GUITEAU’S EXECUTION.

Patea Mail, 31 July 1882, Page 4

GUITEAU’S EXECUTION.

All attempts to obtain a respite to stay the execution of the murderer of President Garfield, having failed the warrant for execution was signed on the 26th June. On the morning of the day. of execution Guiteau arose, after a little unrefreshing sleep. He became very violent in bis manner, cursing all who had been instrumental in bringing him ’to justice, from the President down.. He attempted to eat his breakfast with some show of appetite, but failed, and ro>e from the table in disgust. At 10.20 he took a bath and dressed himself for the execution. A bouquet sent by his sister, Mrs Scoville, was removed from his cell, and found to be drugged. There was an immense crowd present in and around the gaol. Shortly before 12 o’clock, Guiteau seemed to break down completely. He burst into tears and sobbed .hysterically.' He wept freely, and seemed to be in great anguish; but became more composed when he reached the scaffold, calmly, surveying the crowd and paraphernalia of death. After the Rev. Mr Hicks had piayod, he opened a Bible, and Guiteau, in a firm voice read selections from the 10th chapter of Matthew, from the 28th to the 41st verses inclusive. Dr Hicks then produced a manuscript, which had been prepared by the prisoner during the morning, and held it before him, winch Guiteau read. He looked over the sea of upturned faces, and said—“l am going to read you my last dying-prayer.” He then read in a loud tone, and .with distinct and deliberate emphasis, a prayer commencing, “.Father now I go to Thee and the Saviour. I have finished the work Thou gavest me to do, and am only too happy to go to Thee. The world does not appreciate my mission, but Thou knowest it ; Thou knowest that Thou didst inspire Garfield’s removal, and only good has come from it.- This is the best evidence that the inspiration came from Thee, and I have set it for him in my book, that all men may know that Thou, Father, didst the act for which I am murdered. This Government and nation, by this act, I know will incur Thy jetfernal enmity, as did the Jews by killing rny Saviour.” The prayer., continued in the same strain. - rAt several points he paused and endeavored to impart increased emphasis to his words by the peculiar facial expression so often observed during the trial when he was angered at something which was said or done. This was peculiarly noticeable when he alluded to President Arthur; and declared that “ this nation would go down in blood. Immediately after he had finished reading the prayer he again surveyed the crowd and said, still with a firm voice, “I am now going to read some verses, which.are intended to indicate my feelings at the moment of leaving this: world. If set to music they,, may, be rendered .effective. The idea is that of a child babbling to his mamma and to his papa. I wrote it this morning about it) o’clock.” He (hen commenced to chant these verses in a sad, doleful style:— “ I am going to the Lordy, I am so glad, I am going to iho Lordy ; I am so glad, I am going to the Lordy ; Glory, Hallelujah ! Glory, Hallelujah !” Ho read several similar verses, at times breaking down into sobs, and at the close, raising his voice to the highest pilch that he could command, he shouted out, “Glory, Hallelujah, I am with the Lord !” This closed the chant. Dr Hicks gave Guiteau his final benediction and farewell, paying “ God the Father be with thee, and give the.e peace for evermore.” The attendants then pinioned the convict’s legs, and carefully adjusted the noose about his neck. As the black cap was placed over his head, Guiteau cried out loud, “Glory, glory, glory ” Instantly the trap was sprung, and the body turned partly around, but there was not the slighcst perceptible motion of the limbs. When the drop fell, which was at 12-40, a yell was sent up by some persons inside the gaol. This was re-echoed outside by a thousand or more people, who hurrahed lustily, and there was a general onslaught by the populace on the gaol doors. The will by which Guiteau disposes of his body, drawn up at his dictation, deflares that “it shall not be used for any mercenary pursuits, and if, at any time thereafter, any person shall desire to honor my remains they can do it by erecting a monument whereon shall be inscribed these words:—“ Here lies the body of Charles J. Guiteau, a patriot and Christian. His soul is in glory.”