upright Christian life, and Guiteau wriggled and expostulated, and vainly attempted to explain the transaction. Witness at one Doint said : “ I informed Judge Donahue at that time that I considered Guiteau a thief and a scoundrel.” Guiteau (excitedly)—“You did not dare say so to me. 1 would have knocked you down.” One of the jurors here stated to the court that he was too ill to concentrate his thoughts on the evidence, and an adjournment was taken. TWENTY-SIXTH DAT. At the opening of the trial the assassin addressed the court and said : “I want to make a little speech. It will be a great misfortune if anything should happen to this jury. They are very honest, intelligent men, and I want the be st care taken of them. There aro some of them who are not acoustomed to good wholesome food, and consequently. are liable to havo indigestion. ■ 1 want the court to order them out every morning before breakfast for a walk ol four or five miles. I havo two or three more little speeches to make, but this will do for the present.” Judge Cox—" The court wiH attend to the wints of the jury.” J. M Justice, ’a lawyer, of Logansport, Tnd., met the prisoner iu 1878. Tue prisoner was selling a book entitled “The Life of Moody.” Guiteau —“Well, you aro a liar, sir—a miserable liar. That is the best way to dispose of you.” Witness, continuing, said the prisoner remained in Logansport about three weeks, selling the book. Guiteau continually interjected abusive comments, and finally shouted : “ You miserable whelp, to come in here and make me out as u book agent I was preaching the gospel and l sold my own productions.” Rev. Rush K. Shippen testified that in three months’ intercourse in a boarding-house he saw in the prisoner no signs of insanity. Dr. Noble Young, the jail physician, swore that the accused is perfectly sane. Mrs. Scoville desired to ask a question, saying that her husband did not know how to do so. When she had written it out, Guiteau ordered her to attend to her own affairs, and the witness was dismissed. Guiteau gradually worked himself into a towering rage, and declared against tho witness, the prosecution and the cranks, whom he claimed threatened him with violence, his Liilingfgate being especially directed against the Prosecuting Attorney. Referring to Co!. Corkhill he said : “He is getting too dirty and too stinking to live, and the first thing he knows God Almighty will take him off and send him down below.” The most important witness examined during the day was Gen. Joseph 8. Reynolds, of Chicago, m whose office the assassin studied law. The evidence of Gen. Reynolds went to show that Guiteau never thought of tho inspiration theory oi defense until the 14th of July, and do; then until he was iu formed by Gen. Reynold, that Gen. Grant, Mr. Conkling and the Stal warts as severely condemned hie crime am. himself as the warmest friend of President Garfield. This announcement seemed to strik. terror to tho heart of Gui.eau. Ho expected that there would be a reaction of public feeling iu his favor; that, as Gen. Arthur would benefit by bis crime, he would therefore condone it. When he found how much mistaken he was he fell back on the inspiration theory. Gen. Reynolds’ evidence had a very marked effect on tin assassin. He seemed to be thoroughly dis mayed and terrified, and his anger found ven. in the foulest abuse of tho witness and the District Attorney. TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY. The Prosecuting Attorney was a little late in reaching the Criminal Court, and Guiteau improved the opportunity to make one of his little speeches “To put in time.” Looking over tho vacant seat, he said, with a chuckle: “I understand Gen. Reynolds is sick this morniDg: I wonder if Corkhill is. -I guess they got more than they wanted yesterday. It’s about time for Corkhill to get sick, and stay sick.” The first witness cdlled was Deputy Clerk r>arnard, of the New York Supreme Court, who presented the record in the divorce case of the prisoner. Tho prisoner shouted out that he committed adultery to get rid of a woman he did not love.

Gen. Joseph 8. Reynolds, of Chicago, was called. Guiteau at once broke in, petulantly, saying, “ I hope you will cut off Gen. Reynolds and not waste any more time on him. He told all ho knows about this case, and a good deal more.” Scoville cross-examined the witness. Guiteau frequently interrupted, contradicted and insulted tlie witness. At one time he shouted out.: “ I would have been hung a hundred times iu July last but for the national troops, and all through your lying and Coikhill’s. I’m going to get even with both of you, too.” Witness explained that when he visited Gnitoau his trial bad not been arranged. President Garfield was still living, and he (witness) had no thought of being subpoenaed as a witness. “ You lie !” shouted Guiteau. “ You came to my cell as a spy in the employ of tho District Attorney.’’ Ger. Reynolds read from notes he had taken on the occasion of his first interview with Guiteau. Quoting the prisoner’s words, he read : “If there is a stalwart in the land, I am he. Grant, Conkling, Logan and Gov. Cornell are big guns among the stalwarts, and I rank with them.” Guiteau retorted: “ I never said I could rank with them; but as a matter of fact I think I can.” . A number of newspaper slips which witness had read to the prisoner at this interview, to siiow him what were the sentiments of Grant, Conkling and others m regard to his (the prisoner’s) crime, were then read by the District Attorney. When the letter of Gen. Grant’s was read, in which the writer, speaking of Guiteau, said : “My sou tells me he is a dead-beat,” Guiteau became very angry and shouted: “This id what Fred Grant says. He’s a nice pill ; isn’t he? Hanging around his father. I should say he is a bigger dead-beat than I am.” Another passage was read, wljch spoke of Guiteau’s crime ns a “most andacious act.” Guiteau interrupted : “And so it was, to enter that depot and shoot down the President of the Unfied - States, sun ounded as it was by all his friends. I have wondered at it a good many times—how I ever did it I thought to rtvself this morning I would not undertake it again for a million dollars, bat I was in such a desperate state of mind I could not resist. I was impelled upon the President by a pressure I could not resist” Ellen 0. Grant was called, apd Guiteau shouted: “Mrs. Grant is the lady I boarded with prior to the Ist of July. She is a very fine lady, and I owe her $47. I trust I shall pay you soon, Mrs. Grnftt. As soon as these fellows holding fat offices shall respond to my call (striking the table excitedly). I made them. If they don’t soon contribute I shall call out their names in meeting.” Witness the prisoner was insane. Mrs. Anna S. Dunmore, Guitean’s divorced wife, was then called to the witness stand. She testified in very plain language that she never thought the assassin was insane. Foi a wonder Guiteau kept quiet while she was giving her testimony, which was probably owing to the fact that’her present husband stood by her while she was testifying. -