The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-07-08
the Lords men to speak. ;"


required to hold the manuscript while h,
read the prayer and he, therefore, pre-
pared a copy in a large hand, that hi
reading might be done without haltine
or hesitation. AT his request DR.. Hick.
consented to assist him in his reading oil
the scaffold His chirography was il
large, bold letters, free from any signs o.
nervousness. While copying the prayer
and hymn, which he attempted to sing
prior to the falling of the trap, Guiteau
is said, by the guards, to have conducted
himself as calmly and orderly as though
the hour of his death was wrapped in "a
| great mystery as was that of the two
hundred people who were assembled in
the Iotunda to witness his execution.
At II o'clock the condemned man asked
for the flowers which he had been in
formed his sister, Mrs. Scoville, had sent
him. A bouquet was sent him from the
warden office, but not the one his Sis
ter sent, as it was considered best, for
pl IctSohs' lildG
be passed to the condemned man from
his relatives, and particularly anything
in which poison or other deadly agents
could be concealed. At the same time
his dinner, which he had ordered to be
brought him at II o'clock, sharp, was
served but Guiteau did not eat much of
what was set before him.
At Ills the military guard was
brought from the chapel under arms,
with fized bayonets, ard drawn up in the
rotunda, the right of the line resting on
the corridor, at the further end of which
stands the scaffold, and stretching across
the rotunda to the corridor in which is
the condemned CELL. The sharp ring of
the muskets on the stone pavement re-
sounded through the corridors and served
to warn all the prisoners that the final
preparation for the execution had begun.
This first note of warning was not with
out effect on Guiteau and, for the first
time, he exhibited signs of breaking
down. Throwing himself on his bed and
covering his face with palmleaf fan, he
wept and uttered sounds that showed he
was deeply moved. He continued in this
mood for several minutes, which gave
rise to a report that he had tainted and
that after all the fortitude thus far ex-
hibited, it would be necessary to carry
him to the place of execution. This
fear, however, was soon dissipated by
Guiteau himself, who, having recovered
his mental aomposure, appeared in the
corridor for brief period, as if for the
deliberate purpose of giving contradic-
ton to the report.
At II o'clock, Warden Croker repair
ed to the condemned mans cell and read
the warrant for execution, Guiteau stand
ing and listening with respectful! atten-
ton during the reading After this he
was with DR.. Hicks and upon conclud-
ing the religious exercises, he was at
once prepared for the scaffold. An eve
nue. was formed by the military and
spectators leading across the rotunda
from the eprridar Of the condemned to
that in which the soatlold is located. the
troops being arranged on one side and
facing the civ lians who were formed on
the other.
At 1926 the iron doors leading to the
condemned cell were swung open, and
the procession moved out from the corri-
dor and across the rotunda headed by
Gen. Croker, who was followed by DIR.
Hicks, Immediately behind whom was
the assassin with arms pinioned, attend
ed on each side by a guard of the Jail.
Several Jail officials followed in the rear,
and as the procession moved towards the
scalfold, the spectators followed. John
w. Guiteau stood within a few feet of
his unfortunate brother as he passed to
the scatfold, but was not NOTICED by the
latter.
The assassin walked with firm step
with out support, his head erect and gaze
hACu W IiiS iioiU, III
was looking for the scattold. The dis
lance from his cell to the scaffold is over
two hundred feet: which was trayersed
by Guiteau without visible emotion. He
was neatly dressed in dark blue suit.
white handkerchief being thrown care
lessly about his neck, which was bare,
his shirt being without collar. His
face was pale, but wore a more contented
look than at any time during his long and
exciting trial.
Arriving at the scafold, Guiteau
mounted the twelve steps without fall
tering, and on reaching the platform
passed to the place assigned him behind
the fatal trap. Here was slight delay,
while the large crowd OF spectators were
passing into the corridor. and during this
delay Guiteau gazed on the struggling
crowd, and threw his eyes toward the
beam overhead and surveyed the terrible
paraphernala of death. Order having
been restored, Nj. Hicks stepped for
ward and offered the following prayer
Father, out of the depths we cry to
Thee. Hear Thou our supplication for
the sake of Jesus Christ. the Saviour,
who has made fHll precipitation for US.
Behold this, Thy servant. We humbly
pray that Thou wilt deliver him in this
supreme moment of his life. Let. Thy
light descend upon him. Liberate his
soul from prison. May he appear before
Thee ahsolved by Thy great mercy. From
blood Outlines deliver 4ilH and US God
have mercy on us. Christ have mercy
on us. Lamb of God that takest away
the pains of the world, have mercy on
US, Amen and Amen
During the delivery of this invocation
Guteau stood with bowed head, and at
its conclusion, DR.. Hicks, opened the
Bible and holding it before the assassin
in order that he might read; GgiteaI.
raising his face TO The crowd, said, III a
loud voice, Il read from the tenth chap
ter of Matthew, twenty eighth to forty
first verse. He then read those verses
clearly and distinctly, at times raising his
Hedd dhu louhti9 at thc Spobtdtolo, anu
raising his voice to give emphasis to GER
tain passages. The reading finished, Mr..
Hicks drew from his pocket several pages
of foolscap which he held before the cul
prit to read. Again looking at the spec
tators, Guiteau said 8 | am now going
to read to you from the scaii'old my dying
prayer. He then proceede d to read as
follows:
'My dying prayer on the galows.