Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-07-06
REMOVED!
CHARLES .GUITEAU
Pays the Last Penalty!
"A Worthless Life Snuffed Out!
THE CURTAIN DROPS
On the Last Scene of the Presidential
Tragedy
THE CURTAIN DROPS
THE NATION BREATHEs EASIER

LIE ~ l1ON DINA hEn1 LaoILI
U. S. JAIL, WASHINGTON, June 80
9:45 A. M.-Guiteau was very restless
during most of the latter part of tht
night, not sleeping more than 20 minute!
at time. Towards morning he fell in
to sound sleep from sheer exhaustion
He rose few minutes after and break
tasted heartily at 80. When the cool
took his breakfast into the cell, GuiteaU
told him to bring his dinner in at Il
o'clock, promptly. DR.. Hicks, who re-
mained at the Jail all night, was called
4 into the prisoners cell soon after he
rose and held consultation on religi
Gus subjects with him. At 8 o'clock DR.
Hicks saw the prisoner again, when he
made request to have bath, and ask
ed Hicks to go out and see the scaffold
GuiteaH desired him to arrange with the
warden to have the trap sprung as soon
after IL o'clock as possible. He also ex.
pressed considerable anxiety lest some
accident should occur, and insisted that
Hicks should see that the scaffold and
its appurtenances were all in proper
condition. After Guiteau had disposed
of these matters, he read poem COM
posed by himself, which he calls "Sim-
plicity, or Religious Baby Talk" After
reading it alone he attempted to sing it,
but broke down in the effort. Guiteau
then talked for some time about his fu-
ture. He remarked that his heart was
tender. 81 don't think" he said, Il can
go through this ordeal without weeping,
not because of any great weakness, for
principle in me is strong, but because l
am nearer the other world. / hold to
the idea that God inspired me-" Gui-
teau subsequently asked that in his
books all supplementary remarks about
the President and his administration be
eliminated. Then he presented Hicks
the books that have been the compan-
oins of his lonely hours. He told Hicks
that he wanted him to offer the first
prayer on the scaffold, saying that he
(Guiteau) would then read his favorite
Scriptural passage, the 10th chaper of
John, and offer prayer on his own ac-
count.
Then he intended, he said, to read his
poem, simplicity" He desired to have
the execution SO arranged that just as
he uttered the last word the drop should
be sprung.
John W. Guiteau arrived at the Jail at
O'clock, and was followed in few
minutes by VIM. Crocker. These two
gentlemen, with Hicks, had consulta-
tion as to the disposition of the body.
At 9:15 the prisoner came out into the
corridor and exercised for Is minutes.
He walked away very briskly, making it
rather difficult for his guards to keep
pace with him.
THE SCENE ABOUT THE JAIL
this morning is unique. The office of
the Jail has been given completely up
to the large corps of newspaper report
ers, and squad of them are scribbling
away on every table, window sill and ev-
cry projection that offers rest for paper.
Many newspaper reporters remained all
night. The private Office of the Warden
has been transformed, temporarily, into
a telegraph Office. At 8 o'clock there
was a constant swarm of persons COM
ing into the Jail. The scene outside was
like that of some great gala occasion.
Some enterprising colored men had
erected booths, from which they dis
pensed lemonade, cakes and other re-
freshments to the weary and thirsty
people who before o'clock began to as
semble in the road in front of the Jail.
Mounted messengers speeding to and
from the city, and carriages bringing
visitors to the Jail keep continual
cloud Of dust lowering over the road
that winds through the wide common
that lies between the Jail and the city.
At 10 o'clock Guiteau expressed desire
to take bath, and large tub was car
ried into his CELL At this hour no one
but the death Watch" was with him.
Guiteau nervouSly disrobed and bathed.
1t was quite apparent to the guard, who
was closely watching him in his every
movement, that his object in asking for
a bath was simply to obtain some en-
ployment which might distract his
thoughts from the dread contemplation
of his approaching death. Heevidenced
increased nervousness, and his uncertain
movements, distraut manner and the
marked tremor in his tones when be at
with the belief that he was is rapidly
weakening.
The rotunda was thrown open at 10 o'clock
and the the newspaper men at once focked in
There were few other people except the Jail
guards and a squad of artillery men, who
looked down upon them from the high steps
leading to the scaffold. Early this morning
prisoners in the part of the Jail overlooking
the court where the gallows stands were all
removed to other quarters and lockek in cells
At 8 o'clock this morning the jail officers had
q sort of rehearsal of the part they had to
play in the execution, for the purpose chiefly
of testing the appliances of the gallows. A
bag of sand weighing 160 pounds was attach
ed to the moose, the trap was sprung by
means of trigger, the rope being run into
one of the cells of the north wing. The rope
and the scaffold stood the test well. At 10
Crooke, went to the scaffold together with
number of guards. John W. Guiteau as
cended the steps and carefully examined the
structure, handling the rope and carefully
inspecting all the f1xtnres both above and be-
low the platform.
THE ORDER OF PROCESSION TO THE
sCAFFoLD,
AS agreed upon this morning, is as fol-
lows: Warden Crocker and one of his
officers will appear first, followed by DIR.
Hicks. Then will come the prisoner in
charge of two guards, Coleman and
Woodward. Behind them will walk two
by two, Jones, Hudson. Johnson, ,Crocker
from the Jail officials, the latter brother
of the warden. At 10 o'clock seventy
policemen arrived at the Jail and were
posted along the roadway outside the
building. In addition to the regular jail
guard, all the available men of Battery
@, Second United States artillery, are
now on duty inside the Jail. Shortly
before IL o'clock Guiteau called for
paper, and for twenty minutes busted
himself in making a copy of what he
terms his prayer upon the scaffold. AS