Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-23
THE ASSASSIN.
WbIstIfng 80 Keep Hts OouVase Up
NOT Quite so Much Of = Pet as
He Was.
Waterto,en Star

Wdtertolct Star.
The prisoner has always shown a dislike
to profanity, aud some of the guards and
attendants inclined Co the use of oaths have
been frequently checked by MIN. Generally
II he overhears an oath, he will say, "Lst
cant motion with his hand, In Heating the
region below. He pays more attention to
spiritual matters now than he formerly did,
anc both on retiring and arising kneels at
the side OF his cot aud prays, and before
parsaking Of his meals he sits down quietly,
and pausing 3 moment, places his hands
over his eyes and asks blessing. As be-
fore stated, the larger portion of his time
ne spends in reading his Bible or some other
religious work. Sometimes he will whistle
or hun hymn tune. Occasionally be IN
voluntarily strikes 3 song tune, but will
drop the latter as soon as he discovers bis
mistake.
A few evenings ago he was whistllng,
Jordan am hard road TO trabble," when
the guard said, "Thst IS not In keeping with
your action, ''and he at once stopped It, re-
marking that he had forgotten himself. He
is apparently losing q portion OF his ego
tism, placing himself Ia the position OF
suppliant for Gods mercy, looking aux-
iously forward to the times set by his
spiritual adviser. Rev. DIR. Hicks, to vIsit
him. He eats We'll and sleeps well. Last
night he slept soundly, and awoke this
morning quite refreshed and very bright.
Since his imprisonment the jail has been
one of the principal points of attraction to
visitors. Thousands have beseeched the
officials for just sight OF him. There have
been times when the pressure has been so
great, many coming with letters from high
government officials, members of Congress,
etc, who could not well be re-
fused, that to save tlme the prisoner
has been brought out in the presence
of hundreds at a time. It is well
known that before the trial, and during It,
there were others besides Sergeant Mason
and BIZ Jones who would have killed the
assassin If they had had the opportunity,
and there is little doubt that a number OF
persons visited the court house aud Jail to
avenge the Presidents death. One OF our
business men while being shown through
the jail by General Crocker was halted at
the assassln's cell door and his hand went
back to his hip-poeket, while he bit his lips
to keep his temper down. On coming out
the visitor vowed he would not go through
the ordeal again for fifty dollars, for he had
as much as he could do to keep from shoot
ing the prisoner. Another poor, afflicted
man, almost dead from disease, on being
admitted to the rotunda did his best to get
sight of the assassin, voWing thatif he could
see hair Of the man he would kill him.
Recently a prominent New Yorker, an
officer of the National Guard, of that State.
was at the jail to see a prisoner, and 1t being
suggested that he might see the assassin,
exclaimed; ''I wauld not see him for q thou
sand dollars, and, while / am thankful for
the suggestion, If YOU do not wish to get
me In trouble don't let me get sight of
him." Aud he left the building without
seeing him,
Some OF the ladies who called seemed to
have been satisfied with barely look at
the prisoner, and when he extended his
haud to them would recoil, at which the
prisoner would get excited. On one occa-
sion he ordered a number who had thus
treated him out of his cell. Probably he
never showed SO much temper as he did on
one occasion, when he overheard one of the
two New Workers about entering the cor
ridor to see him remark, t'I have been In
many prisons and seen hundreds Of prison
ers, but for the first time am going to see
one whom l have not even little sympathy
for, one whom it would honor to spit In his
face" The assassin jumped into his bed at
once and turned his face to the wall so that
the visitors did not have their curiosity
gratifed. One lady who visited the jail re-
marked proudly to her father at the dinner
table after her return home, "We have seen
the assassin, and l shook his hand" The
astonished parent Redeemed and vociferated,
"Get up, miss, leave my sight AMI wash
your hands"