The sun., 1882-07-02
READING THE DEATH UARRANT.
Guiteau Composediy Asks tho Privilege of
Giving the Sign to the Hangn,an.

Guiteau Conrposediy Asks tho Privilege of
Giving the sign TO the Hangmnn.
Away across the rotunda stands Warden
Crocker He is talking with Marshal Henry
but he is thinking Of something else. for his
eyes are on Strong and Strong's companion.
When he catches their glance he mods. the wire
wicket gate Is opened. and Strong goes In. fol-
lowed by the short man, who shuflies along
like prisoner. But when the short man gets
into the corridor his stop changes and he walks
rapidly to o little cell right abreast the gal
lows. This he enters and Strong shuts tho
door. The short man fastcns a curtain to the
grated window Of the cell that opens upon the
gallows. There is little hole In this curtain
and the eye OF the short man will be at this
hole that he may see the signal and pull the
executioner.
There seems 10 have been some understand
ing between the Warden and the United States
Lieutenant who, in his full-dress uniform.
COMMANDS the 36 marines. and the Warden,
although he seems nervous, forgets no details
for whom Strong and the executioner pass down
the corridor the brilliantly dressed Lieutenant
for the Warden, and a sign is exchanged be-
tween them Then the Lieutenant. turning to
ose mem and sSS Ssy an STaer pncs In low
rotunds The maskets are brought. .i With the the
Then, bringing the bayoneted guns to parade
rest the men stand waiting Warden Crocker
steps little nearer to tho noisy little Seth
Thomas clock, the minute hand of which is
steadily approaching the hour hand at y. The
his ruling pass ions. the desire for prompt and
abundant meals. gives. place to another. the
love Nt Of cleranhlinefs He calls for bowl q
usual care and delbcration.
VA At length the little clock wheezed out IA
breast poe ket Of his long black % coat pulled nj tre
s9v apge enyeEopSe Partly ont thrust it back and
elnnked in the lock and the wardon went in
The innerguard saw him. and the clapboarded
hinges and the Warden passed ON. The death
watch vhhil say M, him, and at once arose from his
again the envelope. and taking from it a large
PAPER with the great seal Of the court upon il.
warrant. As he began to- read Guiteau stepped
put into the corridor, and stood there carefully
was brisk. and when the reading was finished
he turned to his cell and completed his toilet.
But II he was andisturbcd the Warden was
not, for he sat In tine death watch chair like an
| exhausted nun. and asked for a glass of water.
Gulteau. however. began to finish his dressing.
asked the Warden with consummate cooness
| II he could haye little favor granted. Glad OF
jumped eagerly from his chair. and said to the
man whom he was about TO hang:
Of yours that can consistently"
Guitcau said On. you can grant this I
promptly. don't want any accidents at all. !
no trouble, and would like to ask you if l may
Warden Crocker hnd heard no message to-
| day which delighted him so much rs this. for
he had rather go through ten days of prepare
chief and wave it to the silent eXecutioner in
the CELL. So he said to Guiteau:
] L should be very glad indeed TO have NOu
| lieved myself OF that painful duty. l would
religious exercises have ended, and when ycu
perfectly. And now Warden, ], should like a
entirely ready G 90 10 sSo my 9 God iA S' 00
There We're no farewels said and no diGnflcd
and painful formalitcs induGed in: Guiteau
that kind. and the Warden was very glad TO be
| relieved from :he necessity. When Guteau
| finished dressing himself he took n white silk
| He had no collar on, for it had been suggested
| to him by Strong that il would be we'll to leave
that of. but he was so punctious respecting 1t,
not care to 60 10 the scaioIi Without @ any VI meek
| covering. He said little or nothing to Dr. Hicks,
who oS9 was IN h9 cell t a. the time until he had
| nothing more to do. He gave Dr. Hicks his
| prayer and also his verses and asked Dr. Hicks
could read them Dr. Hicks asked him il he
| thought he would be composed enough to read
them, and his reply was,
Why not? OF course ! shall be-"
| So far as DIR. Hicks could observe. there WAS
! then not the slightest apprehension and not
the smallest indication Of fear. AS DR. Hicks
did cry little. but he said he was crying for
JOY at the thought of his speedy union with his
God. DR.. Hicks then left the cell for few mo-