The sun., 1882-07-02
LAST HOURS or THE cuLpR1E
Triviniities that Engaged him-Two Heart,
Menls-In Tears Over his Verses

'ho Slcnt uculn waterman tnen closed the
door OF the cell and locked it. He drew his
chair close to the grating and fixed his eyes
upon the condemned man. Guiteau lay quiet
ly on his cot for half an hour without stirring
Then he seemed to be n little restless. and did
not become entirely quiet again until midnight
when he apparently dropped Off into q sound
sleep. He did not stir again until shortly after
the sun was up this morning When he arose
he found DIR. Williams at the door OF his CELL
He greeted DIR. Williams pleasantly. and said
he felt very we'll and had had delightful sleep.
He seemed to be anxious about his breakfast.
When 1t was brought to him he ate with the
zest which has been characteristic OF him dur
ing his confinement. He ate bcefsteak
potatoes and an omelet. and drank coffee, and
when he had finished told the cook that he
would want his dinner early. He thought he
would be satisfied IL II was brought to him ut IL
o'clock. Then he stepped out into the corrdor,
wore no coat or ,waistcoat. and had no collar on.
but had put on the dark trousers which he was
thought lie seemed to be ever, more quiet and
sYen-bossessed Y.,l than he had been on any other
and asked some INFORMAL questions OF the death
watch which did not indicate any depression OF
spirits.
After he had finished his exercise he called
Tor pen and paper. sat down at the little pine
table in front of his cella wrote for fifteen or
prayer which he proposed to offer on the gal
lows, The death watch looked at him curious
nS wrSt9 apddS tSat and ID with Arm hand
clear and distinct a hand as possible. because
me- wanted to hs have mo trouble in reading The
slightest indication in the handwriting of
trem9r and he signed his name to the prayer
The Jail officers did not believe he could hold
uR until the 4, end. They had seen men before
the gallows and then broke down There have
been thirteen, executions in this Jail. and
a9fis no3ised wfS tS., have seem them have
grade OF Intelligence are those to whom it
may be necessary to administer stimulants to
meaner intellect meets his end end with stolid iif in ~
difference. But here was man than whom
keener wit in some respects He was man
perfectly conscious OF his approaching end and
moro than once in the Jail symptoms Of ex-
treme .cowardice. and they believed that
toward , , the last he would realize SO 9yerpower;;
thata nervous reaction would set in and he
would have to be carried to the scafrold. These
They came out from the corridor and had
WHISPERED consultations with each other and
quent visits to the cell and turned deaf ear to
Guiteau's continual talk Of religion. but kept II
sharp eye to his physical condition. Still there
| were no signs OF breaking down and as IL
| o'clock approached the Doctor told the Warden
he believed the man would be as lie was up to
at the scaifold,, The double bolt which upheld
Stas tsyS MSSishInE 8, i t &SS rounds. The dFos wa;
| the eNecutioner twitched the slide rope TO bo
satisfied OF its proper adiustment. People
and there was the noise of hurrying footsteps
the click Of telegraph instruments. and out
ySS SS 19od se seeb bs raGG .ar55s
| WHICH couceHled the Gallows and stood there
Gritna,, rnuet bava boorJ eorno ~ ,hosa
| preparations, for about 10 O'Clock he sent for
| Dr. Hicks and said to him in an earnest tone
as might be convenient. He was particularly
anxious that all precautions should be taken
| dicted. his mind seemed burdened with the care
| OF details. He seemed to fear the breaking Of
the rope the H9tmely y fan Of the drop or some me
Hicks that every. precaution had been taken.
that he need not fear. and that decent eXecu-
sured. Guitcau asked for a bath. and a huge
into it with evident delight. When ho came out
he seemed to feel intense satisfaction in the
Content with himself and his condition, he be-
gan gan at Snee to prepare his body deceently e for for
with even the trife that might be at hand he
seemingly forget the gallows in his zeal in pre-,
dust ON his congress boots. he fumed and fretted
about this until it occurred to him that h., he
idea to tho guard The, throng saw a negro
bootblack enter the corridor with his box and
brushss and the sight wss so strdanEe ne, that
boots ,s69ne or not, Guiteau was delighted
pleasant remark to the negro. who, came
from the corridor grinning with delight thereat;
But the episode helped keep the man mind
busy. and the unconscious materalistic bias
Of Jail officers made them put far more faith
in tho efficiency OF such means to ward oil pros
frnti mi rnliVinlS consolation
suspended, when ne had arranged his snowy
satsactc saE nis dsa aa nS to him. MeSd
the guard lei him hays pc pen , and papeF' phe
haps thereby another fifteen minutes. or even
an hour. would be occupied. The inner guard
whispered to the outer guard and the outer E;ndr
pressed with tho message and It's Importance.
which characterized Warden Crocker's reading
of the death warrant that he gave the paper,
at once at the little wooden table. ana his pen
began to scratch over the paper and make great
black marks thereon WhH,tevsr it was that he
Interested In it. His lips moved and he seemed
% be conveying his thoughts TO PAPER, orally;
u rude hymn. which he chantcd on tho gal;
directly ST BY ii Heaven % lie was S 50 greatly aected
and wept bitterly. lnercupOn lle uehtn WAtcn,
seeing tears and the PROSTATE form of the con
demncd, decided that the dreaded collapse had
come. lie signalled to the guard, and the
guard ominously beckoned the deputy, and tle
deDuty ran and told the Warden and tho ply
now tainted How the Intelligence was lissem-
minated cannot be surmised. but 1t was in
siantly spread through the throng But when
the physician and the Rcy, Dr. Hicks went to
Guitcatls cell they found not n Frustrated man
at all. The condcmned's eyes were red, but he
called attention at once to his verses and as he
~ / hon 4 Ip al N n
he had been overcome by religious emotion.
The ph ysician arrived at the same conclusion
by different processes ofreasoning. lie felt the
pulse and he looked critically at the man and
saw that his nerves were steady and that the
rgor Of physical fear was wanting.
Now offered another opportunity Tor
mental occupation. Eleven O'Clock was
approaching. and Guiteau wanted his din
ncr man who was to die in an hour call
ing for a dinner and eating it with 2est, was
sight TO make even the imperturbable death
watch look around to the outer guard with AS
tonishment. Tho meal Game--g great tray OF
Meanwhile the throng in the corridor gives
signs that its oye hadbec on the little clock. Gen
('rtpl4r ~ H.. bq 1k and fDrtlpurbpI in