Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-07-01
THE DEATHOF GUITEAU.
HOW TaE ASSASSIN WAS KILLED
Contrary Views OF the aanginS-Crlucised
as Bungling job, While the E4eco-
tioner il Satisfied.

"Ready, glory. Co."
The drop fell. the moose slipped to the |
back of his neck and Gartield's assassin
began to die. .sBegan to die % Yes, for
the bungling bangman didn't understand
his business. but arranged the rope SO
that it failed to connect with the ear, and
the consequence was that instead OF
:. going to Join the Lordy," as he oddly
phrased it. instantaneously, Guiteau was
detained half dead and half alive until as
he swung he choked and heaved and con-
tortionized long after he pluckily gave the
signal. 1t is doubtful whether this land
of the free and the home of the expert
will ever be the scene of we'll conducted
execution. Having observed the pecu-
l'a.ly thick skinned, brutal faced fellow
who was to adjust the moose, predicted
satisfactory end to the tragic series IN
which Guiteau prominently figured, out
was all wrong. He botched the whoie
thing, fingered and fooled about the rope
that bound the assassin's legs until the
spectators died thousand deaths, and
finally, with an adroitness which nothing
but mischance could have secured, man.
aged to give his victim the sloWest ana
most turturinglof deaths.
An Awkward Haugman.
With a sigh of relief every one saw
that the moment had arrived when some
body else would have something TO 40.
The big hangman knelt behind Gulteau
and began to tie his legs together. 1 un-
derstand he used to be seaman. II SO ne
was less than an ordinary seaman, Tor u
seemed little forever while he tumDied
with the rope. Perfect quiet re:gned, OF
course, but it was painful silence.
Going to the Lordy" bade fair to be
much DELAYED Journey for time, and
aoain the ail.tbumbed hands mistook the
knots aud further delay ensued. The two
brothers faced each other, one with head
raised and eyes shut praying, apparently,
for help. The other hope l don't mis-.
Judge him) seemed to be in search of no
toriety. They were brothers in lack OF
feeling if nothing else. After the hang
man had finished the pinioning of Guiteau's
legs DR.. Hicks handed the prisoner
a piece of white paper which he held in
his right haud, a hand that was as nrm
and steady as the stanchiOns of the scat
fold.
DIR. Hicks turned his back to the crowd,
and laying his hand on Guiteau's forehead
gave his final benedictiOn and farewell
God, the Father, be with thee and give
thee peace forever more.
After which the hangman adjusted the
moose.
"Don't pull it too tight" said Guiteau.
The black cap was pulled over his face,
and, shouting in a loud, clear and perfectly
emOtionless voice -
"Glory! Ready Coz
Guiteau flung tho bit of paper vigorous
| " to the right, the bolt was drawn, the
drop fell.
There was not slack enough to the rope,
the moose of which slowed around the
| back of Guiteau's neck, and the fall was
hardly deep enough. For q moment tho
body swung to and fro, then rested and
all was apparently over. Muscular tre.
mors ran through the frame, the chest
heaved quickly, spasmodic jerks brought
the knees far up and sickening sight OF
commissions succeeding convulsions greeted
the undisturbed gaze of John Guiteau.
Tho Hangman satisfied.
The hangman is Deputy Warden Strong.
After he descended from his perch of OBJ
servation he said, in response to ques'
ton
"This is the thirteenth hanging at
which have oficiated and do not think
I ever saw a moro perfect and satisfactory
execution. Guiteau's neck was broken by
the fall and his death was instantaneous.
In fact, he died without so much as even a
struggle. To be sure there was muscular
contraction, but there was no mOvemen,
of the body or limbs indicative of con
scious effort. There was clean drop o
four feet nine or ten inches. The rope il
the one used for Babe Bedford, who, with
Queenan, was executed in November,
1850, for the murder of young Hirsch ir
the northwest part of the city. AS was
putting the rope around Guiteau's neck
Warden CrOcker said to me Let tht
knot go just back of the ear"
"You see, it makes no difference how
far back of tho ear the knot is. W.
have to be careful not to let it 60 in front
of the ear, an in this position death would
not result from the breaking of the neck
but from strangulation. This command by
General Crocker was obeyed, and adjust
ed the rope in the manner he desired
Guiteau stood unmoved, and remarked -
DO not pull it too tight until am ready.
then put the black cap over his face anc
he asked me not to wait until the last mo
ment before drawing it tightly.
"When the trap sprung observed Gul
teau closely. His body fell clear and clean
and in less than two seconds he was dead
noticed it critically and there was no in
dication of life. 1t was as good an execu
ton as ever saw"