The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-07-08
AT THB END OF HIS TETHER.

1S.4O OSiOCh 1s M fas oaA1o PaskSA " eAs
the first to announce to the people Of
the parish the unfortunate shooting Of
General Garfield, 80 it was again in the
lead in giving the information that his
murderer had expiated his crime. 1t had
been said that Guiteau would falter in
going to the gallows, bnt though he was
not as collected rs if about to- attend q
ball, yet he controlled his emotions and
even evinced some interest in the prep
arations that were being made for his
execution, and expressed himself as be-
ing anxious lest some accident should
happen, asked that attention, should be
paid to all arrangements and agreed
OH signal to be given by him to Cen
eral Croker at the moment. when he
should be prepared to die.
After restless night, during which
no one had been with him except his
spiritual adviser aud the " death watch"
he awoke, arose and break tasted heartily.
At breakfast he gave directions for his
dinner. Through two or three hours Of
the morning he occupied himself in re-
ligious exercises and in reading and ut
tempting to sing little ditty composed
by himself and called "silnplicity." He
also arranged the order in which the
prayers, etc, should bc said on the scat
fold. At about 10 o'clock ho took a little
exercise in the hall of the Jail and q
bath. Afterwards he copied his q Prayer
upon the Scatfold," from the original
writing aud at 12 the death warrant was
read to the prisoner by Gen. Croker.
This was the first time that he had
broken completely down. Shortly after
twelve O'clock the steam whistle OF the
workhouse, which is near the Jail, blew
loud signal to those engaged in the
preparations for execution, and shortly
afterwards the procession Of officers with
Guiteau in their midst filed out of the
Jail and took its way to the scatfold.
Gniteau assembled the twelve steps, only
faltering y little upon the last, and while
the crowd of spectators pushed their
way into the corridor Of the Jail the con-
demned man stood silently surveying
them and gazing around upon the dread
constructions that were to hurl him into
eternity. When quiet was restored the
Paw nr IIioEo IN E.,<l,.,
that His light might descend upon the
man at this supreme moment Of his life,
that his soul might be delivered from
prison and that lie might appear before
Him redeemed and absolved from blood
outlines. After the prayer, Gniteau read
from the 10th chapter Of Matthew, 2sth
to dist verse inclusive, and Il paper
which he calls "My dying prayer on the
gallows" This is one Of Gutteau's mas
terpieces and is but series of invectives
against the Government, the American
press, President Arthur and the people,
and winds up as follows: " Father, thou
'knowost' me hut the world hath not
known me, and now 60 to Thee and
my Savior without the slightest i'll will
toward human being" He then took
leave Of those around BY saying, care
well, ye men Ut carth..n' and sang his
simplicity" which he informed those
around him was intended to indicate his
feelings at the moment Of leaving the
world. The piece would be Il: farce if it
were not part and portion Of such a
solemn thing as the ceremony attending
the hanging of man. He then received
the final benediction from his pastor;
tho black cap was placed on his head
and his legs were pinionel. Amidst a
solemn and death boling stiffness the
condemned man called out in loud tones,
d" Glory, glory, glory" and dropped
piece of paper from his hand, tue pre-
concerted signal that he was ready, a
pring was touched and Gniteau swung
in the air. For some seconds after the
drop fell the body remained motionless,
then there was visible slight muscular
contraction of the shoulders and legs.
After the body had hung for a half hour
it was cut down, placed in a coffin and
exposed to the view Of spectators who had
crowded around the scatfold. 1t was tlen
removed to the chapel Of the Jail where
the autopsy was made by several emf
nent physicians. The neck was not
broken i'll the fall and he died from
strangulati0n: The results Of the autopsy
show that Guiteau was IN good bodily
health. His brain weighed 40! ounces.
The physicians l,uye Pledged themselves
not to give publicity to any conclusions
at which they may arrive rs to tho
feloh's sanity until after Thorough ex-
animation of his BRAIN He st,lcksto the
theory of divine inspiration until the
last, and'wlaen preparing himself for tile
final ordeal said, 81 don't think can 20
through this without weeping, not aof
any great weakness for principle in nie
is strong, but because l am nearer the
other world hall to the idea that God
inspired lue.' +''s
Thus punishment has been inflicted
Oh the murderer of President Garfield,
but there are many religious fanatics
who will Say, and undertake. to prove,
that the mans life has been taken ilie-
!,ally aud that the jury and Judge, ss
we'll as the whole people OF the United
States, are guilty Of murder. -
An affidavit has been made by Mr..
Theodore Verrier, Of rnibott:ix; bef0re
the Fifth Ward Judice of the Peace Of