The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-07-01


At this hour no one but the death watch
was with him. Guiteau nervously disrob
ed and bathed 1t was quite apparent to
the guard. who was watching his every
movement, that his object in asking for
the bath was simply to obtain some EN-
ployment which might distract his
Thoughts from the dread contemplation of
his approaching death. He evinced in
creased nervousness and his uncertain
movement, distrait manner and marked
tremor in his tones when he attempted to
speak impressed the guard wit, the be-
| lief that he is
THE SCENE.
| UNITED STATES jan, 1916 a. m.-The ro-
tnnda was thrown open at ten o'clock. and
newspaper men at once fiocked in. There
were few other people there except Jail
guards and a squad of artillerymen who
looked down upon the scene from high
steps leading to the scaifold.
Early this forenoon the prisoners in that
part of the Jail overlooking the court where
| the gallows stands. were all removed to
other quarters. and locked in cells
At nine o'clock this forenoon the jail
officers had sort of rehearsal of the parts
they are to play in the execution, for the
purpose chiefly of testing the appliances of
the gallows A bag of sand weighing 100
pounds was attached to the moose and the
trap sprung by means of trigger rope
which was passed into one of the cells of
the north wing The rope ON the scaffold
stood the test we'll
At ten O'Clock Dr. Hicks and John w
Guiteau went with General Croker to scat
folds together with a number of guards. j.
w. Guiteau ascended steps and carefully
examining the structure, handling the rope
and carefully inspecting all fixtures, both
above and below the platform.
A telegram from New York, signed J.
b. Bunvell, received about ten o'clock by
Dr.. Hicks, asks if senders could obtain
possession of Guitean's body, to exhibit
for the benefit of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association. DIR. Hicks paid no at
tention 90 o-the message. The order of pro-
cession. 30 slle scaffold, as agreed upon this
morning. is as sfolldws:J Warden Crocler
and one of his officers will appear first, fol-
lowed by DIR. Hicks, then win come the
prisoner, in charge of two guards. Coleman
and Woodward. Behind them will walk,
two by two, Jones, Hudson, Johnson and
Crocker, four Jail officers.
At ten O'Clock seventy policemen arrived I
and were posted along the roadway out /
side the building. In addition TO the reg |
ular Jail guard. all availaf,le of Bat
terry c., Second United States artillery, ara t
now on duty in the side Jail
Shortly before II o'clock Guiteau called |
for paper, and for twenty minutes
busted himself in making IL copy of |
what he terms This prayer on lhe scaffold. p" |
AS his hands win be pinioned, sDr. Hicks
will hold the manuscript wiffIc Guiteau
reads. Now that he is employed he ap
pears much ealmer and is rapidly complet- |
ing his work, writing IN large, roun.land |
legiblc hand
At eleven O'Clock. contrary to the gen |
eral expectation and purpose, as expressed
yesterday. Mrs. Scoville arrived at the jail /
and besought admission. She appeared |
to be laboring under great excitement. |
Gen Crocker dec ined to admit her, unless |
the prisoner specially requested it. John |
w. Guiteau, who was sitting IN. the rotun |
da at the time. was Informed th at his sis /
tar was on the outside and at first started /
to go to her,gbut after moments hesita-
ton decided not TO ihterfere, saying: Il
will leave the whole matter with General
Croker. Guiacau has not been Informed
ef Mrs. Scovilles presence, and
and even if he was aware that she is here
it is believed he would not desire TO have
her present.
His great desire now seems to be that
there shall be no scene, and has pro
gramme shall be carried out without any
or incident to detract from
THE HEROIC PICTURE
which he believes he is about to present
At 10 o'clock there was large crowd of
correspondents crowding about
Ehe gate leading into Gliteau's corridor.
but they could see nothing except the
wooden door which screens Guiteau's cell T
from view Now and then guard APP
oeared al the door and sent some message
o the Warden At such times those at
he gate got view of the corridor and
,hair on which the death watch" sat |
After Guiteau had finished copying
ais prayer upon the scaffold. he began to
arrange his dress. putting ON a pair of
navy blue tsowsers.
At 1890 the guard came out of the door
and said: He is ready for DIR. Hicks now,
md wants abe flowers to come" Another
guard who took the message, hurried off
md soon returned with DIR. Hicks, who
vent into the cell Guiteau was then re
ported by the guard TO be apparently very
composed. This message about the flowers
eferred TO his expectation that Mr.. SEQ
lille would send some flowers to him, but
zone had arrived at the time he asked for
hem -
Guiteau made some requests as to the
xecution, and having made copies of his
<~kN.< fzwr,