Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-06-30
the scene from the high steps leading to
the scaffold.

the scene from the high steps leading to
the scaffold.
Early this morning the prisoners in
the part of the Jail overlooking the court
where the gallows stand, were all re-
moved to other quarters and locked in
their cells.
At nine o'clock this morning the jail
officers had rehearsal of the part they
were to play in the execution, for the
purpose of, chiefly, testing the gallows.
A bag Of sand Weighing 100 pounds
was attached to the moose. The trap
was sprung by means of trigger, the
rope of which was pushed into one of
the cells of the north wing. The rope
on the scaffold stood the test we'll. At
ten o'clock DR.. Hicks and John w. Gui-
teau went with Gen. Crocker to the scaf-
fold together with number of guards.
John w. Guiteau assembled the eteps
and carefully examined the structure,
handling the rope and carefully inspect
ing all the fixtures both above and below.
At eleven, q. M, Mrs. Scoville, Gui-
teau's sister, who had said yesterday that
she would not come to see the hanging,
appeared at the Jail door and demanded
to be admitted. The warden knowing that
her presence at the execution would GER
tainly cause scene, had given orders
that she be not admitted. The guards
told her that she could not enter and
the woman first begged to be allowed to
enter and then vehemently denounced
the officials for their brutal conduct.
John Guiteau was sent for and he sue.
ceeded in pacifying his sister.
A telegram from New York signed by
J.B. Bunnell, was received about 10
O'Clock by DR.. Hicks. asking if the sender
could obtain possessing of Guiteau's
body to exhibit for the benefit of the
Young Mems Christian Association. DIR.
Hicks paid no attention to the message
The order of the procession to the scat
fold as agreed upon this morning is as
follows: Warden Crocker and his officers
will appear first, followed by DIR. Hicks.
Then will come the prisoner in charge OF
two guards, Coleman and Woodward;
behind them will walk, two
by two, Jones. Hudson, johnson,
Crocker, four jail officers, the latter a
brother of the warden. At ten o'clock
seventy policemen arrived at the Jail
and were posted along the roadway out.
side the building, in addition TO the reg
ular Jail guard. All the available mer
of battery &C." second United States ar.
tillery, are now on duty In
sids the Jail. Shortly befor,
eleven o'clock Guiteau called for paper
and for twenty minutes busted himself
in making copy of what he terms 'hi
prayer on the scaffold," AS his hands
will be pinionei DR.. Hicks will hold til.
manuscript while Guiteau reads.
| Now that he is employed he appears
much calmer and is rapidly completing
his work, writing in large
round and legible hand. Guiteau ha
not been informed of Mrs. Scoville'
presence and, even if he was aware tina
she is here, it is believed he would no
desire to have her present. His grea
desire now seems to be that there shall
be no scene and his programme shall b
carried out without an interruption O
incident to detract him from the heroi
, picture which he believes he is about t
present.
At 10 o'clock there was a large crow
of newspaper, correspondents crowdip
about the gate leading into Guiteau
: corridor; but they could see nothing G,
cept the wooden doors which scree
= Guiteau's cell from view. Now and the
q guard appeared at the door and sent
message to the warden, and at sue
!. times. those at the gate got view of tt
table in the corridor and the chairs o
q which the death watch sat. Aft.
! Guiteau had finished copyir
q his prayer upon the scaffold he began
arrange his dress, pntting on a pair
4 navy blue trousers, and at 1880 Il
y guard came out of the door and said, 81
q is ready for DIR. Hicks now and wan
; the flowers to come" Another guar
=. who took the message hurried off ar
soon returned with Hicks, who went int
the cell. Guiteau was then reported |
!. the guards to be apparently very cor
o posed. Guiteau's message about howe
"a referred to his expectation that Nj
/. Scoville would send some flowers to hi
but none had arrived at the time he as
4 ed for them.
=. After short conference with Crocke
II John w. Guiteau went outside of Il
n jail to see his sister. and he found her
a great excitement bordering upon hyste
les, but after short time he succeed,
It in calming her and dissuading her fro
4. any attempt to gain admission.
1t She acknowledged tie propriety
g. such course but said she could not pe
8. sibly remain in the city during all t
y wretched hours of the morning. s.
t. brought with her flowers, which Guite
ID asked for, and they were taken to t
g. prisoner. Mrs. Scoville also broug
~ two handsome flower piers, crosses a
10 ON anchor, which she will place upon L
th brothers coffin with her own hands.
b. While DR.. Hicks was in the prisone