Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-07-06
GARFIELD AVENGED.
His Assassin Strangled Ac-
cOrding to the Law.
A Consistent Crank up to
the Very Last Moment
Of His Life.
The Dramatic Details of the
Lunatic's Last Hours
on Earth.
THE FATAL MORNING

| THE FATAL MORNING.
The morning of the day that Guitear
was to hang dawned peacefully anc
pleasantly, and everything augured 8
perfect day. Early in the morning the
stir and hustle all over the city begun
Guiteau was apparently the least ner-
vous of anybody.
When the cook took his breakfast
into the cell att 80 o'clock, in the morn
ing, Guiteau told him to bring his din
ner in at il o'clock promptly.
DR.. Hicks, who remained at the jail
| all night, was called into the prisoner
cell as soon as he rose and had a conver-
sation on religious subjects with him.
At O'Clock, DR.. Hicks saw the pris-
oner again, when he made a request 10
have bath and asked Hicks to GO out
and see the scaffold. Guiteau desired
him to arrange with the warden TO
have the drop sprung as soon after II
o'clock as possible. He also expressed
considerable anxiety lest
SOME ACCIDENT SHOULD OCCUR,
and insisted that Hicks should see tn at
the scafold and its appurtenances were
all in proper condition. After Quit
eau had disposed of these matters, he
read a poem, composed by himself,
which he calls "Simplicity;" or ere
ligious Baby Talk" After reading it
aloud,
HE ATTEMPTED TO SING
it, but broke down in the effort.
tIo,o Al lid &,
about the future. He remarked that
his heart was tender. 81 don't think, !"
he said, 81 can go through the ordeal
without weeping, not because of any
great weakness, for the principle in me
is strong, but because I aln near the
other world. l hold to the idea that
God inspired me-"
Guiteau subsequently asked that in
his books all plimentary remarks
about President Arthur and his admin
istration be eliminated. Then he pre-
sented Hicks the books that have been
COMPANIONS OF HIS LONELY HOURS.
He told Hicks that he wanted him to
offer the first prayer on the scaffold,
saying that ne (Guiteau) would then
read his favorite scripture passage-the
tenth chapter of John-and offer up
prayer on his own account. 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 8 O'Clock, and was
followed in few minutes by Warden
Crocker. These two gentlemen, with
DIR. Hicks, had q consultation as to the
disposition of the body.
At 9:15, the prisoner came out in the
corridor, and exercised for Is minutes.
He walked 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 over
to the large corps of newspaper report
es, and a squad of them are scribbling
away on every table, window sill aud
every projection that offers.
Many newspaper reporters remained
all night. The private Office of the
warden has been transferred temporar-
lily into night office. At 9 O'Clock
there was constant stream of persons
into the jail.
THE SCENE OUTSIDE
was like some great gala occasion. En-
terprising colored men had erected
booths from which they dispensed
lemonade, cakes and other refresh
m ents to the weary and thirsty people
who began, before 9 o'clock, to assem-
ble in front of the jail. Mounted mes
sergers, speeding to and from the city,
carrying things and bringing visitors to
the jail, kept continual cloud of
dust lowering over the road, that winds
through the wide common that lies be-
tween the jail and city.
At 10 o'clock Guiteau expressed the
desire to
TAKE BATH,
and a large tub was taken into his cell.
At this hour no one but the death
watch was with him. Guiteau nerv-
ously disrobed and bathed. It was
quite apparent to the guard. who was
closely watching his every movement,
that his object in asking for bath was
simply to obtain some employment
which might distract his thoughts from
the dread contemplation of his ap-
preaching death. He evinced
INCREASED NERVOUSNESS
and his uncertain movements and the
| marked tremor in his tone, when he at
tempted to speak, impressed them with
the belief that Guiteau was rapidly
weakening.
OPENED TO VISITORS.
The rotunda was thrown open
at 10 O'Clock. The newspaper men
at once focked in. There were
few other people there, except
the Jail guards and SQUAD of ar
tillerymen, who looked down upon the
scene from the high steps leading to
the scaffold.
Early this morning, the prisoners in
that part of the jail overlooking the
court where the gallows stand we're an