Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-07-05

paper, and for twenty minutes busted himself
In making q copy Of what he termed Ibis
prayer on scaffold." After he had finished his
Prayer Upon the scaffold, !" he began TO ar
range bis dress, putting on q pair Of nayy.blue
trouserA
Al IL o'clock. contrary to general e1pecta-
ton and the purpose as expressed on the pre-
yious day, Mrs. Scoyille arrived at the fail and
besought admission. She appeared 70 be labor
ing under great excitement Gen. Orocker do
clIned TO admit her, unless the prisoner spe-
cially requested II. After Q short confer
ence with Warden Crocker, John w. Guitead
went outside tho iail.to see his sister. He
found her IN great exc tement, bordering
succeeded in ginning her, aud dissuading her
from any attempt 70 gain admission. she ao3
kn0wledged the pr0pffeiy OF such cOnrge, but
said ssss oot aas Tsssisy remain III the city
during all the wretehsd hours OF the morning.
She brought with her the flowers which Guiteau
asked for and they were taken TO the prisoner.
Mrs. Scoyille also brought two handsome flower
pieces, q cross and anchor, which She will place
upon her brothers coffin with her own hands.
DIR. Hicks, when he came out OF the cell,
shortly after II o'clock, said tho prisoner had
not the slightest fear. "We have had pleas
ant religion. talk. He feels now that he In
self to God with the utmost confidence. think
he will show some emotion, because the nery-
GUS strain is 30 great. Nobody" DIR. Hicks
said, "had seen the prisoner at that time ex-
cept himself and the Jail officers"
Shortly before IL o'clock Guiteau seemed 10
break down completely, and burst into tears
and sobbed hysterically. DIR. Hicks sat by his
side. tanning him, AMI yainly trying 20 calm
him.
About half past II preparations began to be
made for the execution. At 1l50 detach-
ment OF artillery was formed on the east side of
the rotunda-and brought their muskets to
parade rest At that time about ESQ people
were on the rotunda. DIR. Hicks was with the
prisoner engaged in prayer.
9uiteau showed great nervousness and ap-
peared greatly startled when he heard the rattle
OF muskets on the stone fioor OF the rotunda.
From that moment, Guiteau appeared to be
thoroughly overcome with emotion. He wept
freely, and seemed TO be in great anguish. The
scene IN the rotunda, while waiting for the pris-
oner, was one long 70 he remembered. The sol
diers were drawn up on one side, q long line OF
spectators facing them on the other. 1t was
understood that Guiteau was very much do
pressed, and ii was expected his passage TO the
The movement OF the officers around the jail
door was watched with eager attention. After
the death warrant was read by tho Warden, the
prisoner became moro composed, and, turning
away, began to brush his hair.
The March 10 the scnffoid.
At l2:25 loud steam whistle was blown at
tho work-house, near the Jail This whistle
usually blows at II O'Clock, and by it Guiteau
was in the habit Of gauging his time. The de-
lay to-day was by special arrangement, so
that its startling summons might not come
before the en.eess we're ready. Two min
utes later the iron gates at the end
OF the corridor clicked; then Warden
Croker made his appearance, and Q moment
later tue familiar figure OF Guiteau was seen.
HIS face was .psllid and the muscles about his
mouth moved neryously; other than ths there
we're no signs OF faltering. The procession
.moyod quickly to the sca n I'D, and Guiteau as
cended tho somewhat steep steps with as much
steadiness as could be expected from q
man whose arms we're tightly pinioned. At the
last step he faltered for moment, but was as
sisted bv the officers who walked upon either
side. Upon reaching the platform, Guiteau
was placed Immediately behind the drop facing
10 the front OF the scaffuld. Capt Coleman stood
upon his right, Robert Strong upon his left,
and Woodward directly behind him. Jones
took position on the north side, near the
upright Of the beam. Warden Crocker
OF tho structure. There was q slight delay,
whilo the spectators were pushing and
iostling through the door leading from
the rotunda to the corridor, at the lower
end 81 which the gsilows was rlsced Gr.terr
meanwhile gazed upon the crowd, looked up
at the beam over his head, and quickly made q
survey OF all the dread paraphernali4. As soon
as the crowd had gained access. uen. Crocker
waved TO them to uncover, snd aii neads were
barred. DIR. Hicks then prayed in these words:
Father, out OF the depths. we cry to Thee.
Hear Thou our supplication for the sake OF
Jesus Christ, the Savior, Who has made full
propitiation for us. Behold this, Thy servant
We humbly pray Thou wilt deliver him at this
suprcine moment Of his life. Let
hbera.e his soul from prison, may
he sppear before You absolved, by Thy great
mercy, from blood guiltiness deliver lin and
ne. God have mercy on us. Christ hayo
the Rms OF the world, have mercy on us. Amen,
. n amen
Duting the prayer Guiteau stood win bowed
head. At lis CONCLUSION DIR. Hicks opened the
Bill le, and Guiteau, tn Arm tones, said II will
read q selection from tho tenth chapter OF
NJ hew,. fom tweiity-eighth 70 forty-hrst
he then read In q clear, strong voice, and
with good intonation, showing little II any
nervousness.
Dr. Hicks then prod, cyt the manure 1pt
which Was prepsfed by Ito piiSon,r In the
morning, and held u before him whlls GEi-
testi fcad. While DR.. Hicks was arrang-
ing the manuscript, Guiteau exhibited
slight nervousness and moved several
times from one foot to the other He soon re-
covered his composure, looked over the sea OF
upt:rned faces. and said:
II am nov. going 10 read TO you my last
lying prayer"
He then read in loud tone and with dis
hnct and dellbefative emphasis, the following
tfr DYING pkAfEa ON THE aALLows.
Father, now SO to Thee and the Savior.
have finished the work Thou g8vest me 20 do,
aud am only TOD happy 10 go 10 Thee.
sion, but Thou knowest IL Thou knowest
Thou dIdst inspire Garfields removal, and
only good has come from IL This
10 the best evidence that ths inspiration came
from Thee, and have set 1t forth In my book
that all mon may read and may know that Thou,
Father, didst inspire the act for which am
murdered. TINS Government and nation,
know, viii incur Thy eternal enmi,y. as did the
Jews By killing Thy man, my Savior. The
fetnbutiou in that case came quick aud sharp,
and know Thy divine Law OF retribution Will
same way. Tho dsst0ii5zi spirit OF TINS nation,
its Government and its newspapers, toward mo
will justly Thee In curstlg them, and know
that the divine lsv Of retrIbution n inoxorable.
/ therefore predict that this nation will 90
down in blood, and my murdergfs, from the
Executive 10 the haDgman, will 60 10 hell Thy
laws are inexorAble oh Thou Supreme Judgei
Woe unto men that violate Thy laws Only
weeping and gnashing Of teeth await them The
American press has large ball te settle with
Thee, Righteous Father, Tor their yindlctivenoss
In this matter. Nothu g hut blood 4 satisfy
taem I'd Eos my biood be q ION them this
s,A ont A.. AT. amt