Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-07-04
oUTTEiU COVE

~ W oohihkt'"t -Jf
1882, Charles Jules Guiteau, as mis-
cradle a mixture Of human degreda'
ton and canting hypocracy as ever
lived TO curse the world. Born dead
beat, his whole life was a truer exem-
plification of total depravity than was
ever claimed even by the most earnest
supporters of that doctrine. A scab,
a sore, both on the social as well as the
political body, his end could not have
been otherwise than in an ignominious
death on the gallows. Just forty-fve
hours less than a year from the day
he fred his cowardly shot, without
warning and without provocation' in
the back Of President, who had been
elected by majority Of the people of
the United States, and who was fast
gaining the confidence and love of the
whole people. he expiates that fearful
crime at the end ofthe rope thatfor the
sake of justice and decency had been
kepttoo long fromits work. The events
of the last year are too fresh in the
minds of our readers to need repeti-
ton here, for there is hardly a five
year old child in the land who does
not remember the months of terrible
suffering and final death on the 18th
of September, of the man who had
come up from the lowest walks of life
to be Chief of one of the most power
full nations of earth; the subsequent
trial of the sneaking murderer, his
exhibitions of mallevolence, the great
freedom allowed him, whereby a court
of justice was turned into the most
farcical of performances, his convic-
ton and sentence, and the numerous
and steady attempts of his counsel to
save his worthless neck-all these
come before the minds of fifty mil
lions of people as but the occurrence
of yesterday, as they in imagination's
eye, see Guiteau dangling from the
scaffold and paying the penalty OF his
horrid crime. Ii seems but fit that
the last night on earth of such a mon
ster should be intensified in horror
with the maniacal howls of a crazy
woman confined in the Jail, who ever
and anon asserted her claim of being
Goods woman" and that sleep should
have been kept from his eyes for the
greater part of the time to better con-
template his approaching end. Rising
early on the morning of his last day, he
dressed himself with more than usual
care, ate his breakfast with the raven
Gus appetite of half starved animal,
called for bath.tub shortly afterwards
and washed himself from head to foot,
devoted portion of his time to prayer
and composing prayer and a poem
to be delivered from the scaffold, par
took again of hearty meal, appeared
very impatient for the time to arrive,
and begged the Warden to let it be
over as soon as possible. AT his re-
quest the death warrant was read in
his cell instead Of on the gallows, and
at 1890 the march to the instrument
1f death was begun. Guiteaus face
wore pallid but determined expires
,ion, and he seemed less excited than
his attendants. Reaching the platform,
which was gained by rather steep steps,
he was placed Immediately behind the
lrop and facing the several hundred
people that had gained admission to
The Jail. The spiritual adviser, DIR.
Hicks, then offered a short prayer,
after which Guiteau in firm tones read
rom the 10th chapter of Matthew,
he 28th to 4lst verses. Finishing
his he remarked, 81 am now going to
read to you my last dying prayer"
and in clear, strong voice, and with
,ome effort at elocution, he read the
following, DIR. Hicks holding the
for him, the miserable
mans hands being pinioned securely
behind:
Father, now go to Thee and the
Savior. | have finished the work |
Thou has sent me to do, and l am on
y too happy to 90 to Thee. The
world does not yet appreciate my mis-
,ion, but Thou knowest, aye, Thou
knowest Thou didst inspire Garfield's
removal and only good hast come from
Ii. This is the best evidence that the
Inspiration came from Thee, and |
nave set it forth in my book, that all
men may read and understand that
Thou, Father, didst inspire the act for
which l am now murdered. Father,
tremble for the fate Of my murder.
,rs. this Government and this Nation
~ this act. know they will receive
Thy eternal enmity, as the Jews OF
I'D for killing Thy man, my Savior.
The retribution in that case came
quick and sharp, and l know Thy
livine law for retributiOn will strike
his Nation and MY murderers in the