Charles Guiteau Papers, 1881 - 1924

Summary

Creator:
Guiteau, Charles J. (Charles Julius), 1841-1882
Abstract:
This collection contains papers on the trial of Charles Guiteau, who was the assassin of President James A. Garfield. The collection has no series and needs to be reprocessed.
Extent:
2 boxes 1.80 linear feet
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The papers pertain to the trial of Guiteau for the assassination of President Garfield. The documents consist chiefly of trial notes of John K. Porter, the prosecuting attorney, and his preparation for trial. Included are legal notes on testimony of expert witnesses in cases of insanity, notes on his delusion, and notes on the trials of Ludwig Steiner and Mary Harris, both for murder involving legal insanity. Some of the trial notes contain numerous interesting quotes from Guiteau. Among other papers, there are a list of witnesses for the prosecution that served on the defense (including Guiteau's brother, John), lists of expert witnesses examined by the government and by the defense, legal precedents on insanity pleas, and a summary of Guiteau's evidence. Two printed pamphlets are also in the collection: "Memorial Address on the Life and Character of James Abram Garfield," by Hon. James G. Blaine, and "A Protest Against the Destruction of Jury Trials," which is a reprint of a speech by James Garfield about the Milligan case trial in 1866. The range in dates of the collection is 1881 - 1885, with the publication date for the reprint being 1912. There are postcards and a bulletin regarding Garfield's health, photographs and autographs of Guiteau, poems written on the assassination of Garfield, news clippings and related material, 1881-1882.

Biographical / historical:

Charles Julius Guiteau was the assassin of President James A. Garfield. He shot the President on July 2, 1881, and Garfield died on September 19, 1881. The trial is considered important in forensic psychiatry and hinges on the issue of moral insanity. Guiteau wanted to be proved sane, stating that his act was committed for the greater good of the country and was sanctioned under orders from "Jesus Christ & Company." Judge John K. Porter, the eminent prosecuting attorney, was successful in proving Guiteau sane enough to differentiate between right and wrong, the definition of criminal responsibility under the M'Naghten Rule. The trial also continued the controversy over the extent to which heredity and environment contributed to aberrant behavior. The trial began in the fall of 1881 and was completed in January 1882. Guiteau was hanged June 30 of that year.

Acquisition information:
The Charles Guiteau Papers relating to the assassination of President James Garfield were purchased at auction from Charles Hamilton with funds provided by Mr. Mrs. Charles H. Blatt and donated by Bernard Diamond and Bert Hansen.

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions on this material.

Terms of access:

Written permission must be obtained from the Oskar Diethelm Library and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Location of this collection:
DeWitt Wallace Institute of Psychiatry: History, Policy and the Arts
Weill Cornell Medical College
525 East 68th Street, Box 140
New York, NY 10065, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
212-746-3728