The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-20
APPALLING TRAGEDY IN BROOKLYH.
Suicide of Skidmore, the Air
Gun Assassin.
he Cuts His Throat In His Cell Al
the Jail.
FULL CONFESSION OF THE PRISONER.

Tragedies over perpetrated n city Of Brooklyn closed
the career and existence OF skdmore, the ar-gun
assassin yesterday morning, and the criminal from
the OF Justice where alone presdes to Judge
his follow 70 that tribunal before which the
righteous and the guilty shall alike be summoned for
Judgment But seldom do nnd such apparent apathy
for guilty wretch whom misfortune befalls a Ia dis
played for the fate Of this Though
tho greatest excitement occasoned throughout the
city from early hour in the day, when It FIRST
= bored that Skdmore had committed suicide, stili
6St6 was not heard to express the least sympathy
for him. though all regretted that the gaows should
have boon cheated in this unexpected manner. Since
his incarceration at the County Jail his demeanor has
been that OF the most hardened criminal seldom
versInS the subject OF the MURDER and Affecting
cir OF Indifference to the result OF the trial which
opened in tho Court Of Oyer and rermner last
Monday morning. II viii be remembered that his
counsel most srenuously endeavored TO procure post
ponement OF the case the request OF their client
but were not successful In doing This fact 1t is
believed by many, disheartened skidmore to such
extent that he determined maturing his pur
pose OF Guiding tho penalty Of the law by sedestruc
tion whom all other chances Of had failed him.
SUICIDE DISCOVERED.
From the statement OF Mr. Thomas Giddings one or
the keepers Of the JAIL II that he summoned
by loud knocking the middle corridor while duty
about minutes before FIVE O'Clock yesterday morn
ing. On proceeding to the place designated Mr. Gid.
dngs was informed by prisoner King, in cell No
No H. that Skidmors, who also inmate OF that
CELL had cut his throat and then bleeding to DEATH
On entering the cell he found skdmoro lying the bed
opposite tho door, his loft side with his towards
the wall On approaching the bed he found that his
throat had been from to ear, and the bed
saturated with blood which was streaming from the
gaping wound He laid his hand upon tho unfortunate
mans shoulder and felt his pulse which as not per-
cspiibs, though he was gaspng heavily. The keeper
then left tho cell and notified the proper officials and
caused Dr. willes to be sent for At ten minutes past
ave O'Clock skidmore breathed his last The razor with
which his throat cut discovered afor his body
had been removed TO tho dead house. lying on tho bed
near the wall.
In which the deed committed Immediately became
an object Of the greatest interest the morbdy curious
hundreds Of whom obtained admission thereto during
the day II presented . sickonng scene, while the
stencil arising from the ocalnybeing situated in the
middle uer-was almost unbearable. The apartment In
question c:u No l2 is about fourteen BY ten feet 10
beneath we're covered with blood, while the wall next
clothing There were two beds IN The cell and as s the
CUSTOM ono Of them rests the oor which latter
daubed with pictures and illustrations Of VARIOUS dsscrip
tons. the majority OF which were out from criminal
oD00o.
rpt AT TIE DEAD HOUSE, ~ gt ft5 El
70 which the body was removed, large crowds wore
eembed during the day, and The services Of the police
were frequently called into reQuison TO keep back the
surn9 massos such the eagerness evinced catch
glimpse Of the deceased Tho body which was laid
were sncsed in an old PAN Of gray socks The face
was covered with sheet on removing which most
bae Wills the oosgulasd gore nlsd the vraklss sf the
neck and stained the upper part q the body The sosn
few who ohanosd got glimpse Of MS features cared
70 repeat such indulgence Of their curiosity Tho
depth which shows dossrmis.sos to sooonpiiss his
fsii purpose The Coroner, jury viewed the body q
TO The jail, where the inquest was held = ~ IL N
TEE INoUEsr-INrERKsrNd TESTIMONY i
the nrss witness. called was Thomas Giddinsa who
o what Is your namss A. Thomas Giddinga sal
Q You reside hsrei A. Yes air
o M. aIddnes you win pleas. state 70 the jury
A should judge saw him about ave seven minutes
past nve o'clock this morning; was alarmed BY pris
the uaAa Knocking At the door Immediately vent TO
ne call and opened when be told me that this man
nS n, S% q:
indeed and put hand ON his pulse but did mot fesl
anything; then came out Of the cell and sent man
Q Dr. wiIiet.s' A. Dr. winetts; the doctor came in
and pronounced him dead.
O Tho doctor arrived about what time A. About
twenty minutes past ave O'Clock
@ What time he (deceased brought 10 jail ysster-
day afternoon, A. should Judge IL was between four
o Did you let him in A. don't know whether I
10. him 10 or not: forge, that
q Did you lock him upf A. locked him mp.
@ Did you have conversation with hims A. had
conversation with him As was conveying him to his
he made the remark that they had jurors and were
going 70 draw another panel the next day.
Did he say anythng unusual about IT. A. Nothing
at all; no was laughing and carrying on
Q Was there any one in the cell with him A. man
y tho name Of KING that was the man who gave the
He has been there since he skidmorc has bssn ad-
nsS ., Yes az; since ne has been admitted
d No ons can 60, admission TO the coils after sun
O what time did you leave last EVENING" were
you here all nishti wss hers All night
O Thsi Is ali you know in relation 70 hts DEATH
Coroner observation-disclosures, you have heard the ,ss-
tmony Of Mr. GdaInsa keeper Of The JAIL have you any
By . Juror-whai was the instrument ns (skldmors,
Q Was Il light then "a II va. HIS LEFT hand was
O How came he with that razor in the osll "a. I
o We're you aware that he bad the razor in the
CELIA WAS not aware Of the time. II has been
customary 70 allow prisoners TO shave themselves before
By another yuror-how many cells hays you charge
or SRA All the cola
y How often do you examine these cells In order 10
know " there are any instruments OF that kind In
them "a scarcely examined them for that pur-
pose because the prisoners have these instruments In
order 70 shave with them II has been the custom TO
allow prisoners TO have razou 10 shave themselves
with,
q 10 you allow any person to hand them in' A No,
We know OF H.
Q DO you allow persons 10 visit prisoners without
your pressnccf We admit them into the corridor 10
talk 70 frt.nds
a 10 you examine tho cells after they ieavef A.
suspicion that they have handed In anything OF that
kind We examine
by another JurorThe persons arrested for different
crimes are all treated alike; II capital onsncs or mere
criminals altogether
BY another Juror-Are all prisoners OF this kind
allowed 70 nave faxors In their cellsf That n Gus
tomsry never heard nything 10 the contrary in any
prison have visited. = -
Tho Corpner-DId yon Ind anrthnr IL. h..ii.. "a.