The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-07-05

and next followed the criminal,
with Bob" Strong. the excutioner,
on one side, and Rev. DIR. Hicks
on the other, followed by the prison
guard and physicians.
A LAST LOOK AT EARTH.
As the assassin approached the
entrance to the gallows corridor he
halted for a moment, and looked
upon the smiling face ofnature, and
the emerald hills which fringe the
placid waters OF the Anacosta. Tic
took in, with a deep sigh, this last
draught ef nature. and her serene
beauty and then motioned forward
with his head. He descended the
iron steps to the pavement OF the
narrow corridor below the solemn
procession, and soon reached the
foot of the scafiold. With firm
tread the assassin ascended, embar.
rassed perhaps little by his arms
being pinioned, and took his place
on the quivering drop. He survey
ed for an instant the soulless engine
of death, and then looked towards
the spectators.
LAST EXHIBITION OF CRANKIsM.
After a prayer by DR.. Hicks the
assassin, in loud, clear voice, said
he would read from the 10th chap
te- of Matthew, 2S to Al. Having
finished this he read his last prayer
from the gallows. During the read
ing he emphasized those parts that
most interested him by a vigorous
action of the head. When he reach
ed the qotation aboutthose whom he
called his murderers he was partic-
ularly emphatic. This followed by
his las, poem, in imitation. he said.
of a child's invocation of the Deity.
At the third stanza he broke down
and burst into tears. These, how
ever, did not deter him from read
ing. He continued amid tears and
sobs. He rallied again, taking fare
well and receiving the pastors bless
ing, and while the executioner WAS
fastening his legs and adjusting the
fatal moose, the assassin was perfect
ly collected. tie stood firmly on the
trap and moved his head several
times as If anxious To adjust the
,.o...a ,npo for.ablv
GONE, SHOUT GLORY.
As Bob Strong was placing the
the black hood over the head of the
prisoner he shouted Glory, glory,
be to God-Igo." The hood was
fastened, the executioner drew back
and in an instant, az 1912, the drop
fell, followed by fatal thud, and
ali was over. There was a slight
drawing up of the legs and relaxing
again. There was not another mo
tion. In ten minutes the body was
lowered. In seventeen minutes life
was extinct and in thirty-five min
utes the body was lowered into the
coffin.
At the foot of the scaiiold. during
the scene. stood John W. Guiteau,
the brother. and next he was by the
coffin tanning his brothers face while
the WITNESSES passed viewing the
body. rhe coffin with the remains
OF the tenaniless clay of the assassin
OF James A. Garfield was carried to
the chapel where the autopsy WAS
held. The brother speaking of the
execution said that it was a terrible
ordeal through which to pass, but it
was over that it was better for his
brother that he were dead, for his
insanity made him a wreck and his
life was without value, and as a re-
suit of his mental condition he had
throwna whole nation into mourning
He seemed quite relieved. The
disposition of the body will he kept
secret as the desire to secure it is
such that TO place it in a common
grave would ensure desecratiou.
TYPICAL EXECUTIoNER.
The eXecutioner did his work well
as he had promised. He reminds
one of the executioners of history.
He wears solemn and savage eX-
preston, short cut beard with a
short but powerful frame. He was
a prize-fighter in his youth and to-
day saw the thirteenth execution at
his hands. After the work was done
the witnesses withdrew and the ON
inous silence of the prison again
reigned.