The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-07-08
GUITEAU HANGED.
A CHARACTERISTIC ENDING OF A
BAD LIFE.

| ltSit''i Wal ltib. paul iIit VI
! his crime on Friday. the Both ult.; the
| drop fell at II 81, and she assassin died
without a struggle. There were no sen
| SaiiDnal scenes. such as were generally
expected. After midnight there was
little of interest about the inner part of
the Jail. There was an effort to keep it
quiet, in order that no unnecessary dis
turbance might arouse the assassin to
excitement. This was not so much for
his own comfort, but as an aid to avoid
me scene in the morning.
The city of Washington arose for the
DAYS business with an evident apprecia-
tiuu that the serious event of the day
and the duty for which it was set apart
was the execution of the assassin. All
thoughts seemed turning toward the Jail,
rs show by the talk OF those who met.
In riding early from the region of the
White House to the Jail, three miles dis
tant, there We're constant reminders of
the approaching event. Mounted police,
District officials, surgeons. correspond
cnts and others We're each. at short
intervals, moving to the jail. Outside
that building the crowds began to gather
on the extensive commons around it soon
after daylight. At 10 o'clock there was
thousand, and at II at least two thous-
and people assembled.
I)urinp tba interval ha+waop IN opl
u clock, those who had been invited
to witness the execution passed the time
i'll moving about the spacious rotunda
into which all the corridors open, and
discussing such incidents as could be
gathered in connection with the conduct
and sayings Of the culprit. Opposite the
entrance to the rotunda is the chapel,
which is located on the second floor. and
reached by two flights of iron steps
forming an arch. On these steps were
standing a detachment of Company C.
Second United States Artillery. their
arms being stacked in the chapel. await
ing the hour when they were to he sum
Hi'h'' w Peiioth i ihSi patp w tllc Pio
gramme of death,
Prominent among those in the rotunda
was John W. Guteau, brother of the
assassin, who sat opposite to and facing
the south corridor, in which the cell
cupied by the condemned man is located.
His chair tilted back in an easy position.
al -, |,
ment, and chatting pleasantly with those
who chose to engage him in eonyersa
ton. he talked freely about his brother.
He said he had done everything possible
to be done for him. He believed his
brother would die faithful to what he
called his inspiration. Mr. Guiteaus
last interview with his bother took
place the night before. and, although he
reached the jail a, all early hour Friday
morning, he manifested no disposition to
again meet the condemned man. No
good purpose would be served by fur
the iews, and they would need
leSSIY excite him and pain the other
brother.
During the interview last night be-
tween the brothers, the assassin charged
John Giteau to look carefully after the
scaifold. and see that everything was in
geo.. o"der. He wanted to be executed
soon after II 2'el2c"k, and desired that
every precautiOn should uc ta1pn to
guard against accidents. Accordingly,
about 10 o'clock this morning. John w.
Glliteaii. accompanied by the official hav-
ing charge II The scat3ld, visited that
instrument of death, when ali its york
ingS were pointed out, as well as the
precaution taken against failure. 1t was
ais; explained to Mr.. Guiteau that ex-
periments ha.. been successfully tried
with the scatlold. bag OF s4nh weigh
ing 100 pounds being used to make the
test. and that everything worked salts
factotiiy. He was satisfied with the re-
suit of his Investigators ..na returned
to the rotuuda again and mingled with
the crowd.
Rev. Nj. Hicks, the condemned mans
spiritual adviser. was "Eother prominent
figure on the rotunda, and after each
visit to the condemned cell was eagerly
sol:ult after by the correspondents. MIR.
Hicks rem4ipea ALL night at the Jail and
his face gave evidence Of ply weak
hess as well as mental anxiety. He re-
ported the prisoner 10 be unchanged III
manner OF feeling ana as being fully pre-
pared to meet the dreadful ordeal of the
OCCASION. Ills spiritual convictions
said III. Hicks, ARE sincere, and he will
die honestly believing in his hallucina-
ton about inspiration, He has not felt
or exhibited the slightest eontriticn or
regret, although he has at times shed
tears, which, Guiteau says, is an emo
tioHa, result and not an indication of
weakness. "Guiteau said to me this
morning." continued iiy. Hicks, Doctor
| am about to be murdered because am
Gods man; shall believe this even in
my death. my tears are tears of JOY: |
can't check thea. ! am not afraid to
die. and am ready
The condemned man did not once al
ludc during the morning to obtaining a
reprievG, but devoted himselve to prepar-
Ing for the execGtion. During the early
part of Thursday night he WIS restless.
and seemed to be wakeful until after
midnlght, when he fell asleep and did not
awake till five clock. He arose about
80, and, witioo. !@lly dressing. otcu-
pied himself in his cell lii occasional
reading and writing until o clock, when
be expressed desire to take his accus-
toned exercise in the corridor. This,
however, was not permitted, when he
became surly and abusive &c i..- guard,
When his breakfast was brought him,
Guiteau was still in bad humor, and
threatened to eat nothing unless he was
allowed his usual morning walk. Ills
obstinacy. however. w2S overcome. by
the temptation spread before him IN the
shape of a good breakfast, and he ate
with that heartiness that has character
lied him throughout his whole incarcer-
alton. About nine o'clock Guiteau ex
pressed a desire to take bath. and i
tub of water and sponge were placed in
his cell. when he bathed himself, under
the surveillance of the guard. Having
taken the first step toward making ready
for the grave, Guiteau dressed himself