Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-27
ROPES FOR GUITEAU.
A Remarkable Collection In the Jail
at Washington.

Washington Special to Baltimore american,
Feb. IS.
Another rope for Guiteau," said an
expressman, depositing package in the
warden's Office of the Jail this morning
"That makes forty. four, Deputy War
den Rusk responded, as he signed and
handed back the expressman's receipt
book. "Our collection is nearly COM
plete
'Your collection2" queried press rep
resentative, who was present; "what do
you mean by that2"
'Step this way and l will show you. :"
Following Mr.. Rusk, the reporter was
shown into smaller room, where, hung
in long row, were various samples Of
hangmen's ropes. measuring from three
to ten feet, of every make and variously
tied. each one properly labelled"
''Why, what are thesef" the visitor
asked, looking hastily over the collection
and shuddering at their suggestiveness.
%Contributions from various Ameri-
can citizens" the jailer answered, "who
desire TO give Guiteau a lift in the
world" laughing at the ghastly joke.
1--WE have now here ropes from nearly
every State in the Union, and lack but
four States to make the collection COM
plete-Nevada. South Carolina, New
Hampshire and Vermont / might say
that North Carolina was lacking also, as
it has not sent us rope, but some fellow
down there sent this grapevine, which, /
suppose, would come in handy on
pinch"
(Which is the rope you have to repre-.
sent Maryland2"
This one," answered Rusk, showing
a well creased rope of India hemp, con.
structed with moose, done in the high
est nautical style, evidently the work of
a sailor. "We had another piece, also"
Rusk continued, "but it has become
misplaced. This one from California,
you will observe, is of twisted silk. 1t
was unaccompanied by the contributors
name; but it's beauty. Very few of
them were marked so as to furnish a
clue to the senders. It's splendid col
lection, though. and something that we
take pride in exhibiting to visitors"
"Will you use either of these for hang
ing GuiteauY"
mo. Bob Strong, the hangman, has
decided to use part of the rope with
which Bedford and Quenan were exc
cuted. He says that's the best rope he
ever saw"
"Has Guiteau seen the collectionP"
mo, we have not considered 1t pro-
per, and have carefully avoided alluding
to it in his presence"
He has knowledge of it, has he
not2"
Il suppose that he has seen in the
newspapers announcements of the arrival
OF rope at various times, but has said
nothing to us on the subject"
What do visitors say about these
ropes2"
''Well, 1 couldn't begin to tell you.
Women generally shudder and turn
away; and, now and then, men handle
them and discuss their relative merits.
But, as general thing, nobody comes to
do more than to glance at them. We
had fellow here the other day-a show
man, took him to be-who wanted to
buy the whole lot. to be delivered on the
day after the execution. He offered
thousand dollars for them. But we took
no notice of his proposition, because we
believed that his idea was to sell each
rope for fabulous prices, representing
them to be the identical rope with which
Guiteau was hanged"
"Will the rope used at the execution
be cut up and sold as relics5"
Il don't know; but it might as well
be. for within twentY-four hours after
Gulteau's death I am satisfied that pieces
OF that Identical rope will be offered
for sale in every section of the country,
and all the side-shows and museums will
have the rope on exhibition entire"
In the same room were other queer
contributions that had been forwarded
to the assassin, among them models of
gallows and stuffed men hanging in
ett1gy. There were pictures. too, dra~,n
on letter-heads and other articiea. the
whole forming collection that would
thrill the heart OF q. Snowman with de.
light. - "
Leaving this remarkable museum, the
reporter paid short visit to Guiteau's
cell. The wretch was writing a letter
His beard has begun to grow out again.
and he looked more unkempt and caday.
erous than he has for some time.
Confinement is beginning to show ON
him" Mr.. Rusk said, 'and he gets sullen
and crabid at times. He is in one Of those
moods to-day" Just then Gniteau raised
his eyes from the letter sheet before him,
and on perceiving his visitors peerinp in
at the door, snarled out, "Get away from
there, fiercely; II don't want to see visi-
tors today"
Il told you so," said Rusk, with a
smile, and he led the reporter away.
Gulteau does not approve the action 0f
his sister in appealing to Mrs. Garfield
IN his behalf. He has said very little
about it, except that he wished she
would attend to her own business and
let his affairs alone. He still cherishes
the ldes that ne will be granted new
Trial by the General Term
MRS. SURRATT,S GRAVE