Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-09
GUTTEAU'S JAIL LIFE.
Still Reading His Bible,
NO SIGN OF SORROW OR RENoRsE-H1s LITERARY
LABORS.

Guiteau has now been confined in iail over five
weeks. 1t is rather singular fact that no one
has ever called upon him at the Jail with a
friendly purpose-that during his wanderings in
this city he never made one friend who now
manifests any substantial interest in him: that
no letter has been received by Guiteau proffering
him counsel or assistance. Such an absolute
destitution of friends is something unprece-
dented even in the case of the meanest crimi-
nails. He has never asked to have ANYBODY sent
for.
GUITEAU AND THE SOLDIERS.
1t will be remembered that he arranged when
he planned the assassination of the President to
be driven directly to the Jail. hoping thereby to
escape the popular fury. One of the letters
which he had written was addressed to Gen.
Sherman, and requested him to send troops to
guard the jail. 1t is thought that he feels some
comfort and security in having the soldiers
about him. From what can he learned of his
ideas. it is apparent that i'm case the President
had been killed. he never expected to suffer for
the crime. He had in his fanatical FRENZY
worked himself up to a pitch where he con-
sidered it his duty to ''remOve" the President in
order to make room for one, who in his opinion.
would be more just to all parties. He thought
that when the change was made people would
come to look at the matter in the same light.
and that he would be regarded as a public bene-
factor.
HIS DIET.
The officials at the Jail state that Guiteau is a
very tractable prisoner. The representations
frequently made that he is restless and querulous
are not founded on fact. His diet has been the
subject of considerable newspaper comment.
When he was first taken to the jail he suffered
little with a arrangement of the bowels and
hn cl1U # fhn iai1 r,l,,,,;
Young, he was given tea instead of cof-
fee. Coffee, sweetened with moasses, is
served to the prisoners as q rule, the
mOlasses being administered as a laxative. as
the prisoners get little exercise In Guiteaus
case, the coffee was omitted from the bill of fare
for awhile, but now he frequently asks for coffee
and gets it. He evinces considerable interest in
his diet, but not more. than is customary with
prisoners, and he does not complain. Wheat
bread is served to the prisoners for breakfast
and corn bread for dinner. When corn bread
does not agree with prisoner he is given wheat
bread altogether. For the same reason that
tea was served instead Of coffee Guiteau
was put on the "white bread" list. He
seems to relish milk, and often asks for
it. He takes special gastronomic delight
in meat Beef seems at present to be one of the
main objects of his life He shows little concern
just now about anything except his meat He
has lost no flesh since his confinement, and if
anything is in better condition than when he
was taken to the jal-a fact that speaks well for
the cuisine of that institution He is now APP
parently in excellent health. eats heartily and
sleeps soundly.
COMPOSED AND QUIET.
He is more composed now and less nervous
than when first taken to the jail. He has settled
down. the officials say, to wait philosOphically
for the result At no time snceilis confinement,
it is stated by his attendant. llas he shown any
OF sorrow or re;lorse. He shows
some anxiety about the Presidents condition
and hopes that he will recover The prospect of
being punished for murder does not now seem
an agreeable one as Guiteau evidently feels sat
istied that the people would not now justify his
act.
He never halls prisoners passing his cell to
inquire for news about the President, as he is
SO separated from the other prisoners that none
of the prisoners pass his cell. The prisoner that
comes to the cell occasionally to clean up is
closely watched by the guard. Guiteau. in
fact. shows no desire to communicate with the
prisoners. He considers himself above them,
He does not regard himself as belonging to the
criminal class
THE PRESIDENTS PORTRAIT REMOVED.
The portrait of President Garfield and the
other pictures which decked the wall of Gui-
teau's ce!l-having been left there by a former
prisoner of aesthetic tastes-have been removed
from the wall. They were taken down about
TWO weeks ago. when new coat of whiteWaSh
was put on the wall. The prisoner reads his
Bible almost constantly. The warden asked him
yesterday if he found anything new in the
Bible. and he replied Il find MANY things that
like to read"
HIS LITERARY WORK.
He has been reported as being engaged in
writing material forhis autobiography. These re-
ports arose out of the fact that he was occupied
for some time in writing points about himself
where he was born. places where he had lived.
who his relatives were, &C., for the benefit of
the authorities. He is furnished with paper and
pen and ink when he wants towrite Heunder-
took at first to use his time in revising his work
called TRUTH" a sort of commentary upon the
Bible. The greatest part of the only edition Of
this work ever published was DESTROYED by fire
at the place where they were printed in Boston.
Guiteau's literary labor in Jail seems to have
been confined to writing new preface for this
work. He then gave up the task OF revision.
NOT COMMUNICATIVE.
Since the first week of his confinement he has
not made much allusion to the motives of his
crime. Then. before the excitement passed
away, he frequently proclaimed himself as a
'stalwart OF the stalwarts,' and announced that
he had been inspired to commit the crime. He
is 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
are three reliefs at the jail, and consequently
only three Of the guards come in contact
with the prisoner. The soldier who does guard
duty near the cell is relieved every six hours
1t is doubtful now whether Guiteau would talk
to anyone about his crime. The District At
torney and his stenOgrapher used to visit him
frequently. During the last week Col COrkhil
has not been there at all. Guiteau has not ex-
pressed any desire to see him EOr any one else.
When he wants to talk about anything
connected with his jaii life er on
any other subject he asks to have the warden.
Gen. Crocker. to come to him. Heis said to bere-
spectiu! IN his language to all persons. and not
profane Or abusive as has been published. II
have never known him to make use of profane
word, said Warden Crocker to:a STAR reporter.
He is not that kind of man.h The rule pro-
hibiting any intercourse with him by out
siders is still strictly enforced
Wall Street To-day.
STOCK MARKETS STRONGER rHlx THEY WERE
YESTERDAY
NEW YORK. August 9.-The Posts financial
article Q:so p. III. edition) says:s The Stock Ex-
change markets. alIiicaUh still dfil are generally
stronger than Yesterday rh3E STOCKS which