The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-07-04
Hlle Union, June a.
THE FINAL SCENE.
THE EXECUTION OF GurrEAU.


WAsHINGToN, d. c., Jnne 3O-United States
Jail, 9-45 A. M.-Guteau was very restless dur
ing most of the latter part of the night not sleep
ing more than twenty minutes ut n time To-
wards morning he fell into a sound sleep from
sheer exhaustion. He rose few minutes after
5, and breaktasted heartily at $50. When the
cook took his breakfast into his cell, Guiteau
told him to bring his dinner in at IL o'clock
promptly.
He took large breakfast of bcefsieak. oat
meal. coffee and side dishes. His sister has
made last appeal to the President, but up to
within an hour of the execution no answer has
been returned. Guiteau knows he will die, and
has willed his body and personal effects TO Dr.
Hicks, his spiritual adviser. His last request is
for a tombstone with the words "a Patriot and
Christian inscribed thereon. Even now, when
in few minutes he will he in eternity, his voice
is heard in prayer, sounding strongly above the
broken tones OF his spiritual adviser His self
possession is marvellous Physically, he is i'm
proved, and looks much better than upon the
day of the trial. There is a large attendance at
the Jail, which is guarded by the mounted po-
lice. The preparations are complete The trap
falls at IL NJ communication of the sentence is
looked for.
Rev. DIR. Hicks, who remained at the Jail all
night, was called into the prisoners cell soon
after he rose and held a conversation on relig-
iOus subjects with him. AT 8 O'clock DIR. Hicks
saw the prisoner again, when he made a request
to have bath, and asked the Rev gentleman TO
60 out and see the scaffOld as he desired To ar
range with the warden to have the trap sprung
as soon after IL O'Clock as possible. He also ex-
pressed considerable anxiety lest some accident
should occur, and insisted that Dr. Hicks should
see that the scaf0d and its appurtenances were
all in proper and safe condition. After Guitcau
had disposed Of this matter he read poem com
posed by himself which he calls Simplicity, or
Religious Baby Talk" After reading il aloud
IN nj nH In huf IN q fIo
effort, which would have appeared quite ridicu-
lOus if the occasion had been less solemn. Gu-
teau then talked for some time about his future.
He remarked that his heart was tender.
don't think" he said, Z" | can go through this or.
deal without weeping, not because of any great
weakness, for principle in me is strong but be-
cause am nearer the other world. | hold to
the idea that God inspired me-" Guitcau subse
quently asked that in his books all compliment
ary remarks about President Arthur and his adj
ministration be eliminated Then he presented
to DIR. Hicks the books that have been the com
panions of his lonely hours. He told DIR. Hicks
that he would have him 10 offer the first prayer
on the scaffold, saying that he (Guiteau) would
then read his favorite scriptural passage, 10Th
chapter of John, and offer prayer on his own ac
count Then he intended, he said, 10 read his
poem, Simplicity" He desired to have the exc
cution arranged that just as he uttered the last
word the drop should be sprung. John W. Gui-
tcau arrived at the Jail at O'clock, and was fol-
lowed in a few minutes by Warden Croker
These two gentlemen, with Dr. Hicks, held
consultation as to the disposition of the body
AT 9l5 the prisoner came out into the corridor
and exercised for fifteen minutes He walked
very brskly, making il rather difficult for his
guards TO keep pace with him. Guiteau gener-
ally has taken his execrise in his shirt and draw
ers. This morning, however, he wore pair of
dark pants, and had handkerchief tied loosely
about his neck.
Al.
The office OF the Jail has been given up com
pletey to the large corps of newspaper reporters,
and squad of them are scribbing away on
every table, window sill and every projection
that offers rest for paper. Many newspaper re-
pOrters remained all night The private office
Of the warden has been transformed temporarily
into telegraph Office, and before o'clock eight
instruments were clicking away merry accom-
payments 70 the gloomy preparations going on
inside the Jail.
At Q O'clock there was a constant stream of
persons coming into the jail. The scene outside
was like that Of some great gala occasion. Some
enterprising colored men had erected booths
from which they dispensed lemonade, cakes and
other refreshments TO weary and thirsty people,
who began before O'Clock to assemble in the
road in front of the Jail. Mounted messengers
are speeding 10 and from the city, and carriages
bringing visitors TO the Jail keep continual clouds
of dust covering over the road that winds through
the wide commons that lie between the Jail and
city At 1910 O'Clock Guiteau expressed de-
sire TO take bath. and large tub was taken
into his cell. At this hour no one save the death
watch was with him. Guiteau nervously disrobed
and plunged into the bath. 1t was quite appar-
cnt TO the guard who was closely watching his
every movement that his object :n asking for
the bath was simply TO obtain some employment
which might distract his thoughts from the dread
contemplation of his approaching death. He
evinced increased nervousness, and his uncertain
movements, distracted manner and marked tre-
NOR In his tones when he attempted TO speak,
impressed the guard with the belief that he was
rapidly weakening. The opinion Is expressed by
some Of the Jail officials that he will be unable
to control his emotions when. the dread mo-
ment arrives, and cyen If he does NOT completely
break down and make a scene, that he will be
unable from nervous excitement TO carry out the
programme upon the scaffold which he has an
nOunced. ~ ~ 8 fEt
At i've minutes past 10 o'clock General
Crocker read the death warrant to the prisoner