Home > Great American Court Cases > Charles Guiteau Trial

Prosecutor
United States

Defendant
Charles J. Guiteau

Crime Charged
Murder.

Chief Prosecutors
George Corkhill, Walter Davidge, John K. Porter, Elihu Root, E. B. Smith

Chief Defense Lawyers
Leigh Robinson, George Scoville

Judge
Walter Cox

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
13 January 1882

Decision
Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.

Significance
Guiteau's trial was one of the first murder trials in which the defendant's claim of insanity was subjected to the modern legal test: namely, whether or not Guiteau understood that his actions were wrong.

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