The National tribune., 1902-02-27
GUITEAU'S LAST DAYS.
A Newspaper Man Recalls Incidents Con-
nected With the Trial, Imprisonment
and Execution of the Assassin.

The recent death in this city of Bill!
Jones, 'the avenger," recalled to an old
newspaper man several interesting and I'M
written "reminiscences of Charles J. Gni-
teau, the assassin of President Garfield.
One day while with several companions
Jones swore he would take the first oppor-
tunity that presented itself to kill Guiteau
JOnes's companions did not take him Sc
riously. They believed that he made the
threat in q spirit of brayado. Several
days later, however, they learned that
Jones was in earnest, as he made Il de-
ternined effort to kill the assassin. Mount
ed on spirited horse, he galloped along
side the prison van which was conveying
Guiteau from the court to Jail, and dis
charged his revolver into the sides of the
vehicle, believing the shots would take
effect on the covering culprit who was
seated within, but they did not. Their
only effect was to nearly frighten the pris-
oner into spasms.
After that startling episode Jones was
given the sobriquet of the avenSer," and
his future movements were closely watched
by the police, us he still threatened to kill
Guiteau at the first opportunity.
dNCI4StE. DOS III
blue-Serg't Mason, of the Regular in
fantry-who tried to shorten the fast clos
ing career of the assassin by firing at him
as he stood in his cell window in the
Washington jail. Jones went practically
unpunished for his act, while Mason, be-
ing soldier, was rather severely pun
ished for his breach of military law and
discipline.
1t is not generally known, but is a fact,
na aynrthglaCS that trnita1n 70 ba
scaffOld i'll drunken condition. His
drunkenness was the result of accident
rather than design. 1t resulted from the
allopathic doses of brandy which were ad-
minstercd to him ut the time of his col
lapse, while he was being prepared for
his march to the scaffold. \ body of
Regular soldiers, part of the Jail guard,
had been marched into the rotunda of the
Jail, preparatory to being placed about the
scaffold. AS they came to Il halt in the
center of the rotunda the officer in
charge gave the command, "Order-arms!'
The rifles of the men in blue came down
suddenly and sharply on the stone floor
ing with Il great noise. The sound, with
the accompanying flying echoes, reached
the cell of Guiteau, who was already
from extreme nervousness.
What's that he gasped, fearful, rs
he always was after his arrest, that he
might fall into the hands of an infuriated
mob and be torn limb from limb.
Before the attending physicians could
explain the cause of the sudden noise to
the wretch he turned deathly pale. tot
tered. and would have fallen had not the
physicians seized him. He was in Il state
of utter collapse, and the hour was at
hand for his execution. The physicians
held Il hasty consultation. and DR.. TiIden.
then Chief Chemist of the Army Medical
advised that brandy be used to
restore him to condition for the ordeal.
Accordingly the assassin was given Il
''four-finger" drink of strong brandy. As
that did not have the desired effect, he |
was given another and another. Finally |
the liquor began to take effect, and Gui- |
teau got upon his feet and commenced |
to talk foolishly and glibly, as some in |
toXicated men do. Fearing that the big |
drinks of brandy would overdo the work |
by making him almost helpless, he was !
hustled of to the scaffOld without uu-
necessary ceremony.
The remainder of the story is common |
history, and it was the general belief that |
t was insanity that caused the assassin |
TO repeat on the scaffold the jargon verse
which began:
Il am going to my Lordy,
/ am so glad I'm going to the Lordy."
1t was not insanity which caused this
under the gibbet, but brandy
hree big drinks of that liquor, enough,
me of the Jail guards declared, "to floor
IN elephant"
As Guiteau had never been n drinking
nan, the effect was more masked. Just
lefore his collapse he made his last pre-
entation on earth. 1t was a small hook
untitled "The Blood of Jesus" This he
Inscribed with his autograph and present
d to George Winters, a Jail guard, who
iad been member of the assassin's death
watch. Mr.. Winters is now in charge of
he members elevator on the east side of
he House of Representatives.
During his incarceration Guiteau had
vice entertained hopes of cheating the
allows. One of his hopes was based pn
he assistance he expected to receive from