The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1882-07-06
HUNG!
Scenes Attending ia Last Hours Of
Guiteau = Preparations for
the Execution.
His Bearing on the Scafold = Making
the Sign for the Fatal Drop
Launched into Eternity.
What was Done With the Body Results
Of the Autopsy-Guiteau's Brain in
Normal Condition.
The Fatal Day.
HOW 1T BEGAN.

latter part of the night proceeding
his execution, not sleeping moro
| than twenty minutes at a time Toward.
| morning he fell into sounder sleep from
exhaustion. He arose few minutes after
| five and breakfastcd heartily at G:3O, when
| the cook took his breakfast into the cell
| G uitcau told him to bring his dinner at II
ed at the Jail all night, was called into the
prisoners cell as soon as he rose, and held
IA conversation on religious subjects with
him. AT SO'clock Dr. Hicks saw the pris.
oncr again, when he made request to have
a bath, and asked Hicks to go out and
| SEE THE sCAFFOLD.
Gittcau pressed him to arrange with the
warden to have the trap sprung as soon as
possible after twelve. He also expressed
considerable anxiety lest some acciden,
should occur, and insisted that Hicks
should see that the scaffold and appurtcn.
ances were all in proper condition. After
Guiteau had disposed of these matters he
read poem composed by himself, which
he calls Simplicity" or religious baby
| talk. After reading it aloud he attempted
| to sing it, but broke down. Glliteau then
| talked for some time about the future. He
remarked that his
HEART WAS TENDER.
~ don't think, he said, THAT can 20
through this ordeal without weeping. Not
because of any great weakness, for the
principle in me is strong, but because am
nearer the other world. / hold the idea
that God inspired me-" Gliiteau subse-
quently asked that in his books. all COM
plimcntary remarks abort President Arthur
and his administration shonld be elilnin-
ated. Then he presented Mr.. Hicks with
the books that have been the companions
of his lonely hours, and told him that
he could offer the
FIRST PRAYER on TIE scAfFoLD.
saying he (Guiteau) would then read his fav-
orite scriptural passage, the tenth chapter of
John, and offer praper on his own ac-
count. Then he intended. he said, to read
his poem, Simplicity" He desired to have
the execution so arranged that just as he
uttered the last word the
DROP SHOULD BE SPRUNG.
John W. Guiteau arrived at the Jail at 0
O'Clock and was followed in few minutes
by Warden Crocker. These two gentlemen,
with Hicks, had consultation as to the
disposition of the body. At 9:15 the pris-
oner came out in the corridor and exercised
for fifteen minutes. He walked very brisk
ly, making it rather difficult for his guards
to keep pace with him. The scene about
the Jail this morning was unique.
Ia y Ill
He cvinced increased nervousness in his
uncertain movements and distracted man.
ner, and marked tremor was noticed in
his tones when he attempted to speak,
which impressed the guard with the belief
that he was weakening. The rotunda was
thrown open at 10 O'clock and the news
paper men at once focked in. There were
guards and a host Of artillerymol who look
ed down upon the scene from the high
steps leading to the scatfold. Early this
morning the prisoners i'm that part of the
Jail overlooking the court where the gal
lows stands were all removed to other
quarters and locked in. At 0 O'Clock
a SORT OF 4 REHEARSAL OF TILE PART
they are to play, for the purpose chiefly Of
testing the appliances af the galiows, was
had. A bag of sand weighing 100 pounds,
was attached to the moose and the trap
sprung by means of the trigger rope, which
was passed into one of the cells Of the north
wing. The rope on the scatfold stood the
test well. At 10 o'clock Dr. Hicks and
John w. Guiteau ascendcd the steps, and
carefully examined the structure, handling
the rope and carefully
INSPECTING ALL TILE rIXTuREs
both above and below. A telegram from
New York, signed J. B. Dunnell, was re-
ceiyed about 10 o'clock by Dr. Hicks. 1t
asked if the sender could obtain possession
Guiteau's body to exhibit for the benefit of
the Young Mems Christian Association
DR.. Hicks paid no attention to the mes
sage.
At ten o'clock seventy policemen arrived
and were posted along the roadway in addi-
ton to the regular Jail guards. All availa-
bic men of battery c, Second L. S Artil-
lery, were now on duty outside the Jail.
Shortly before eleven o'clock Glliteau called
for paper, and for twenty minutes busted
himself i'll making copy ofwhat he termed
.'his prayer on the scaffold." At 10
O'Clock there was large crowd of newspa-
per correspondents providing about the gate
leading into Guiteau's corridor, but they
could see nothing but the wooden door
which screens Griteau's cell froom view.
Now and then guard appeared at the
door and sent some message to the warden
At such times those at the door got a view
Of the table, corridor and chair on which
the death watch sat After Guiteau had
finished copying this prayer upon the
scah'old' he began 10
ARRANGE HIS DRESS.
putting on pair of navy blue trowsers.
At 1890 the guard came out of the door
and said, :. He is ready for DR.. Hicks now
and wants him to come" Another guard,
who took the message, hurried off and soon
returned with Hicks, who went into the
cell. Guiteau was then reported by the
guard to be very composed. Mrs. Scoville
brought two handsome flower pieces, a
cross and anchor, which she placed upon
her brothers coffin with her own hands.
ii BOA ".
While DR.. Hicks was in the prisoner s
cell at II o'clock, Guiteau made some re-
quests as to the execution. and having
made copies Of his last prayer, poem and
other writing. tore up the originals. He
sent for Jail bootblack and gave him his
shoes to be shincd His dinner was
brought as the Doctor-was leaving, and he
ate with much relish. His dinner con-
sisted of pound of broiled steak, dish of
fried potatoes, four slices of toast and a
quart of coffee,
THE AUTOPSY,
The three physicians selected to perform
the autopsy were DIR. Lamb, who made the arl-
topsy Of the president, DR.. Savers and DR..
Harrington, deputy coroner of this city.
Dr. Loring expects to make thorough ex-
| animation of the prisoners body.
;. BREAK DOWN.
| Shortly before II o'clock, Guiteau SEEM
cd to break down completely, and burst in
to tears and sobbed Historically, DR.,
Hicks sat by his side, tanning him and