The National tribune., 1882-06-17
NEARING THE SCAFFOLD.
GUITEAU'S HOPE OF SECURING PRESI-
DENTAL PARDON.
The Assassin's Dream of Future Prosperity.
His Everyday Life in Jail - Another
Letter from Mrs. Scoville-Fur-
ther Efforts of His COun-
sci to Save Him.

Guteau the assassin has just two weeks
from tomorrow TO live. All the efforts of his
indefatigable counsel, Reed, through the courts
to save the murderer from his impending doom
have failed, aud yet Gutcau continues to main
tain his stolidity of department and processes
to have faith in presidential Clemcncy. 1t is
probable that the action recently taken by the
Medico-Lcgal Society of New York, where the
question Of his sanity was discussed, has in
spired the assassin with hope but it is not at
all probable that President Arthur will COM
mute the sentence, no matter what pressure
may be brought to bear upon him. The jury
found him responsible, the people believe him
to have been responsible when he committed
the crime, and the general impression prevails
that while he possesses an ill-disciplined mind
he should cXpiatc as far as possible his mon
strous crime upon the scalIold. Guitcau spends
most of his time in reading his Bible and
religious work which was given him by Mr..
Griffith Of Baltimore. When he does not take
his usual amount of exercise he says that it IS
because he feels lazy. So far from giving away
mentally his mind is bright and he is able TO
argue his case with considerable legal sharp
/
he said that Mr. Reed has been wrong in his
recent moves in the ease; that there is nothing
that can be done about it now, even if the
record is wrong, for it has been ruled upon and
the Judgment completes it. :" If it is wrong"
Guiteau said, it has to gonOw. The question
, of jurisdiction has been settled, and there is
nothing left Of that question. The only hopo
is the President. That l have told Reed and
have told him to go to him and let all other
Things go"
He has again changed somewhat in personal
appearance, having had his whislers (which
have been growing about four weeks shaved
of, leaving his face bare, with the exception
of his mustache. Recently he has appeared
to be in a better humor than he was few days
ago, when it is supposed he took dislike
TO a guard being posted at his cell door con-
tinuously, and was also troubled as to the
/ disposition Of his case. His sleep is somewhat
disturbed. At night, whenever the guards
/ pass around with the light, he turns in his
/ couch or rises.
\ few mornings ago he stated to one Of the
officers that he had had dream, to which he
was inclined to attach some importance. In
his dream ten years had passed and he was in
full practice in Chicago as lawyer with desk
full of briefs
/ A few days ago some one passed in to him
/ by an officer number of tracts, which he laid
unopened on his table and resumed the reading
! of his Bible. Later a member of the Free
! Methodist Church sent to him through Gen.
! Crocker a book entitled "God, Man, and the
! Devil" Guiteau, looking at the title and his
name written at the top of the cover by the
donor, tore that portion off and handed the
! book back and then turned again to his Bible.
! From this time forth there will be no inter
| course allowed with him by the outside world,
unless it shall be actually necessary for him to-
have q few persons each day to talk with. In
this case no outsiders will be admitted, but the
/ guards whose posts Of duty are in the other
| wings of the building and who have not been
brought much in contact with him will be used
for the purpose.
A LETTER TO GUITEAU FROM HIS SISTER.
Mr.. Reed has received the following letter
! from Mrs. ScOvile to be delivered to Guiteau :
SHELDON HOUSE, CHICAGO, May %, 1882.
"MY DEAR BROTHER CHARLES: l hear
through the papers that you still keep up good
! courage, for which I am thankful. You GER
| tainly deserve the commendation of all people
who profess to be Christians for your unwaver-
| ing trust in Gods power when you shot the
| President, as sincerely believe you did. There
! then can be no condemnation on Gods part
toward you, and no condemnation in your own
heart towards yourself You have nothing to
do but continue as you have from the first,
| trusting implicitly in God and His protecting
care being willing to do and to suffer if need
be- all that He is pleased TO demand of you.
| SO shall you have in His eternal kingdom 81
still greater weight Of glory. God help you,
comfort you, protect you, and cheer your every
| lonely hour, my dear brother, as He only can.
| / shall not relax my efforts in your behalf for
| a moment, and / am sure Mr. Reed will not.
| Il & 3 Your loving sister,
ORANGES NJ. SCOyILLE"
| GCITEAU AS A POET.
! Having about exhausted himself in prose
! Guiteau has turned to poetry" and has been
! furnishing "poems" to the reporters. In a
moment of inspiration he penned the following
remarkable efIusion about himself:
! Other men have BLESSINGS.