The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-07-07
THE CLOSING SCENE.

AuE CLVS1Nd SCENEs
Saiteau. the Assassin, Hung-scenes
and incidents OF the Execusion-He
Firmly Ascends the Scanold and
Dies Easy.
Friday, June 80, 1882, Charles j. Guiteau,
the assassin of President Garfield was exc
cuted in the United States Jail at Washing
ton City in accordance with the sentence of
the court. Since the trial, conviction and
sentence, every method known to the law
had been used by his attorney to stay execss-
eution Of the sentence or secure q respite.
Every such application by his attorney was
overruled, and as last resort what few
friends the condemned culprit had applied
directly to the President to grant respite,
that Commission in Lunacy might give
the case q further Investigation. To al
these appeals the President turned deaf
ear, and nothing remained but to carry into
execution the stern mandates of the law.
The assassin only few days previous to
the execution seemed to realize that he
was to be hung. He lost q good deal Of
that bombastic bravado that characterized
his actions during the trial and for some
time after, and settled down into realiza-
ton of the awful fact that he at last stood
face to face with Death-an ignominiOus
death on the scaffold.
Guiteau passed very restless night, not
being able to sleep more than twenty min
utes at time, but toward morning he fell
asleep from sheer exhaustion. He rose q
few minutes after and took his breakfast
at $3.50. He ordered the cook to bring his
dinner promptly at II. At O'Clock DIR.
Hicks who had remained with him most Of
the night was admitted into the cell, and
conyersed with him on religious subjects.
Guiteau then asked to have . bath and re.
quested DR.. Hicks to 60 out and in.
spect the gallows, and desired him to see
the Warden and arrange to have the trap
sprung as near II o'clock IS possible. He
was particularly DESTROYS that no accident
should occur and that everything was in
proper condition. He then read . poem he
had written, entitled Simplicity" He
attempted to sing it, but made failure.
Guiteau talked for some time about his fu-
ture. He remarked that his heart was
tender. 81 don't think" he said, ''that l
can go through this ordeal without weep
ing. not because of any great weakness, for
the principle in me is strong, but because l
an near the other world. hold to the
idea that God inspired me-"
The condemned man seemed to treasure
up revenge against the President, for he
asked that in his books all complimentary
illusions to President Arthur and his adj
ministration be eliminated. After present.
ing DR.. Hicks his books he requested that
gentleman to offer the first prayer on the
scaffold and he (Guiteau) would follow by
reading his favOrite chapter from the Bible,
the 10th chapter of John, and offer prayer
on his own account, and then read his
poem, Simplicity" He wished things so
arranged that just as he uttered the last
word the trap would be sprung. At 9:15
the prisoner stepped into the corridor to
exercise, and walked very rapidly for fifteen
minutes.
In the meantime the scene about the
fail became quite animated. News
paper reporters had taken possession of
every available table, window-sill or board
upon which to write and were totting down
everything they saw, while the private Office
OF the Warden was converted into tele-
graph office. Messengers sped between the
city and the Jail, and carriages continued to
arrive with visitors.
The scaffoid was tested at 9 O'Clock BY the
officials, a bag Of sand weighing 100 pounds
being attached to the rope and sprung
through the trap. The test proved salts
factory. The prisoners brother also
gave the engine of death q critical
examination. Their came telegram from
one b Buntel. of New York, to DR.. Hicks
asking i: he could have the prisoners body
to exhibit for the benefit of the Young
Mems Christian Association, which receiv.
ed no response. At 10 O'Clock 70 police.
anen arrived and were posted in the roadway
outside the Jail. All the available men of Bat.
terry c. I'd U. S. Artillery we're Oh duty in.
side the jail.
About IL O'Clock Guiteau called for paper
and for twenty minutes. was engaged
writing his prayer on the Scaffold." EN-.
ployment seemed to calm him, and he wrote
Ia a bold. round hand.
After Gufteau had finished copying his
"Prayer" he began to arrange his dress
Then he sent for DR.. Hicks, and asked il
'sthe flowers had come" referring tt
3Ouc uONcTS tuas ulS clSlCl, SCO'
vile, had promised to send. His broth.
er then went outside the Jail anG
found Mrs. Scovile. She was IL
great excitement, almost hysterical. Johr
W. Guiteau succeeded in partially calming
iler and dissuaded her from any further
attempts to gain admission to the Jail. Sh.
acknowledged the propriety Of such {
course, and sent the flowers to the prisoner.
She also brought handsome floral eros.
and anchor which she desired to place OF
her brothers coffin with her own hands.
At IL O'Clock Guiteau had his boots black
ed and then proceeded to eat his last meal
which consisted Of q pound of broiled steak,
. dish Of fried potatoes, four slices of toas,
and quart Of coffee. He ate with gooG
relish. DIR. Hicks soon after reported
that he and the prisoner had q pleasant re.
Egious talk, that his preparations wert
about complete and he was ready for thu
last act. Just before noon Guiteau
gave evidence of weakening, theE
broke down completely and bursting
into tears sobbed Historically. His faith.