Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-07-06
l. BROOKINGS 6,

before him. He will 60 the gallows
firmly and honestly believing in his in
spiration theory. There Is not the
slightest doubt Of it."
At IL O'Clock, however, Guiteau began
to cry and show signs Of weakening. He
showed great nervousness and appeared
greatly startled when he heard the rat.
tie OF muskets on the stone floor Of the
rotunda. From that moment the doomed
man appeared be thoroughly overcome
with emotion. He wept freely and
seemed to be in great anguish.
After the death warrant was read by
the warden the prisoner became more
composed, and turning away began to
brush his hair.
At 1925 loud steam whistle was
blown at the workhouse, which is near
the Jail. This whistle usually blows at
IL o'clock, and by it Guiteau was in the
habit of guaging the time. The delay
to-day was by special arrangement, so
that its startling summons might not
come before the officers were ready.
Two minutes later the iron gates at
the end of the corridor clicked; then
Warden Crocker made his appearance
and q moment later the familiar figure
OF Guiteau was seen. His face was
pallid and the muscles about the mouth
moved nervously. Other than this there
was no sign of faltering. The process
sion moved quickly to the scaffold and
Guiteau ascended the somewhat steep
steps with ms much steadiness as could
be expected from a man whose arms
were tightly pinioned. At the last step
he faltered for a moment, but was as
sisted by officers who walked upon
either side. Upon reaching the plat
ately behind the drop, facing to the
front of the scaffold. Captain Cole
man stood upon his right, Robert
Strong upOn his left and Woodward di-
rectly behind him. Jones took posi-
ton on the north side near the upright
, OF the beam. Warden Crocker took his
position at the southeast corner of the
structure. There was slight delay,
while the spectators were pushing and
jostling through the door leading from
the rotunda TO the corridor at the lower
end Of which the gailows was placed.
Guiteau meanwhile gazed upon the
crowd, looked up at the beam over his
head and quickly made a survey of all
the dread paraphernalia.
As soon as the crowd gained access,
Gen. Crocker moved to them to uncover,
and all heads were barred. Dr. Hicks
then prayed in these words:
Father, ont of the depths we cry to Thee.
Hear Thou our suppiicatlon for the sake of
Jesus Christ, the Savior who has made full
propitiation for US. Behold this, Thy servant.
We humbly pray that Thou wilst deliver him
at this supreme mement of his life. Let Thy
light descend upon him; liberate his soul from
prison. May he appear before Thee absOlyed
by Tky great mercy from the blood Of guilt
ness; deliver him and Us. God have mercy on
us; Christ have mercy on us; Lamb of God
that takest away the sins Of the world have
mercy on Us! Amen aud amen!
During the prayer Guiteau stood with
bowed head. At its conclusion DIR.
Hicks opened the Bible and Guiteau, i'll
firm tone, said: 81 will read a selec-
ton from the tenth chapter of Matthew,
from tine 5Sth to the 4lst verses, iuclu-
sive." He read with a clear, strong
voice, and with good mtonation, showing
little il any nervousness. DIR. Hicks
then produced the manuscript prepared
by the prisoner this morning aud held it
before him while Guiteau read. While
DR.. Hicks was arranging the manuscript
Guiteau exhibited slight nervousness
and moved several times from one foot to
the other. He soon recovered his COM
posure and looked over the sea of up
turned faces, saying. 81 am now going
to read to you my last, dying prayer.
He then read in loud tone and with
distinct and deliberate emphasis the
following:
MY DYING PRAYER on THE GALLows.
Father, now go to Thee. Saviour have
finished the work Thou gavest me TO do. am
only too happy to go to Thee. The world does
not yet appreciate my mission, bnt Thou know
est 1t. Thou knowest Thou didst inspire Gar
fields removal and only good has come from
il. This il the best evidence that the inspira-
ton came from Thee, and have set it forth in
my book that all men may read and may know
that Thou. Father, dldst the act for which l
am murdered. This government and nation
by this act l know will incur Thy eternal
enmity, As did the Jews by the killing Of Thy
Man, my Saviour. The retribution in that
case came quick and sharp, and I know
Thy divine law Of retrbution will strike
this nation and my murderers IN some way. |
The diabohcal spirit Of this nation, its gov
ernment and its newspapers toward me will
justify Thee In cursing them, and know that |
the divine law of retribution is inexorable. |
tueIetOre preulct tndt tnis natlOn Will 20 down |
in blood and my murderers, from the Executive |
TO the hangman, will go to hell. Thy laws are
inexorable, o Thou Supreme Judge. Woe un- |
to men that violate Thy laws; only weeping and
gnashing of teeth awaits them. The American |
press has large bill to settle with Thee, |
Righteous Father, for their yIndictiveness in |
this matter. Nothing but blood will satisfy |
them, and now my blood be on them and this |
nation and its officials. Arthur, the President, !
is q coward and an migrate. His ingrstitude to |
the man that made him and saved his party |
and band from overthrow has no parallel In |
history. But Thou, Righteous Father, wilt |
judge him. Father, Thou knowest me, but the |
world hath known me, and now / go to Thee |
and the Saviour without the slightest i'll will |
toward a human being. Farewell, We men Of |
earth.
At several points he had paused and |
endeavored to impart increased empha- |
sis to his words by the peculiar facial |
expression so often observed during the |
trial, when he was angered at something |
which was said or done. This was pecu- |
harly noticeable when he alluded TO |
President Arthur, and when he declared |
that this nation would 60 down in |
blood. When he had finished reading |
his prayer he again surveyed the crowd |
and said, with a still more firm voice: |
am now going to read some verses |
which are intended to indicate my feel |
ings at the moment of leaving the world. |
If set to music they may be rendered |
effective. The idea is that of child |
bsbbling to his mamma and papa. |
wrote it this morning about 10 o'clock"
He then commenced to chant these
verses in sad, doleful style:
l am going 10 the Lordy, am so glad,
I am going to the Lordy, am so glad, |
l am going to the Lordy, glory hslelujah, glory |
30 halelulah.
I am going to the Lordy-
Here his feelings overcame him, and
he leaned his head on the shoulders of
DR.. Hicks and sobbed pitifully.
l wonder what win do when I get 10 the Lordy?
guess will weep no more when get 70 the Lordy.
Glory hsllelujah
Here there was another interruption |
caused by sobs and emotions which he |
was unable to repress. He wept bitterly |
and then, with quivering lips and mourn |
f,,I knpaa ha uvan< m, t., Gn,ah HE a,tt~.