Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-07-01
The Condemned Man Chants a
Doleful Ditty,
When the Trap Was Sprung, and
He Swung Into Eternity.
Full Details OF the Occurrences
of the Day.


D. c., June 3O-9:45 a m.-Gui-
teau was very restless during the
most of the latter part of the night, not
sleeping more than twenty minutes at
time. Toward morning he fell into
sounder sleep, from sheer exhaustion. He
rose a few minutes after o'clock, and
breakfasted heartily at $50. When the
cook took his breakfast in the cell, Guiteau
told him to bring his dinner in at / o'clock,
promptly.
Rev. Dr. Hicks, who remained at the jail
all night, was called INTO the prisoners cell
soon after he rose, and held conversation
on religious subjects with him. At 8 o'clock
Dr. Hicks saw the prisoner again, when he
the reverend gentleman to go out and see
the scaffold. Guiteau desired him to ar
range with the warden to have the trap
spring as soon after II o'clock as possible
He also expressed considerable anxiety lest
some accident should occur, and insisted
that DR.. Hicks should see that the scaffold
and its appurtenances were all in proper
and safe condition. After Guiteau had dis
posed of these matters, he read poem COM
posed by himself which he calls simplicity,
Or religious baby talk" After reading il aloud
he attempted to sing it, but broke down in
the effort, which would have appeared quite
emn.
Guiteau then talked for some time about
his future. He remarked that his heart was
tender. II don't think" he said, 'I can
go through this ordeal without weeping; not
because of any great weakness, for prin-
ciple in me is strong, but because l am
nearer the other world. 1 hold to the idea
that God inspired me-"
Guiteau subsequently asked that, in his
books, all the complimentary remarks about
President Arthur and his administration be
Hicks the books that have been the com
panions of his lonely hours. He told Dr.
Hicks that he wanted him to offer the first
prayer on the scafold, saying that he (Gui-
teau) would then read his favorite Scripture
passage, the 10th chapter of John, and offer
prayer on his own account Then he III
tended, he said, to read bis poem, "Sim-
plcity." He desired to have the execution
so arranged that, just as he uttered the last
word the drop should be sprung.
John w. Guiteau arrived at the Jail at
O n,oIock on1 uaC foIIonad in , fa,,,
by Warden Crocker. These two gentlemen,
with DIR. Hicks, are in consultation as to
the disposition of the body.
At 8;l5 o'clock the prisoner came out into
the corridor and exercised for Is
minutes. He walked very briskly, making it
rather difficult for his guards to keep pace
with him. Guiteau has generally taken his
exercise in his shirt and drawers. Thist
morning he wore pair of dark pants, and
handkerchief loosely about his neck.
The scene about the Jail this morning is
unique The Office of the Jail has been
given up completely to the large corps of
newspaper reporters, and squad of them
are scribbing away on every table, window
sill and every projection that offers rest for
paper. Many newspaper re gorters remain
ed all night. The private Office of the war
den has been transformed temporarily into a
telegraph Office, and before nine o'clock
eight instruments were clicking merry &C
compartment to the gloomy preparations
going on inside of the jail.
At nine O'Clock there was q
constant stream of persons coming
into the Jail. The scene outside
was like that of some great gala occasion.
Some enterprising colored men had erected
booths, from which they dispensed lemon
ade, cakes and other refreshments to the
weary and thirsty people who began before
nine o'clock to assemble in the
road in front of the Jail. Mount
ed messengers speeding to and from
the city, and carriages bringing visit
ors to the Jail kept a continual cloud of dust
lowering over the road that winds through
the wide common that lies be
tween the jail and the city.
Atten O'Clock Guiteau expressed a desire to
'ake bath, and large tub was taken into his
Cell At this hour no one save the ''death
"a'ch was with him. Guiteau nerviousy
oiSrooeo and plunged into the bath. It was
quite apparent to the guard, who was closely
"a'chlng MS every movement, that his OBJ
Iect IN asking for bath was simply to OBJ.
tam some employment which might distract
nus thoughts from the dread contemplation