The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-07-08
THE EXECUTION!
Of Charles julius Guiteau at
" ashington, D. G.
June SO, 1882, at 1858 P. II.
4 PAINLESS DEATH.

y iAIAItSS DEAIH.
At precisely 1858 p. m. Charles
Julius Guiteau was launched into
eternity. He died without a
struggle and scarcely tremor. The
execution was witnessed by about 200
people, mostly representatives of the
press. The execution was well con
Quoted and quickly over At an early
hour in the morning the commons
around the Jail showed evidences Of an
unusual occurrence. People Of all
ages and conditions came focking
over the hills, men women and child
ren taking the most advantageous po-
sltions under the shade of the naples
and elms. At 10 o'clock perhaps 500
/ people had gathered in the vicinity of
the jail. Between 10 and y o'clock
the different roads leading to the Jail
were lined with every sort Of vehicle,
each bearing eXpectant witnesses of
! the execution or those who came mere
ly to lounge as near as possible to the
scene, the crowd augmenting every
minute until the execution took place
Every rise of ground was covered with
/ people. Sprinkled here and there
back Of the crowd were little cake
stands and booths which gave the ap-
/ pearance Of fair rather than execu-
ton. Between the crowd and the OBJ
iect Of their curiosity was line of
/ pickets and outposts, civil and mill
tary. Passing into the routanda d
/ lively scene was presented. 1t is but
1880 O'Clock and yet fifty people are
I present walking about, talking in low
whispers, smoking and glancing at
their watches as if impatient Of the
fatal hour. Such a restless crowd is
/ rarely II ever seen. There is q little
crowd OF men gathered about the door
/ which leads to the corridor containing
the scatlold. Through the glass door
IS full view Of the place of execution.
The rope is observed in its place, the
moose swinging loosely below, and the
spare line triced mp at the sides. 1t
is quiet enough in there now. The
peaceful morning sun shines through
/ the upper unshaded window on the
| brick pavement Of the corridor, and
gilds the cross beam from which
Charles julius Guiteau, the assassin of
! the President of the United States, is
/ soon To swing info eternity The si1n
! seemed to throw the yelled recess con
/ tanning the scaffold into dark shade,
THE STIAD0U ON TEArrTr
The men gathered at the doors, whis-
/ pered softly as they looked at it, al
1 though there is no reason for caution
/ or silence. There are a great many
/ policemen about the halls, but the most
conspicuous and most interesting to
/ all the crowd is Policeman Kearnv,
/ the man who arrested the assassin i'm
mediately after his dastardIy deed.
/ At II o'clock Gen. Crocker appears in
the routanda, where he is Immediately
surrounded by a crowd Of friends and
correspondents. He is scrupulously
dressed in a broadcloth suit, white vest
and high silk hat, and sports a dark
spotted necktie. The warden is imme-
diately forsaken, however, for a man
more interesting now to curious peo-
/ pie, and that is the Bev Dr. Hicks
He has just come from the prisoners
cell, and reports what has become q
familiar story with regard to the ac-
tions Of the assassin. John W. GuIteau
JONES the group and inquiries after the
health Of his brother. Somebody re-
marks that he viii weaken and break
down, This impression Is corrected by
Brother Hicks, who declares that he
will display nerve on the march to the
galloWs. "COWardice is not one of our
family defects" said John W. Quit
eau. There are doubtless others in
the crowd who differ with him, for Il
smile Of derision and increduility runs
around the circle. While standing
there an officer hands Gen. Crocker a
note and card bordered with black.
The note is the announcement that
Mrs. Scoyille, another Of the crank
family, is at the outer door demanding
admission, as right belonging to her
as one of the near members Of the
prisoners family. The scene at the
door is rather q sensational one. When
told that she could not be admitted
but must 90 away from the building,
she declared that
SHE HAD A RIGHT TO BE THERE
and that she would 90 in whether
/ Gen. Cr0cker said So or not. Suiting
the action to the word, she rushed for
ward suddenly and attempted to wedge
herself between the doors and the
easements; but the Office was too quick
for her and she was left on the stone
steps outside. She returned to the
| Jail and struck the heavy oaken door
with her fist as if she would batter it
down, and muttered and cursed the
United States that shut her out from
Witnessing the death Of her brother.
/ The woman was finally pacilied and
taken away in a close carriage. About
I 11:45 Il squad of twenty soldiers arm
ed with bayonets fixed, took up the
position on the eastern front of the
rotunda. There were new upward Of
/ 200 people in this place and the tramp
of the soldiery brought these to real
ization that the hour for hanging was
near at hand The sharp drop of the
muskets as they fell at an order arms
resounded throughout the jail and a