The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-08
n.s., Etc., Etc, iEtO- Etc., Etc.

officers with George w. Winnemore, now
under sentence of death for the murder of
Mrs. Dorcas Magilton revealed the fact that
he had refused to receive minister of the
Gospel in his cell, and was determined to per-
sist in that course until his fate was sealed
upon the scaffold. Being anxious that a man
in his peculiar and unfortunate situation
should not be misunderstood or misrepre-
sented, we recently communicated with him,
through Damon Y. Kilgore, Esq, one of his
counsel, and found that he was quite willing
to grant an interview for the purpose of
making known his views upon this subject.
Yesterday afternoon, therefore, in company
with Mr.. Kilgore, we waited upon the prisoner
in his cell.
An Interview with the Prisoner.
We found the unfortunate man quite cheer
ful and willing to answer every question that
we desired to put to him. He was attired
plainly and coarsely, but was by no means
slovenly or unclean in his appearance. He
wore loose cotton shirt, the sleeves of which
were turned up to his elbows; and his panta-
looms were of greyish material, such as is
two garments constituted the whole of his
outfit, his feet and neck being bare. His
health, we understood from his counsel, has
not been very good for some time past; and to
this cause, in part, was owing the sickly pallor
which marked his countenance. The cell in
which he is confined is on one of the corridors
of the third floor of the County Prison; and
in view of a recent statement by con-
temporary, that this floor was entirely
hat sad 10
find not only that Winnemore's quarters were
in the untenanted portion of the building, but
that every cell on the floor was full, several OF
them even containing three or four prisoners
each. The room was very meanly furnished.
On the floor, to the left of the door as we
entered, was a simple pallet, on which the
prisoner sleeps. Opposite this stood small,
rickety table; and these two articles, with
single chair, constituted the only furniture in
the apartment On the stand lay a package
of foolscap paper, on which the prisoner was
engaged in writing with pencil. A single
volume, the title of which we did not notice,
was the only reading matter in the place.
The interview lasted about an hour, during
the whole of which Winnemore conversed
with entire freedom and with much ease, al
though he now and then hesitated while hunt
ing up word to express his meaning clearly.
His language was far from being grammatical
at all times, in apology for which he stated to
us that he had enjoyed but little opportunity
for acquiring an education. His attendance at
school had been limited to single year, and
what knowledge he possessed he said he had
picked up in the world as he went along.
Winnemore is now engaged in preparing q
sketch of his past life for Mr.. Kilgore. He has
no hope or expectation of living beyond the
present month, and for this reason he will
doubtless tell the whole truth, as far as he has
knowledge of 1t. We were permitted to glance
over this curious literary production, and il
answer to a couple OF our own questions, eX
tracts were read from it. The greater portion
of the concluding paragraph of the converse
ton detailed below is from this source.
After greeting the prisoner, the following con
Versatlon ensued:-
you something in reference to your religious
belief 1t has been stated quite publicly tina
you do not wish the services of any clergyman
and that fact has prejudiced the minds Of {
great many against you.
Ansber-I was aware of that when refused
clergyman. knew it would be so; was con
fdent Of It. l did not. wish to msrepresen
myself before the public by asking clergy
man, when knew that he could not do me
any good.
Q. But the people do not understand that.
a. Not all. My reason for not, wishing
clergyman in my cell is on account of my OWL
mind. His presence would have strong ten
.dency to disturb my mind for feel confident
that know as much of the spirit-world as they
this EARTH They could tell me that there was
such a world, but know there is, b ecause
have been there. II would not make me doubt
the existence of such a world If every
body should deny it, for l would NOT
doubt what my eyes have seen and what my
heart believes. l have no enmity, whatever
against any member of the profession; l have
no hard feelings against any one.
@. In case you should allow clergyman an
opportunity to converse with you on religious
matters, could he shake your belief?
a. No, sir. He could not make me doubt In
the belief of what have seen. The converse
tion would create disturbance in my mind, bu
It would not make me unhappy. The subject o
the conversation would be continually dwell
ing upon, and If he had not talked to me ny
mind would have renamed in another channel
At this point several questions were put to thu
prisoner concerning his belief in God, which
ELECTED the response that he believed In ''th'
God of the Bible, an allWise Power, an all-seeing
infinite Spritn He assured us that he was ia
from being an atheist. His views on this poin
were further discussed, and at last he summe
up his meaning by saying that "he believed tina
the spirits of all men parts OF the Deity, tina
God ia the author of all of them, and that ther
is mart of divinity In every human being"
Q. Do you believe that God win reward ever
good action and punish every wrong and wicke
a. / do. believe in future state of reward
and punishments for the deeds done by us in th
body. / believe that we will be punished {
long as we have guilt:
III no vou helieVe that our gDirits In the futul