Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-07-05
Hanging OF Guiteau.

Hanging or Guiteau.
From the Detroit Free Press.
Washington, June S0.-Guiteau il
quits with the law. He has paid TO-
day the specified penalty for murder
in the first degree. He died calmly
and bravely. He had his weak mo-
ments during the frightful hours Of
waiting, but surprised all, and the ex'
perts in hanging most, by his serenity
His actions were characteristic to the
last. His dying words, whispered to
Crocker from under the black cap
were: THE angels are coming for me
glory; ready" Then by a previous
agreement, he himself gave the signal
and was thus launched into eternity
His doggerel rhapsody was perhaps
the strangest and most sensational
feature Of the hanging, and has made
many converts to the insanity theory.
1t was composed this morning, and
was chanted in sing-song monotone,
rising sometimes to emotional bursts
of strange irrational character. All
the arrangements for the execution
we're perfect, and there was nothing
in the orderly sequence of events to
interfere with the natural solemnity
of the proceedings. Guiteau was
either silent or spoke with dignity.
The spectators, perhaps numbering
200 hundred in all, were quiet and re-
spectful. The only disorder was a
wild yell of delight from the negro
inmates of the Jail as the heavy thud
told of Guiteau's fall. Mrs. Scoville
twice appeared at the Jail, demanding
admission, but was refused, as neither
the prisoner nor the jail authorities
wished a scene of excitement at the
gallows. Brother John w. Guiteau
was present all throughout and took
it very coolly. He even tried to get
into the autopsy. Reed was present,
as he could do nothing, and he felt
great mental disturbance from what
seemed to him sacrifice of an insane
man. Hicks kept close to the prison
er and his whispered spiritual conso-
lations evidently helped the prisoners
nerves. Up to the last moment Cult
eau was himself. He wrote and tore
papers, devoured a huge dinner, after
hearty breakfast, and Immediately
before his execution made careful
toilet, organized as imposing process
sion to the gallows as the circumstan-
ces admitted, and, as stated, bore him
self on the scaffold with composure.
II must be acknowledged that his &C
tions were consistent with his pre-
lenses. He was not nearly SO nerv-
Gus at the approach of the fatal hour
us those who were intrusted with car
rying out the sentence. Warden
was much agitated, but was
greatly helped by Guiteau's own sang
froid, and managed everything salts
1t was Guiteau's own de-
desire to die as soon after II o'clock
as possible. He said the moments
seemed ages. He wanted to 90 with
out delay. On this account the exc
cution was fastened. 1t had been
originally set for half.past one.
The autopsy began few moments
after he had been laid in the coffin.
While thus resting beneath the gal
lows, the spectators were permitted to
pass by and look at the remains. The
features were placid and natural. He
had evidently died without conscious
pain or struggle. At the autopsy the
doctors made pretty thorough work
of examining not only the brain but
most Of the vital organs. One lung
was found impaired, but otherwise
nothing wrong was discovered in the
brain, eyes, heart or other organs. A
more searching investigation, how
ever, is yet to be made before report
is signed. The feeling among those
who saw the execution is that Guiteau.
whether an imposter, an enthusiast or
a genuine Crank" met his death with
courage and dignity. There is q gen.
eral expression of relief that it is
now all over. In this feeling the jail
officials heartily join, for they say he
was the most troublesome prisoner
they ever had to deal with.
At 1927 the iron gates at the end
of the corridor clicked. Then War
den Croker made his appearance,
and mement later the familiar fig
ure of Guiteau appeared. His face
was pallid, and the muscles about his
mouth moved nervously. Other than
this there was no sign Of faltering.
The procession moved quickly to the
scafold, and Guiteau assembled the
somewhat steep steps with as much
ne could he expected from