The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-07-06
THE AGONY OVER.
The Assassin of Garfield Pays the
Penalty for His Crime.

FehA1ty AOF HAS CPkmes
The last act of the great national
tragedy was performed in the prison
corridor at Washington ON Friday last.
At l2 o'clock the corridor near the
scaffold was we'll filled with guards
and spectators. For an hour previous
Guiteau had been closeted with DIR.
Hicks, his spiritual adviser, one of the
watchmen alone remaining in the cell. |
1.-THE assassin" said the guard, 'seem
ed more calm, confident and self-as-
sured as his moments on earth ebbed
away, and when not engaged in reli-
gious exercises he was busily arranging
his speech from the scaffold. He ex-
pressed concern for the proper publ1
cation of the address, and also the pro-
duction of his book, claiming they
would do much toward vindicating his
memory"
Shortly after IL, Warden Crocker
and several officials entered the cell,
and the former tremendously read the
death warrant. Guiteau listened at
tentively, but betrayed not the slight
est emotion. His air was not so much
that of bravado as of self-gratification
and apparent vindication. Then DR..
Hicks spoke few words in a low tone
to the condemned man, and the pro-
cession moved to the scaffold in the
following order: First, General Crock
er and DIR. Hicks; second, Guiteau,
with Captain Coleman on the right,
Jas. Morehead on the left; third. the
guards, John w. Jones and VIM. w.
Hudson fourth, Captain Crocker and
Thomas Johnson. Guiteau was dress
ed in plain suit of blue cloth. With
head erect, and with firm, steady tread.
the assassin mounted the steps at 1926,
and glanced hastily over the crowd,
an expression of disappointments MT SEEM
ing to steal over his face at the small
ness of the crowd and the absence of
prominent personages. He gave no
sign of recognition to any one. Gen.
CrOcker waved to them to uncover,
and all heads were barred, when DIR.
Hicks prayed in these words:
REV. DIR. HICKS PRAYER.
Father! Out of the depths we cry
to Thee. Hear Thou our supplication
for the sake Of Jesus Christ, the Savior,
Who was made full propitiation for US.
Behold this Thy servant. We humbly
pray Thou will deliver him at this su-
preme moment of his life. Let Thy
light descend upon him. Liberate his
soul from prison. May he appear be-
fore You absolved by Thy great mercy
| from blood guiltiness. Deliver him
and US God have mercy on us; Christ
have mercy on us Lamb of God that
takes away the sins of the world, have
mercy ON us. Amen and amen"
During prayer Guiteau stood with
bowed head. At its conclusion, DIR.
Hicks opened the Bible, and Guiteau
in firm tones said: I will read Sc
lection from the tenth chapter of
Matthew, from the twenty eighth to
the forty-first verse. inclusive" He
then read in a clear, strong voice, and
good intonation, showing little, if any,
nervousness. DR.. Hicks then produced
the manuscript which was prepared by
the prisoner this morning, and held it
before him while Guiteau read. While
DIR. Hicks was arranging the manu-
script, Guiteau exhibited little nerv-
business, and moved several times from
one foot to another. He soon recover
ed his compesure, and looked over the
sea of upturned faces. q am now
going to read to you my last dying
prayer" He then read in loud tone
and with distinct and deliberate EN-.
phasis, the following:
MY DYING PRAYER ON THE GAL
LOWS.
Father, now L so to Thee and the
Savior. / have finished the work Thou
gavest me to do, and am only too hap
py to go to Thee. The world does not
vet appreciate my mission, but Thou
knowest it. Thou knowest Thou did
| inspire Garfield's removal, and only
good has come from it. This is the
best evidence that inspiration came
| from Thee, and 1 have set it forth in
my book, that all men may read and
may know that Thou, Father, didst
| inspire the act for which l am pur-
dered. This government and nation
by this act l know will incur Thy
eternal enmity, as did the Jews 10y
killing Thy man and my Savior. The
retribution in that case came quick
aud sharp, and / know Thy divine law
of retributiOn will strike this nation
and my murderers in some way. The
diabOlical spirit of this nation, its gov
ernment and it's newspapers towards
me will justify Thee in cursiDg them,
aud know that the Divine law is In
exorable. 1 therefore predict that this
nation will 60 down in blood, and my
murderers, from executive to hangman,
will go to hell. Thy laws are inexsra-
BILE, Oh! Thou Supreme Judge; woe
unto men that violate Thy laws; only
a weeping and gnashing of teeth awaits
them. The American press has large
bill to settle with Thee, Righteous
Father, for their vindictiveness in this
matter. Nothing but blood will satisfy
them, and now my blood be on them
and this nation and its officials. Ar
thur, the President, is coward and
migrate. His ingraLitude to the man
that made him and saved his party and
land from overthrow, has no parallel
in history, but Thou, Righteous Faith
l. CEI Will JuuRO InoLH. EuCAoI, uOli
knOwest me, but the world hath not
known me, and now go to Thee and
the Savior without the slightest ill will
toward a human being. Farewell, ye
men of earth,"
At several points he had paused and
endeavored to impart increased EN-.
phasis to his words by the peculiar fa-
cial expression so often observed du-
ring the trial when he was angered at
something which was said or done
This was peculiarly noticeable when
he alluded to President Arthur, and
when he declared that this nation
would "gO down in blood"
When he bad finished reading his
prayer, he again surveyed the crowd
and said, still with firm voice: "I
am now going to read some verses,
which are intended to indicate my
feelings at the moment of leaving this