The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-01
THE EXECUTION.
Testing the Gallows-Order of the Pro-
cession- Closing Scenes.

trigger rope which was passed lnto oDe Oh tne
cells of the north wicg. The rope on the
scaffold stood the test we'll
At 10 o'clock DIR. Hicks and John w Cur
teau went with Gen. Crocker to the scatfold,
together with a number of the guards. John
w. ascended the steps, carefully examined tne
structure, handling the rope and carefully IN
>.pecting all the fixtures both above and below
the platform.
The order Of the procession to the scaftolc
was agreed upon as follows: :,
WARDEN Crocker and one of his officers will
appear first, followed by DR.. Hicks. Then
the prisoner in charge OF two guards, Messrs;
Coleman and Woodward behind. Then will
walk two by two, Messrs. Jones, Hudson,
johnson and Crocker, four jail otilcers, the
latter being a brother of the warden
At 10 O'Clock 70 policemen, under command
of Capt. Vernon, arrived and were posted
along the roadway outside the puildlhg; IN
addition to the regular jail guard all available
men of Rattery C. Second United States artil-
1ery. commanded by Lieut.. Crawford were on
duty inside of the jail. c.,-o
At five minutes past II O'CLOCK Gen. Orocher
read the death warrant to the prisoner IN MS
CELL The only persons present were Gehsrai M
Crocker, Deputy Warden hush anu ,,Sns hev uas Da,
formed in the order given above and started at
1926. a;a
Dr. Hicks. when he came out of the cell said
to the Associated Press reporter that the prl-
soner had OF the slightest fear we nave
had pleasant religious talK. ne leels NV p9n,
that his nrcparation is finished, and he is ready
for the last formality. He commits hlmsel1 10
Cod with the utmost emotion because the ner-
yous strain is SO great" Nobody, Dr. HICKS
said. had seen the prisoner at that time except
himself and the Jail officers. =.
shortly before IL o'clock Guiteau seemed 70
break down completely, and burst into tears
and sobbed hysterically. DR.. Hicks sat py MS
side tanning him vainly trying to calm MN.
About half-past eleven preparations Degah 70
be made for the execution. AT LOU uetacI-
meut of artillery was formed on the east sioe
Of the rotunda and brought their musKels 10
,,arada rest At that time about 250 people
were in the rotunda. DR.. Hicks was win the
prisoner engaged in prayer. Gulteau showed
great nervousness and appeared greatly star
tied when he heard the rattle OF musAets on
the stone floor OF the rotunda FROM tnas
moment Guiteau appeared to be thoroughly
overcome win ernetion, he wept freely and
seemed to be in great anguish---Ihe scene IN
the rotunda while waiting for tse prisoner was
one long TO be remembered. Soidlefs wore
drawn up on one side and long ilne OF spec
tators drawn up facing them on the othef. II
was understood that Guiteau was very Inuch
depressed and it was expected that MS passage
To the pallows would present very distressing
SIGHT. The movement of the officers about the
iail door was watched with eager attentlon.
After the death warrant was READ 10 tne prs
nv the w afueQ lQ6 pI1cOhOA bSSu-AAO -~NeSA
more composed and turning away began 70
brush his hair with his old apparent sWagger-
ing sauefroid At 1926 the loud steam whistle
was blown at the work-house when was near
the iail This whistle usually blows az y,
and by it Guiteau was in the habit OF gauglns
time. The delay today was oy specla, ,i+ ~
ments SO that its startling summons inlghG ~ uoc
cone before the Officers were ready. Iwo
minutes later the iron gates at the END OIL tne
csrridor clicked, then Warden CrocEer maze
his appearance and a .momanJ iater bne nSure
of Cnitaau was seen.t His face was pailld ana
the muscles about his mouth moved nervously;
other thar. this there were no signs OF IalIer-
ing. The procession moved quickly 10 tne
scaffold and Gniteau assembled the tWelve
somewhat steep steps with as much steauiness
as could De expected from man whose arms
were tightly pinioned behind him. AT the
last stem he faitered for a moment but was as
sisted BY two officers who walked one upon
either side Upon ieaching the platform Gnl-
teau was placed Immediately penlnd the 1top
facing to the front of the scahold. capt. O@ole- @
man stood upon his right, Robert Strong upon
his left and Mr. Woodward directly behind
him. Mr.. Jones took his on position the north
side near the upright of the beam,. General
Crocker (the Warden) took his position at the
southeast corner of the structure Inere WAS
a slight delay while the crowd OF 2oo or more
spectators were pushing and Jostling through
the door leading from the rotunda to the cor
rider. at the lower end of which
the gallows were placed. Guiteau mean
while gazed upon the crowd, looked up
at the beam over his head and quickly made
survey of all the dreadful paraphernalla'
AS soon as the crowd had gained access.
General Crocker waved to them to uncover
and all heads were barred. Or. HICKS maue an
invocation in these words:
oFather. out of the depths we cry to thee; hear
Thou our suppication for the sake Of Jesus Christ
the Saviour, who has made full propitlaton ior us
Thou will deliver him at this supreme moment OF
his life. Let Thy light descend upon him; nDerate
his soul from prison; may he appear peloIe liz a1u
absolved by Thy great mercy. From olood quit
mess deliver him and us. God have mercy on US.
Christ have mercy on us; Lamb of God that takest
aE ay the sins of the world have mercy on US.
Amen and amen.
During the prayer Guiteau stood with bowed
head At its conclusion DIR. Hicks opened the
Bible and in firm tones said, II will read as
written from the 10th chapter of Matthew
from the 28th to the 41st verses inclusive" lie
then read in q clear strong voice and Win
good intonation, showing little If any nervous
ness. DR.. Hicks then produced the manu-
script which was prepared by the prisoner this
morning and held it before him while Gulteau
read. While DIR. Hicks was arranging the
manuscript Guiteau exhibited slight ner-
vousness and moved several times from one
foot to the other. He soon recovered his COM
posure. looked at the sea of upturned faces
Us
diving PRAYER" He then read IN loud tone
and with distinct and deliberatiye emphasis
his prayer as follows:
Father now l 60 to Thee and the saviour.
have finished the work Thou gavest me to do, ana
am only too happy to go to Thee. The world Goes
net vet appreciate my mission but Thou knowest H.
Thou knoWest Thou inspired Garhelds removal,
and only good has come from it, This Is tne pesg
evidence that the inspiration came from Thee, and
have set it forth in my book that all men may
know that Thou, Father did inspire the act for
which l am now murdered. This government ail9
nation by this act, know, will incur Thy eternal
ennlity as did the Jews by the killing OF my man.
nv Saviour. The retribution in that case came
quick and sharp, AMI know Thy divine law OF ret
Tibntion will strike this nation and my murderers
in the same way. The dabolical spirit OF this ma
tion, its government and its newspapers towards
me will Justify Thee in cursiug them, and know
that Thy divine law of retribution is inexorable
therefore predict that this nation Will 60 Gown
in blood. and that my murderers, from the Execu-
tive to the hangman will go to hell Thy laws are
these men that violate Thy laws, Only weeping
and gnashing of teeth awaits them. The American
press has large bill to settle with Thee, righteous
Father, for their vindictiyeness in this matter.
Nothing but blood will satisfy them, and now my
blood be on them and this nation, and It's omclals
Arthur, the President, is a coward and an ingrate.
Hisingratitude to the man that made him and saved
his party and land from overthrow, has no parallel
in history. But thou, Righteous Father, Will judge
him.
Father Thou knowest me- but the world hath not
known me; and now / go to Thee and the Saviour
without the slightest i'll will toward human Delng
Farewell. ye men of earth.
At several points he half paused and en-
deavored to impart an increased emphasis TO
his words by the peculiar facial expression Sc
often observed during the trial when be was
aBgered at something which was said or done.
This was peculiarly noticeable when he al
luded to President Arthur and when he de-
clared rhat this nation would Ego down in
blood" When he had finished reading his
prayer he again surveyed the crowd and said
still with a firm voice 81 am now going to read
some verses which are intended to Indicate my
feelings at the moment of leaving this world
Ii set to music they would be rendered etfec-
tive. The idea is that of child babbling to
his mamma and his papa. wrote it this morn
ing about 10 o'clock" He then commenced to
chant these verses in a sad, doleful style:
1 am going to the Lordy-
| am SO glad;
l am going to the Lordy-
| am glad;
am going to the Lordy,
Glory Hallelujah; Glory Hallelujah.
l am going to the Lordy-
love the Lordy with all mysoul,
Glory Hallelujah,
And that is the reason
| am going to the Lord.
Glory, Hallelujah; Glory Hailelujah,
l am going to the Lord.
Here Guteau's voice failed and ne bowed
his head and broke into sobs. but he rallied q
little and went on with his chant.
/ saved my party and my land,
Glory Hallelujah-
But they have murdered me for it
And that is the reason.
/ am going to the Lordy-
Glory, Hallelujah; Glory, Hallelujah
l am going to the Lordy.