The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-25
Most Extraordinary villany.
INCIDENTS ATTENDING THE DEATH OF DIR. v. p.
COOLIDGE.
From the Boston Herald Nav 221

MOST extraordinary Vkllany.
INCIDENTS ATTENDING THE DEATH OF DIR. v. p.
COOLIDGE.
From the Boston Herald, May 221
EAST THoMAsroN, May II, 1S49.
Agreeaby to your directions. rode out to the pri-
sen on Saturday evening, and the warden and
prison ply stefan relative to the facts connected with
the death Of DR.. yalorus p. Coolidge.
Every incident Of interest cheerfully given me
by the officers Of the prison. but the letters which
disclosed his murderous schemes had been carried to
warren (some four or five miles further) and as they
were very lengthy waited until yesterday, and then
rode over and made copies of them OF course the
original could not be had and it with considerable
dihcuty that permission to copy could be pro-
cured.
herewith send you clear a statement possible,
and copy Of the principal letters. e
CONDUCT OF COOLIDGE IN PRIsoN-Ius PRyiLEGEs-DIs-
CLOSURE
1t appears that DR. Coolidge has, during his confne-
ment been allowed many privileges, both in regard to
the lghiness Of the task imposed upon him. and the
almost free of books and stationery well
degree OF intercourse with his fellow convicts The
prison authorities however, had but little confidence
in him. and had suspected for few DAYS previous to
the discovery Of his atrocoas plan for the murder of
Flint, that by means of the faulty condition of the
prison yard he had succeeded in having some
Fondence with persons outside. Partially in conse-
quence OF the increased vigilance this suspicion
stoned. they obtained knowledge of the whole affair
In the papers which he had written there is mention
made Of the name Of his intended accomplice aud for
want OF positive evidence in regard to his III nifty the
prison authorities are unwilling to publicly implicate
any one although circumstances such to satisfy
them on that point.
Whoever he may be, Coolidge having had easy
opportunities for conversDg with Of the prisoners
who sick in his cell after expressing much i'll will
and dissatisfaction with the keepers, hnly revealed
his plan for acquiring his freedom to that Individual
and allowed him to take the writings which he prepar-
I'd, fol the purpose of perusiug them The prisoner
succeeded In keeping them for few days preance
OF not having finished reading them, and before Coo
hdge could discover them he removed to another
part OF the prison in consequence OF the pcons
trta'ned Of his having candestine correspondence
without the prison. He objected to the removal very
strongly ana pleaded for one day more at least before
he should be transferred hoping in the mea ntme to
receive the papers he had trusted out Of his hands.
He was, however removed. and the prisoner who had
them who ut this time recovered, placed them in
the hands OF the warden To this prisoner he conded
ALEC the of his intended tool who was
to be freed about the LIST Of July This declaration
and the fit character Of the prisoner specified the
only evidence VI his completely
INTERVIEW WITH COOLIDGE AFTER DISCOVERY OF HIS
fLor-His CONFESSION OF 0rILr-REMovAL TO A soLITA-
Tie plot being thus revealed to the warden he went
to Coolidge together with DR.. Baxter Of Warren aud
rcproached him with the deed, the truth Of which
however Coolidge immediately and strongly denied
The warden then told him that denial vain, since
his hat half filed with the proofs of it, Coolidge
burst into passion of tears and confessed that he
guilty, and expressed sorrow for his crime.
1bi, on Wednesday last. and on the morning OF
Thursday he was removed to solitary cell every
precauton taken to isolate him completely pos
sible. Thursday evening he sent for DR.. Ross Of
Thomaston. physician to the prison and complained
being unwell aud manifested slight symptoms of
extremely depressed and spoke of having all the
sympathy which had been entertained for him; ex-
pressed disregard Of life and enquired to dis
position made Of convcts after death He also very
earnest ly requested pens and paper, and being
fused begged for slate saying that he might wish
write poetry and he would rub it again This
also denied him.
HIS DEATH-THE DISCOVERY OF BoDY-PosT MoRrEM
ExAMINATIos-cuRiousc CONDITION OF THE HEART, sc.
At six the next morning. when the prisoners were
unlocked his cell was visited, but not entered, a.
nothing unusual was noticed At O'Clock his
breakfast was sent him. and the waiter found him lying
upon the floor and immediately sent for the keeper
who entered his cell He was laying upon his face with
his head partly in his night bucket which tipped
over and empty. He was still breathing and groaning,
but entirely speechless, and only lived some five
minutes after being placed upon his bed At that time
he mad every appearance OF being In mt Of some kind
ana considerable bloody froth and serum were dis
charged from his mouth and nose.
he next day Saturday post norton examine
on was had oy DOCTORS Buxton and Rose but without
finding any Lessons or indications Of disease sufficiently
70 .1r ns acatn anu they entreiy agreed
ss x pSI ,os - oy .ne e.trsme mental
~. .nv io'o VI e0Iey "ncn 'ne suoeon expo
suis VI s scuse s nau occasoneo. MS brain was
sUuho sna neany IN every respect, ana ms
lungs, though anordng some flight proof OF former
usesse, presenter no appearances worthy OF notce
a." We eAoosni,.S ssu; WslsIng nut nine ana
nraur;s,sd hu ,h. s,t sn,ro o. en ws,ga. was ap
ventrlcle NJ" exceeding sixteenth OF an inch In
inckness ana ths aurcies being osma Is to render
atonishng now sucn an organ could perform Its ne.
cestary functions The stomach was almost empty
containing nothing but little Cruel aud the walls
were very much corrugated or thckened midway be-
tween the coruac ana Pyleric orihces Internally 1t
was tnrougnout OF UNIFORM bright scarlet color, pre-
senting no indications OF active Inflammation neither
were me vessels belonging TO In any degree turgid
was afterwards buried IN the prison burial ground
word bavng oeen sent 10 ms friends that they might re-
move MN II desirous OF doing 80
oh the ~noe, the neartiess indinercnce with which
the TO destroy the lie and blast the
reputation OF AIS FORMER pupil ana frend and the en-
TIRE absence OF any sense OF humanity or OF human re-
sponsphty eeem NJ once 10 remove Nun beyond the
rach OF our since ne could thus abuse the
cenency when had restored 10 MN MS own forfeited
nie I'D projecting crime 80 malignant ana diabocal
Inc plot teeii petraysa sort OF vlxnous low cunning
ra,ner thsn any uncommon extent OF intellectual
aby. anu couiu haroy nave succeeded, mad MS vile
tooi undertaken IL.
The PLAN OF THE VILLAIN TO THROW SUSPICION OF THE
huHpER OF EDWARD MATTHEWS ON DR. FLINT.
VIII give you hrst the letter OF confession which
waste De placed IN the pocket OF Flint after his being
murdered ana then his INSTRUCTIONS MS to the manner
Oh committing the decd
LETTER OF CONFESSION.
[Copied verbatim from Cooldge's hard'oriting1
I" DR.. Coolidge ever treated me = dear and only
brother; treated him with all the cruelty of pi-
rate. His treatment to me, and mine to him. is
before me, and so great is my misery that | cannot
live. | make the following confession, and take nv