The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-07-14
The Final Scenes.

The Final Scenes.
While waiting for the hour rofexecution
to come it was plain that the assassin
was rapidly weakening. Shortly before
IL O'Clock he burst into tears and sobbed
Historically. DR.. Hicks sat by his side
tanning him and vainly trying to calm
him. The belief gained ground that he
would be unable to rally sufficiently to
pass the ordeal with the courage which
it has been asserted he would exhibit.
About ll.30 preparations began to be
made for the execution.
At 11.50 o'clock the detachment of ar
tillery was formed on the east side of
the rotunda, and brought their muskets
TO parade rest. At that time about 200
people were in the rotunda. DR.. Hicks
was with the prisoner, engaged in
prayer.
Guiteau showed great nervousness
and appeared greatly startled when he
heard the rattle of the muskets on the
stone floor of the rotunda. From that
moment he appeared to be thoroughly
overcome with emotion. He wept
freely and seemed to be in great an-
guish.
The scene in the rotunda while wait
ing for the prisoner was one long to be
remembered. The soldiers were drawn
up on one side, and long line of spec
tators facing them ON the other. 1t was
understood that Guiteau was very much
depressed, and it was expected
that his passage to the gallows would
present a very distressing sight. The
movement of the officers about the Jail
door was watched with eager attention.
In the cell meantime the warden was
reading the death warrant, which was
as follows: ..s.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TIE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, May %, 1882.
limited STATES against Charles. J.
Ggfeaa, No. 4,056.-Murder.
"The President of the United States
to the Warden Of the United States
Jail Of the District Of Columbia, greet
ing:
Whereas, Charles j. Guiteau has
been indicted of felony and murder by
him done and committed, and has been
therefor arraigned, and upon such ar
raignment has pleaded not guilty, and
has been lawfully convicted thereof;
and whereas judgment Of said court has
been given that the said Charles j.
Guiteau shall be hanged by the neck
until he be dead, therefore you are
commanded that upon Friday, the 30th
day Of June, in the year of our Lord
1882, between the hours of 10
O'Clock meridian and 2 of the same
day, him, the said Charles j. Guiteau,
now being in your custody in the com
mon Jail of the District of Columbia,
you convey to the place prepared for
his execution, within the walls of the
said Jail Of the District of Columbia,
and that you cause execution to be
done upon said Charles j. Guiteau, in
your custody SO being, in all things ac-
cording to said judgment; and this you
and do you return this writ into the
clerks Office of said court, so indorsed
as to show how you have obeyed
the same.
"Witness-D. X. CARTIER, Chief
Justice of said Court"
AT its conclusion the prisoner seemed
ID measure to regain his fortitude, and
when the warden had ceased he turned
and began brushing his hair with his
old assumption OF staggering sang
.froid.
At 1926 loud steam whistle was
blown at the work house, which was
near the Jail. This whistle usually
blows at II o'clock, and by it Guiteau
was in the habit of gauging time. The
delay to-day was by special arrange
ment, so that its startling summons
might not come before the officers were
ready. Two minutes later the iron
gates at the end Of the corridor clicked.
Then Warden Crocker made his APP
pearance, and moment later the IA
miliar figure of Guiteau was seen. His
face was pallid and the muscles about
his mouth moved nervously. Other
than this there were no signs of falter-
ing. The procession moved quickly to
the scaffold, and Guiteau ascended the
twelve somewhat steep steps with as
much steadiness as could be expected
from man whose arms were tightly
pinioned behind him
The order of the procession to the
scafiold, as agreed upon this morning,
was as follows: Warden Crocker and
one Of his officers appeared first, fol-
lowed by DR.. Hicks. Then came the
prisoner in charge of two guards,
Messrs. Coleman and Woodward. Be
hind them walked, two by two, Messrs.
Jones, Hudson, Johnson and Crocker
four Jail otlicersl, the latter being "A
brother of the Warden. ..
AT the last step he faltered for a mo-
ment, but was assisted by the two Off
GERS who walked one upon either side.
Upon reaching the platform Guiteau
was placed Immediately behind the
drop, facing to the front Of the scaffeld
Captain Coleman stood upon his right,