Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-17
THE GUITEAU SCAFFOLD.
How the Assassin of President Garfield
VIII be Executed.

Philadelphia Times.
The scafold upon which Bedford and
t1ueanan- .1A-0-0.AaI.i1l- --iH- bs- s,ssl-for
strsngIing Guiteau. 1t is standing in the
north wing of the Jail, and has been painted
a drab shade. 1t is of Georgia pine, and
stands twenty-one feet in hight. The cross
beam is of six by eight timber strengthened
by heavy top piece for double work., sup
ported by timbers eight inches square. The
platform is thirteen feet from the ground,
and is made of two-inch boards and stout
joists mortised and bolted, and is eleven
feet square. Ii is supported by six eight
inch uprights in addition to those sup
porting the cross-beam. About three and
a half feet above the platform there is
a surrounding rail- The trap is five feet
square, framed in the center OF the plat
form, and is flush with it. 1t is attached
to the platform by two heavy strap hinges,
and is held in place by the U-shaped iron.
At the bottom of the iron is attached a small
but strong rope passing over pulley at the
back OF the structure into a box about four
inches square, through which the rope runs
into one of the cells, where some person, I'M
known TO outsiders, at the signal from the
warden usually a motion with handker-
chief gives the fatal pull. The platform is
reached by flight of steps with railing
each side. To complete the structure and
make it ready for use it is necessary that the
rope should be attached and the hinges oiled.
For a single hanging ii is customary to use a
rope of MANILA seven-eighths of an inch in
diameter and thirty feet long. IL is not the
custom here, as in some cities, to use rope
specially made for the purpose and have it
prepared outside the building, for the officers
of the Jail here are always equal to the oc-
casion. In fact, with the exception of the
manufacture OF the rope and the
iron, the structure has been made in
the building. There are on hand now
several ropes purchased for hanging pur-
poser, and recently several have been re-
ceived at the Jail, contributed by persons
anxious to have them used on Guiteau.
When it is necessary to "rig" the scafiold
rope will be selected and the hangman's knot
will be made by one of the guards, who is
quite an expert al ii. Then it will he run
through the center hole of the cross beam,
thence to the side, passing down one of the
uprights TO a ciest on the side, where ii will
be made fast. Generally the slack is four tn
six feet, and commencing near the knot the
rope is for three or four feet anointed with
soap, that it NAV slip easily. In some parts
OF the country tallow or other grease is used,
but General Croker and his associ ates prefer
the 80 p. There Is also on hand full
supply of small rope to use in pinioniug
the arms and legs OF the victim OF the
law, and black caps to draw over his face.
1t is customary to rig the rope the day
before the execution and test il by letting
drop bag of sand weighing from thirty
to fifty per cent. more than the doomed
man. Never having met with an accident
or mishap in hanging the Jail officials
look on this test as almost useless, but it is
always made az a matter OF precaution. To
make sure. however, of carrying out the sem
teHce within the hours specified therein
(usually two hours being allowed), the pris-
oner is brought Oh in time to allow fifteen or
twenty minutes for service prior to the trap
being sprung, and with thirty minutes or
more to spare beside. Thus, should there be
mishap of any kind, there would still be
ample time to prepare and rig another rope
If necessary