The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-07-06
PRESS TELEGRAMS.
GUITEAU.
HIS LAST DAY ON EARTH,
Particulars of the Hanging Yester-
day.
After Much Cranky" Proceedings,
at 1910
THE DROP FELL,
And the Neck of the Self-Styled
Man of God"
Was Broken and Life Extinguished.
After Much Cranky" Proceedings
at 1910
THE DROP FELL,
And the Neck of the Self-Styled
Man of God"
Was Broken and Life Extinguished
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.

SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
WASHINGTON, June 30.-G uiteau
was very restless during the latte
part of the night, not sleeping NOR,
than twenty minutes at a time. To
wards morning he fell into a slum
Der and slept from sheer exhaustion
He rose five minutes after O'Clock
and breakfasted heartily. At b:3(
when the cook took his breakfast
into the cell, Guiteau told him tC
bring his dinner in at IL O'Clock
promptly.
Rev. DIR. Hicks, who remained al
the Jail all night, was called into
the prisoners cell soon after
he rose, and held converse.
ton on religious subjects with
him. At O'Clock DR.. Hicks saw the
prisoner again, when he made a re.
quest to have a bath and asked the
reverend gentleman to go out and
see the scaffold. Guiteau asked him
to arrange with the warden to have
the trap sprung as soon after twelve
o'clock as possible. He also ex-
pressed considerable anxiety lest
some accident should occur, and in
sisted that DIR. Hicks should see that
the scaffold and its appurtenances
have been put in proper and safe
condition. After Guiteau had dis.
posed of these matters, he read q
poem composed by himself which be
Mi oil Rnh hu
Talk" After reading it all he at.
tempted to sing it, but broke down
in the effort, which would have ap-
peared quite ridiculous if the occa-
sion had been less solemn. Guiteau
then talked for some time about his
future. He remarked that his heart
was tender. II don't think" he said,
81 can 60 through this ordeal with
out weeping, not because of any
great weakness, for principle in me
is strong, but because l am nearer
the other world. L hold to the idea
that God inspired me-"
Guiteau subsequently asked that
in his books all complimentary
remarks about President Arthur
and his administration be elm
mated. Then he presented to
Nr. Hicks the books which
had been the companions of his lone
ly hours. He told DR.. Hicks that
he wanted him to offer the first
prayer on the scaffold, saying that
he (Guiteau) would then read his
favOrite scriptural passage-the
tenth chapter of John-and offer a
prayer on his own account. He
then intended to read his poem
Simplicity" He desired to have
the execution SO arranged that just
as he uttered the last word the drop
should besprung.
John w. Guiteau arrived at the
Jail at O'Clock, and was followed in
a few minutes by Warden Crocker.
These two gentlemen, with DR..
Hicks, consulted as to the disposition
of the body. At 9:15 a. m. the pris-
oner came out in the corridor and
exercised for fifteen minutes. He
walked very briskly, making it very
difficult for his guards to keep pace
with him. Guiteau generally has
taken exercise in shirt and drawers.
This morning, however, he wore a
dark pair of pants, and had a hand
kerchief tied loosely about his neck.
The scene about the jail this morn.
ng is unique. The offices of the
Jail have been given up completely
to the large corps of newspaper re-
porters, and squad OF them are
scribbling away on every table,
window stills and every projection
that offers rest for paper. The news
paper reporters remained all night.
The private office of the warden has
been transformed temporarily into
telegraph office, and before 10
o'clock eight instruments were
clinking merry accompaniment to
the gloomy preparations going on
inside the Jail.
At 9 o'clock there was constant
stream of people coming into the jail.
The scene outside was like that of
some great gala day. Some enter
prising colored men had erected
booths, from which they dispensed
lemonade and other refreshments to
the weary and thirsty people who
began before nine o'clock to assem-
BILE in the road in front of the jail.
Mounted messengers speeding to
and from the city, and carriages
bringing visitors to the Jail, kept a
continual cloud of dust lowering
over the road that winds through
the wide common that lies between
the jail and the city.
At ten O'Clock Guiteau expressed
a desire to take bath, and large
tub was taken into his cell.
At this hour, no one save death
with him, Guiteau nervously dis
robed and plunged into cold bath.
1t was quite apparent to the guard,
who was closely observing his every
movement, that his object in asking
for the bath was to simply obtain
some employment which would dis
tract his thoughts from the dread
contemplation of his approaching
death. He evinced increased ner-
vousness, and his uncertain move
ments. distant manner and marked
terror in his tones when he at
tempted to speak, impressed the
guard with the belief that he
was rapidly weakening. The
opinion is expressed that he
will be unable to control his
emotions, when the dread moment
arrives, and even if he does not COM
pletely break down and make a
scene, he will be unable from ner-
vous excitement to carry out the
programme on the scaffold which he
has announced.
1905 p. NAT five minutes past
IL o'clock General Crocker read the
death warrant to the prisoner in the
cell. The only persons present
were General Croker, Deputy War
den Rush, and Rev. DIR. Hicks.
The rotanda was thrown open at
10 o'clock and newspaper men
focked In. There were but few
others there except the Jail guards
and a squad of artillerymen. Early
this morning the prisoners in the
part of the Jail overlooking the
court, where the gallows stands
were all removed to other quarters.
Seventy policemen are posted along
the roadway outside of the build
ing, in addition to the iail
guard. All suitable men of Battery G.
United States artillery, are on duty
inside the Jail. Shortly before IL
o'clock Guiteau called for paper, and
ior twenty minutes was engaged in
copying what he calls his PRAYER
unon the scaffOld