Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-07-05
The Fat.fui sHsrninx.

The Eatcfui Morning.
At precisely half-past O'Clock Friday morn
ing. the guard brought in the felon's break
Fast; which he devoured with o keen relish.
DR.. Hicks, who remained at the jail all night
was called into the prisoners cell and held o
conversation on religious subjects with him. At
8 O'Clock DIR. Hicks saw the prisoner again,
when he made request to have . bath, and
asked Hicks TO 60 out and examine the ecaf-
fold. Guiteau desired him TO arrange with the
Warden to have the trap sprung a. soon after
n o'clock as possible. He also expressed con.
siderabls anxiety lest soule accident should
occur, and insisted that Hicks should 800 that
the scaffold atfd It's sppurtepanees wefe all in
proptr condition..
After Guiteau had disposed Of these tfistlefs
he read poem, COMPOSED by himself, whicH
he calls "Slmplicit,T C., Religious Baby Talk. !"
After reading 1t he s'ismpted to sing Il; but
broke down in the effort GuItean then talked
for some time about the future. He remarked
that h's heart was tender. az don't think, !" he
said. "that can go through this ordeal With
out weeping--zfiot because OF any great weahr
ness, for principle In ME Is streng, but becauss
am nearer the other world: hold to the idea
that God inspired me. =.
Guiteau subsequently asked that IN his books
all complimentary remarks about President Ar
thur and his administration be eliminste3.
Then he presented Hicks the books that have
been the companions Of his lonely hours He
told Hicks that he wanted him 10 offer the first
prayer on the scaffold, saying he (Guiteau)
would then road his favorte scriptural passage,
the tenth CHAPTER OF John, and offer prayer
On his own account. Then he intended, he
said, 20 read his poem, HSimpiioity." He de,
sired 10 have the execution 20 arranged that
Just as be uttered the last word the drop should
John ". auiteau arrived at the JAN at Q
-, Al f0ll In fau ffa1h u
| Warden Crocker. These two gentlemen, with
Hicks, had constellation as TO the disposal of
! the body.
Al 9:i5 the prisoner came ont in tho corridor
and exerc sed for fifteen minutes. He walked
very briskly, making 1t rather difficult for the
guards to keep mp with him.
At 0 O'Clock there was q constant stream Of
persons coming into the Jail The scene OUT
side was like that OF some great gala occasion.
Some enterprtdng colored men had erected
1 booths from which they dispensed lemonade,
cakes and other refreshments TO the wesry
and thirsty people, who began before o'clock
| to assemble In the TO I'd in front OF the Jail.
At 10 O'Clock Guiteau expressed q desire 70
take q bath, and q large tub was taken into his
cell. Al this hour no oAe but the death watch
was with hun. Guiteau nervously disfobed and
bathed. II was quite apparent 10 the guard,
movement that his object In asking
for bath waS simply to Obtain
some employment which might distract hi'
4 thoughts from the dread contemplation OF his
| approaching death. He evidenced increased
nervousness, and his uncertain movements, dis
trait manner, and tho Married tremor In hi.
| tones, when he attempted to speak, impressed
tho guard with the belief that he is rapidly
! weakening.
At few minutes after 10 O'Clock DR.. Hicf'
4 and John w. Guiteau went with den. Crockel
/ 10 the scaffoid, together with number o
guards John w. daiteau assembled tho step
! the iope and carefully Inspecting Ailthe fixtures
| both above and below tho platform
Shortly before II o'clock Guitefu called 70