The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-07-08
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WAS very restless during most of the
Inter part Of the night, not sleeping
more than twenty minutes at a time.
Towards morning he fell into sounder
sleep from sheer exhaustion. He
arose i few minutes after 5 o'clock
and breakfasted heartily at ESQ.
hen Che cook took his breakfast to
the cell Gaiteau told him to bring
dinner III at II o'clock promptly.
Rev. hi. Hicks, who remained at the
Jail all night, was called into the
prisoners cell soon after he rose and
held conversation on religious sub
jects with him. at s o'clock Dir.
Hicks saw the prisoner again, when
he made a request to have bath,
and asked The reverend gentleman to
90 ont and see the soaffold. Guiteau
asked him to arrange with the war
den TO have the trap sprung as soon
after IL O'Clock as possible. He also
expressed considerable anxiety lest
some accident should occur, and in
sisted that DIR. Hicks should see that
the scaf1old and its appurtenances
were all in proper and safe condition.
Guiteau then talked fog some time
about his future. He remarked that
his heart was tender. | don't think,"
he said, a can go through this or
deal without weeping, not because of
any great Weakness, for principle In
me is strong. but because / am nearer
to the other world hold to the idea
that God inspired me- Gnifeau sub
sequently asked that in his books ali
complimentary remarks about Pres
iaent Arthur and his administration
be eliminated. Then he presented to
DR. Hicks the books which have been
the companions Of his lonely hours.
He told DR. Hicks that he wanted him /
to offer the FIRST prayer on the scat
fold, saying that he (Gniteau) would |
then read his fayorlte scriptnraI pas
sage, tenth chapter Of john, and offer
prayer on his own account. Then be (
intended, he said, to read his poem, I
. Simplicity" He desired to have the /
execution so arranged that, just as
he uttered the last word, the drop |
would be sprung.
ABOUT THE JAIL
The scene about the Jail this morn
ing is unique. The office of the Jail
has. been given up completely 10 a
large corps Of newspaper reporters,
and a squad Of them are scribbling
away Oh every table, window silis, +
and every projection that offers d rest l.
for paper. Newspaper reporters re-
manned all night. The private office
of the warden has been transformed !
temporarily into a telegraph office ]
AM before o'clock eight instru-
ments were clicking their merry &C !
compartment to The gloonier prepa- 5
ratIons going on inside the Jail. l.
AT 10 o'clock Guiteau expressed a :
desire TO take bath, and a large tub.
was taken into his cell. at this hour
no one save the death-watch was :
with him. Guitcau neryouslv dis I
robed and plunged into the cold bath.
1t was quite apparent to the guard, /
who was closely observing his every s
movement, that his object in asking !
for a bath was to simply obtain some !
employment which would distract his
thoughts from the dread contempla- !
tion Of his approaching death.
THE MURDERER soBBINa.
Shortly before 70 o'clock Guiteau
seemed to break down completely,
and burst into tears and sobbed hys-
terically. After the death warrant
was read to the prisoner by the
warden, he became much more COM
posed, and turning away, he began I
to brush his hair with his old appear /
ance of staggering sang fraid,
AT 1926 p, m. the loud steam Whis-
lie was blown at the werk-house,
which is near the Jail, This whistle {
usually blows at IL o'clock, and by
it Cfuiteau was in the habit of reck-
oning his time. The delay to-day was !
by special arrangement, SO that its
startling summons might not Come
before the officers were ready. Two {
minutes letter the iron gates at the
end of the corridor elinked Then 4
Warden Groeker made bis appear {
ance, and a moment Later the familiar
countenance of Guiteau was seen.
His face was pallid and the muscles I'd
about his mouth moved neryously.
Other than this there were no signs {
Of faltering The procession moved /
quickly to the seoffold and Gliteau
assembled twelve somewhat steep /
steps with as much steadiness as
could be expected from man whose {
arms were tightly pinioned behind |
him. At the last step be faltered for
moment, but was assisted by two {
officers who walked one upon either
side. Upon reaching the platform, !
Guitean was placed Immediately be- (
hind the drop, facing the front of the I
seaffold. Captain Colemanstood upon <
his right, Mr. Robert Strong upon I
his left, and Mr.. Woodward directly !
behind him. Mr. Jones took posi- |
lion OH the north side, near the mp
right of the beam. General Croker,
the warden, took his position at the
southeast corner of the structure. ]
There was b slight delay while the !
crowd IF $50 or more spectators were {
pushing and iiestling through the door
leading from the rotunda to the cor
l sI n r. 4 n ) Il,