River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-08-18
THE PRISONER AT WASHINGTON
how He spends His Time life Does
Not Talk.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12.-Since the
first week of his confinement Guiteau
has not made much allusion to the
motives of his crime, when, before the
excitement passed away, he frequently
proclaimed himself as ''stalwart of
the stalwarts, and announced that he
had been inspired to commit the
crime. Heis not now communicative,
one reason being that he has no one to
communicate with. The guards at
the jail do not care to converse with
him. soldiers are not permitted 10.
There are three reliefs at the Jail, and,
consequently, only three guards come
in contact with the prisoners. The
soldier who does guard duty near his
cell Is relieved every six hours. 1t is
doubtful now whether Guiteau would
talk to any one about his crime The
district attorney and his stenographer
used to visit him frequently. During
the last week Col. Corkhill has not
been there at all. Guiteau has not ex-
pressed any desire to see him, or any
one else. When he wants to talk about
anything connected with his jail-life, or
any other subject, he asks to have the
warden, Gen. Croker, come to him.
He is said to be respectful in his lam
guage to all persons, and not profane
or abusive, as has been published. 81
have never known him to make use of
profane word, said Warden Croker,
she is not that kind of man" The
rule prohibiting any intercourse with
him by outsiders is strictly enforced.
Guiteau reads the Bible almost con-
stantly. The warden asked him yes
terday if he found any thing new in the
Bible, and he replied: II find many
things that | like to read" He has
been reported as being engaged i'll writ
ing material for his autobiography.
These reports arise out of the fact that
he was occupied for some time in writ
ing points about himself-where he
was born, place. where he had lived,
who his relatives were, etc, for the BEN
eft of the authorities. He is furnished
with paper and pen and ink when he
| wants to write. At first, he used his
time in revising a work called Truth, :"
| a sort OF commentary ON the Bible.
The greater part of the only edition of
this work ever published was destroyed
by fire at the place where it was printed
in Boston. Guiteaus liberty labor in
Jail seems to have been confined to
writing a new preface for this work.
He then gave up the task of revision.
WHY HE DID IT.
From what can be learned of Gui-
teau's idea, it is apparent that, in case
the president had been killed, he never
expected to suffer for the crime. He
had, in his fanatical frenzy, worked
himself up to pitch where he consid-
cred it his duty to remove the presi-
dent in order to make room for one
who, in lis opinion, would be more just
to all parties. He thought that, when
the change came, the people would
come to look at the matter in the same
light, and he would be regarded as a
public benefactor.
IN HIS CELL.
The portrait of President Garfield,
and other pictures which decorated the
wall of Guiteau's cell, put there by a
former prisoner of aesthetic taste, have
been removed from the wall. They
were taken down about two weeks ago,
when a new coat of whitewash was put
/ 41S