The Evening critic., 1882-07-07
Talks with Guitcn,,.

1WHS WIN Gutteuu.
Mr.. q. s. Grinith, president of tho Maryland
Prisoners Aid Association, aud who for forty
years has been Interested In prison work
made several vislts TO Gultcau and had many
conversations with him. MIR. Grillth gavc yos
tcrday TO n reporter OF tho Baltimore 1H,srlclA
tho following account OF his last visit to tho
assassin,
''My third visit to Guiteau was made on
Tuesday, June 20, tho day after tho adverse
decision of Justice Bradley on tho application
Of writof habcas corpus. l supposed that
by this time no had given up all hopo of n
pardon, or even delay In the execution of his
sentence, and would therefore be more capa-
bic OF being impressed for good But this was
not the case; he appeared to be still hoping for
some interposition OF Providence, insisting that
as tho act was dono under inspiration, God
would never permit him to DO executed. | en-.
deavored In tho most plain and decided man.
ner TO cut Off all possible hope, ana strongly
urged him TO think no longer OF things of tho
world, but to turn earnestly to God praying
for pardon and salvation In Christ. He seemed
moro serious during this visit than NJ any OF
my former ones but still maintained that no
had been Christian for twenty years. told
him seriously that this idea was n doluslon of
the devil, who could so influence people that
they would commit tho most atrocious crimes
WIN little or no compunctlons Of conscience,
and begged him earnestly to turn from this
sinful thought to God In true humility, rcaliz.
ing the fact that he was n great sinner, and
could only be saved by Divine grace.
Mislcd by Protested Friends.
81 spent about one hour In his cell In earn
est conversation, reading the Bible and prayer.
lie thanked me Tor my Interest," and seemed to
realize and feel n confidence In what said to
him, and believe he was In u fair way to
realize his condition, and tho necessity of u
true, heartfelt repentance, and the great i'm.
portanco OF preparing for death and
the Judgment. such, however,, was tho
erect OF some OF HIS protested friends,
who Interested themselves In trying
TO procure him n pardon, and held
out 10 him, even to the last, II hope that no
would escape paying the death-penalty, that
on him, as his mind could not be brought to
fully realize tho certainty OF his doom; con.
sequently, did not think II necessary to see
him again, but fear he died In tho same
wicked, impenitont manner In which he livod
VI nave visited many persons who were un-
der sentence OF death within the past forty
years, but have never met with such re-
markable case as this OF Guiteau. For tho
last twenty years while wearing to tho world
the garb OF christianity, ho was really II man
OF tho most depravcd character, and seems to
have been given over wholly to the devil. 10
possessed u vindictlye spirit, full of ogOtlsm
and conceit, and this love OF self ana his dis
appointment IN not securing Il Government
position led his murderous hands TO stab at
The very heart OF the Nation, by removing tho
PRESIDENT, one of Gods truest and noblest
men. His crime is not equaled in tho annals
libcrato manner in which 1t was
done would prove that his whole
nholHi nature ana Feelings OF responsibility
had been blunted. His execution was IN act
demanded by justice, his trial fair and i'm.
partial one and tho sentence most richly do
served. Had he been pardonod tho moral Of
feet on the community would have been very
bad, and pleas of insanity and Inspiration
would be urged by lawyers In other cases be.
fore the courts 10 clear their clients. II capt.
tai punishment was ever deserved as righteous
reward for wicked act with him its en-.
forcement was meritod, and only by Its cHccu.
ton could the demand OF an outraged Nation
be anllAtlel.n