Omaha daily bee., 1881-07-14
BEHIND THE BARS.
How the Would-be Murderer Pass
es. His Time in Jail.

Washington Special to The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Gen. j. S. Crocker, warden of the
jail in which Guiteau is confined, was
visited by representative of The En-
quirer with a view to learning addi-
tional facts relative to the prisoners
actions since his confinement. The
general was ready and willing to con-
verse about his charge, and his story
in substance was that for two or three
days after his arrest the prisoner was
very restless, but lately had quoted
down and was now regarded as n of
the most |unconcerned prisoners in the
Jail. In reply to a question as to the
movements of the prisoner during the
day General Croker said: He usual
ly rises about 6 o'clock in the morn
ing, and occupies the time till break
fast is served in clearing up ibis cell.
AT 8 o'clock his breakfast is served,
and he shows "a good appetite and
digestion, always returning his plates
empty. Between breakfast and din
ner he spends his time lolling on the
cot, reading a Bible. He says he in
tends to read the Bible in sections,
commencing at Genesis. This is the
only reading matter at his disposal, as
the use of newspapers is positively
prohibited
For the first three days of his con-
finement he frequently inquired of
the guards for news of the presidents
condition. They had, however, been
instructed not to give any information
on this subject, and Guiteau has not
asked any for the past four days.
After dinner Guiteau walks around
the cell for exercise, but quickly re-
turns to a perusal of the Bible. He
says it diverts his mind from what has
occurred, and gives him relief. He
was asked on one occasion how he
pronounced his name, and replied 'as
though it was spelled 'Geto."
The prisoner is confined in q cell
eight feet long. five feet wide, and
ten feet high. 1t looks out upon a
corridor eighteen feet wide, and has
one window eighteen inches wide and
four feet high. Five bars run perpen-
dicularly, and are crossed by three
parallel bars, making the opening be-
tween each space about five inches by
ten The cell was last occupied by
Babe Bedford, executed last Novem-
Der, and before him by Percy Brown,
a grave robber and blackmailer, who
is now serving a term for the latter
otfense. Brown took pains to decorate
his cell with pictures from illustrated
papers, and four of these clippings are
the only decorations of the bare stone
walls. They are just above the cotton
which the prisoner sleeps and are MS
follows: At the top Of the cell cuts
of Washington and his wife; under
meath is a large-sized picture of Presi;
dent Garfield, and beneath this is a
cartoon from Puck, representing the
president in the act Of placing his
cabinet in a tally-ho coach. The
fourth and last picture is also from
Puck, and is entitled, English Lords
and American Looms" On the cot is
q straw mattress, two blankets and a
pillow. No sheets are allowed. Every
prisoner is'required to tidy up his cell
as o o as he gets up, and Guiteau is
generally II of the first at work.
Guiteau is not allowed to come out
OF his cell, except to meet officers of
the government, and even then the
interviews are carried ON in the pri-
vate office of the warden. This after
noon he requested leave to take a
bath, and was taken down to the
bathroom in charge of Captain Cole
man, one of the guards. The latter
stated that the prisoner stripped well,
and characterized him as a big little
man, very compactly built, especially
across the chest. The prisoner enjoyed
the bath very much, and after being
put in his cell again said: Ga am going
to Danish the president and politics
from my mind now, and read my
Bible"
Guiteau has discarded all his cloth.
ing except a shirt and pair of panta-
looms, and goes about his cell bare
footed and bareheaded. HIS under
clothing was taken away after the bath,
and he was supplied with a new outfit
from the prison supply. His cell is
80 situated that the guard on duty ON
the first floor a see every movement
OF the occupant. The prisoner has