Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1881 — THE GUITEAU TRIAL. [ARTICLE]

THE GUITEAU TRIAL.

TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY. Dr. Frank H. Hamilton, of New York, was examined. His evidence was unfavorable to the defense, bearing as it did, against thu theory of insanity. Dr. Worcester, of Salem, Mass., who refused, when upon the stand for the defense, to answer the hypothetical question proposed by Scoville, testified that, ill nis opinion, the prisoner was a sane man. Guiteau (sharply)—“How much do you expect to get for that opinion, sir? I suppose that will be worth SSOO to you. That is the way (kukbill Is running, but I don’i think it will be worth a snap|with tnat jury—not a snap, sir.” Corkhill than read the hypothetical question, which covered all the material facts in the prisoner’s history from boyhood down to his act on the 2d of July, and inquired, “Assuming all these facts to be true, in your opinion, was the prisoner sane or insane when he killed tho President?” Answer—“ I believe bim to have been sane ” Guiteau (sneering ly) —“ Yes, sir, and you expect to get SSOO for y’our opinion.” All through tho reading of the hypothetical question Guiteau continually shouted, “ That’s false,” “Absolutely false.” At one time he said, “ That’s false, sir. Get tho facts right for your hypothesis, or whatever you call it. Judge Porter must have got that stuff up for you, Coi khill. You certainly have not got plains enough. “I want to say right here that CoL Corkhill has made a very good outward statement of facts, but he hasn’t touched at all upon what was going on in my mind at that time. That’s a matter for the jury, the court, the Deity and me to decide. \Ve four.” The witness staled that at ono lime ho be’ lieved that the prisoner was insane. He had however, changed his opinion, because ho no longer believeel to be true the statements upon which he had based his opinion before coming to Washington. Guiteau (impatiently)—“Don’t you understand, Scoville, that SSOO has modified his views. What’s the use of wasting time on bim? Let bim go !” Scoviile was about to resume the examination when Guiteau struck the table violently and called out: “ Make the matter short. It’s simply a matter of fact for the jury to determine whether my free agency was destroyed or not. I claim it was, and I won’t have you compromise my life, as you are doing, by your stupid, blunderbuss way of examining witnesses.’’ As the examination proceeded Guiteau frequently interrupted, and roundly abused Scoville for his incompetency, and' charged him with compromising his case. Turning toward (he Judge, Guiteau added, depreciatingly: “ Hcovillo is a perfect idiot in this matter, and between him and Corkhill I have a pretty hard time. [General iaughter.] I’m a goodnatured man [laughing], but I can’t 6tand a buzz, and when I’m buzzed I want to talk right back,” Scoville, who bad borne everything heretofore with apparent equanimity, seemed to feel very keenly this last evidence of heartless ingratitude. His voice trembled, and for a minute he was unable to go on. Even the prisoner realized the injustice of his conduct, and hastened to apologize, saying, “ You are doing very well, Scoville—to the best of your ability. Ceveral times afterward during the examination of Dr. Worcester Guiteau denounced Scoville, at one time with evident anger, and again with a sarcastic smile. “ Why, your Honor,” ho shouted out, “if I were indicted for manslaughter I would be hanged for murder if Scoville should defend me.” Mrs. Scoville reached over to speak to Guiteau, when he snarled at her : “ You keep your mouth shut. You're as big a fool as your husband. You’re a crank ou this business. If you had all stayed, in Chicago it would have been far better for my case. These relatives are a nuisance. 1 would bo better off if I didn’t have any. I would have plenty of friends if this pack of relatives were out of the way.” Mrs. Scoville whispered some expostulatory reply, when he turned again angrily and shouted : “You have been an unmitigated nuisance in this case all the waj through. ’ Then, changiug quickly from anger to mirth, he added with a laugh : “ You’re a queer lot, you Scovilles.” Adjourned. TWENTY-NINTH DAY.

Dr. Theodore Diamond, of Auburn, N. Y., was called to the stand. Witness believed, ludging by the evidence to which he had listened, including that of the prisoner himself, and from tho appearance and conduct of the prisoner, that he is a sane man. Tho hypothetical questions put to Dr. Wooster yesterday were then read to wimess, and he replied ; “I should say he was sane.” Witness was qnestioned at great length ; and, Uis answers indicating great conservatism of opinion, Scoville finally asked: “Well, doctor, how old do you think a physician ought to be before he iB able to distinguish between a sane and an inssno man?” While-s replied that ho himself was not yet old enough to distinguish between sane and in»ane pi oplo. Guiteau (laughingly)—“ That’s tho best thing )'ou iiave said yet, doctor. Ladies and gentlemen. you see I’m le. ting Scoville do most of the talking to-day ; I’m keeping quiet. “ I opened my mail myself this morning” (holding up twenty or more letters). “Pretty food mail, too, and only -one crank letter m the wnolo lot. All from high-toned people, too. Thoy are beginning to think better of me outsicK High-toned ladies are sending for my autograph. They think I’m a big man, but I don’t care a snap whether I’m a! big man or a little one.”

The prisoner busied himself reading his letters, md soon broke out again, saying : “Well, I <;id not notice this before, ladies and gentlemen, I have just received a letter from Dr. Spilzka, in which he says he has received 200 letters since he returned from Washington, all congratulating him upon his testimony ; that he has only received two threatening opes, and two from lunatics—a pretty good showing, I think, when he came on here for nothing and did nofc get a pent, while these ielloSvH are handsomely paid by the Government. Then, here is another one from Mr. Beatty.” Judge Cox—“ Well, that will do, prisoner. We have not time to listen to the reading of your correspondence.” Gniteau—“All right, sir.” The witness was asked if he thought it&kould 4)e any indication of insanity for a man « nature years, who honestly believed ho was inspired to kill the President of the United States, and who honestly believed that, when lis motives were known to the people, they would not only excuse but applaud ! his act, and replied : “If he honestly believed th it, and his wi.l was dominated by the convict oii, it would be ail indication of insanity.% Mr. S.oviile—“ If'it is not imperiineAt, Doci lor,, in this day and gen.ration, I will ask you if you have ever devoted any attention to the subject, or believe in inspiration?” Answer—“ Well, not specially.” Ouiteau—“Well, Doctor, if God could inanire a mail 2,000 years ego, why could He udtiaS so now ? Is there anything different in human n dm i ? Mr. SSoVille—“l havo no objection to your an wering, Doctor.' Th a ic-tiot was lead again to the witness, and he replied : “ If the Lord did inspire anybody 2.000 years ago, Ho can now, if He oiiooses.” Guiteau—-“That’s my idea. He not only can, bat He did in this case,”

When the witness was dismissed Guiteau shouted out: “ These experts may be all hightoned, honorable men, but, iu my opinion, they hang more men than the doctors kilL” Growing more and more excited, he declaimed for some minutes, and said : “ Gen. Garfield woutu ue auYe to-aay nau it not been for the doctors. They completed what my shot began. The Lord intended he should go, and so He let the doctors kill him. He didn’t die before his time, though,”