Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-28
GUITEAU's LAST SUNDAY.
The Assassin Cool II His Spiritual
Adviser Believes Him TO be Sane
Preparations for His Execution.

Washington Special to Baltimore sun, s5th.
Gulteau's last Sunday was about his
quietest day. He was up by z O'Clock, aud
after taking the usual prison breakfast
brushed up his cell little and awaited the
call OF his spiritual adviser, Rev. Mr.. Hicks,
Whos however, did not call until the after
noon. There were good many visitors to
the jail during the day, but none were
allowed to see Gufbeau, or to go into that
portion OF the jail where he is confined.
The death watch, which has been kept
up for the past two weeks, will be main
tained now until his execution. At all
times, day as well as night, the condemned
man is constantly in sight of the two guards.
The presence OF the two guards has irri-
tated Guiteau somewhat, but In the last few
days he has not complained about 1t. It is
extremely warm In all parts Of the Jail to-
dav, and 1t is safe to say that Guitesu was
as cool as any one else In the jail. He COM
planned less about the weather than did the
guarde. His clothing consisted of a shirt
and pantaloons. He has not worn his coat
or vest for several days. He always wears
slippers, and since the warm spell set In
has nearly ALWAYS had q palm-leaf fan In
his hand. Guiteau knew that his
brother, John Gulteau, was expected
In the city, and several times during
the day asked If he had yet arrived. John
Guiteau did arrive, but did not go down to
the jail as he intended, but Will, he saws,
call on him tomorrow. When Rev. Mr.
Hicks called this afternoon Guiteau asked
his construction and view of several para
graphs which he had marked in his Bible,
and alter Mr.. Hicks had given them he
said: "That suits me, because suppose It
is the best the human mind can give, but it
Is not fully satisfactory As Mr.. Hicks
was leaving him he remarked that these
visits were becoming very few, and that the
condemned man should paw more attention
TO preparing himself for his life hereafter
than to commenting on or contradicting
passages OF the Scripture. Guiteau remarked:
''Oh, that Is all right, and will attend to It..
Being Christian man, have always felt
that L could doubt certain parts OF the
Scripture without doubling the entire
word" The meeting closed with prayer
by Mr.. Hicks. When leaving the jail Mr..
Hicks expressed the opinion that he thought
Guiteau was sane. This was of interest
from the fact that it is understood that
when Mr.. Hicks and Others saw the Presi-
dent in Guiteau's behalf last week they con-
tended that he was not fully sane, some of
them, DIR. Godding. the Superintendent Of
the United States Hospital for the Insane,
who was one of the number, contendipg
that Guiteau had been insane since he was
nineteen years of age. Both John Guiteau
and Mrs. ScoVllle, his sister, will witness
the execution. Mr.. ScoVille will, however,
not come.
A change has been made in connection
with the &c affOld. It has been found that
the drop interfered with the view of the
body after 1t had been allo Ted to fall. Toe
hinges are changed to the other end, and
now when the drop falls it will be behind
tine body, which will be In full view all the
time. The jail authorities have received q
number of letters and kilograms from poll
ticians, newspaper proprietors and others,
asking for tickets to witness the hanging.
None Of them will be granted. While the
arrangement has not been made, and will not
until Gen. Crocker, the jail warden, receives
the death warrant, which will be sent
to him to morrow, 1t Is understood that none
but the regular resident newspaper CORE
spondents will be admitted. Under this
arrangement It will be useless for others to
apply. Passes have been refused to Senators
and members Of Congress. Guiteau's body
will be turned over to his brother and sister
Immediately after the execution, and they
will make the arrangements for its inter-
ment. All of the applications from show
men and other spectators for the body have
been refused. The Guiteaus have not yet
decided where 1t will be buried.
Gulteau has never seen the scaffold from
which he is to be launched into eternity,
and has never asked to see It. This formida-
BILE instrument of death, which stands in the
northern corridor, has not been moved since
the last execution. The platform Is thir-
teen feet from the floor of the corridor.
The warden, when asked how he thought
Guiteau would meet the ordeal, said: ''I
should not express lmy opinion on the sub
ject. Guiteau is coward, but it may be
that his pride, or his intense egotism, or
some spiritual consolation that his religious
adviser may afford him, will keep him up.
l don't expect 1t, however. While he has
not manifested abject fear, he has frequent
ly shown signs OF uDeasiness."
The rope which is to be used In the exc
cution has been rugged up for the occasion.
1t is fine piece of Manila, originally seven
eights size, which has been stretched until
it is now of but three e-fourths size, and is
fortV-six feet long. It is as soft and pliable
as 1t can be made. After having been laid
out the ends were firmly bound with twine
and the knot tied. 1t has six turns In It, the
end, after passing through the loop at the
top of the wrap, having a common knot In
It to keep IL from Slipping