Weekly Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-02-05
Sentence of Twitchell.

IN the Court OF Oyer and Termner in Phila-
uelnhia on Saturday, the hour of twelve having
been fixed rs the time for the announcement b,
the court Of their decision in the case of Geo s
Iwiichell, Jr., large number Of persons were
In attendance. Precisely at the horr designated
All iour Of the judges took their seats, and 81
fence being commanded Judge Brewster pro-
ceeied to deliver the opinion Of the Court over
ruling The motion for new tfeal, which was q
review Of the facts and an able disquisition upon
the law Of the case. As the Judge pronounced
the last omirous words, "tho motion for new
trial is oveuuled." silence, lasting for the
space OF one or two minutes fell upon the crowd.
District Attorney Sheppard then arose and
said May ii please the Court, having thug
oyerruled the motion for new trial in the case
OF the Commonwealth against George s. witch
Ell. Jr., convicted Of The murder Ct Mary L
| Hill, thereupOn 1t becomes my official duty, on
behalf of the Commonwealth, to move, as i do,
for The judgment OF the law Of PENNSYLVANIA in
such cnses made and provided.
Judge Allison Mr.. Clerk, you will ask the
prisoner i he has anything to say why the SEN
tence of death should not now DO passed upon
him according to law.
Mr.. Gallon. George s. Twiichcll, Jr,, have
you anything TO shy why the sentence Of death
should not now be passed according to law.
| The prisoner arose and seemed 10 hesitate. as
| though he could not command language to ex-
press himself. We since ascertained, however,
/ mat he had to be reetrained, rs he desired to
say too much for his own good. He did saw.
| however, in low tone jerking his words forth,
as 1t were: "All that | have TO say, 10 that /
have been tried and convicted for a crime
know nothing Of"
Judge Brewster, in a clear tone of voice and
an Impressive manner. now said
George s. Twtchell, Jr, the accusation pre
ferred against you by the Commonwealth has
been examined with great patience and with an
earnest desire to accord to you the fullest rights
secured by the constitution aud the laws The
JSrots 7gho tried you were accepted by you WHEN
your challenges were still unexhausted. They
deserved your confidence, for no men could have
heard your case with greater fairness or Impair
tiality. You were ably and skllfully defended.
All that learning, industry and eloquenae could
suggest was most earnestly urged in your be-
half. The Court was anxious to throw every
doubt into the scale of mercy.
notwithstanding oil this, you have been con-
Victed OF the highest crime known to the law,
anu most exhaustive argument in your behalf
mas iaisd TO satisfy any member of the
court that the verdict should be disturbed This
trial bus thus demonstrated that secret murder
committed III the privacy Of home, can neither
be shielded by the absence of witnesses nor the
position OF the accused. Although the victim
NNoHutouNu III Hultl, Bull every little
crop OF blood, ond every surrounding fact be-
comes, in the orderings of Providence, witness
poihiing with unerring certainty to the criminal.
shall not add to the pain Of your present
position by abiding to the circumstances Of this
case, but u would seem to he due to Justice TO
declare thai your trial has been conducted
throughout with all the tender regard for life
which marks the humanity of the law Whilst
MRS. iiill was seat TO her last account without
inc opportunity for even one short prayer, the
law has besn jealous of every right by which
the presumption Of innocence could throw
around you. IL has given you every opportu-
MY to prepare for your trial. the right OF chal-
lenge to Jurors, the privilege OF being defended
oy abls counsel, the benefit of every doubt. and |
the advantage of reviewing all the rulings upop |
every point
when all this has resulted in your coudemua-
ton, She still in mercy gives you time for re-
pentnnce and for duplication. Let US recon-
menu you IN oil earnestness to avail yourself of
'n's privilege Obtain the counsel of devout
men Approach with them the Throne of Geace
~ ieryent confritior and sincere repentance.
seek Him whose mercy is all sufficient. even TO
inc washing away Of blood. And now il only
remains Tor US 10 declare the Judgment of the
law, which is--Lhere all the judges rose1-
mat george s. Twilohell, Jr., the prisoner Mt
The bar, be taken from hence to the iall of the
county Of Philadelphia, from whence he came.
ana from thence 10 the place of execution, and
mat he be there hanged by the neck until he is
ieau, and may God in His infinite goodness have
mercy upon his soul
Inc father OF tho prisoner sat Immediately in
ront OF him. and young McCully next to the
Ather. When sufficient oil the judges decision
' ~, oeen announced to show it was adverse to
me prisoner, gureling sound proceeded from
~ uooki End MoCnlly foil over against a man
i'iing near him A glass Of water was pro
ured but the proceedings wers not interrupted
IS the judge faised bis voice and continued in
he discharge of his unpleasant duty. ,
The prisoner at first stood very erect, with his
rms folded on his breast. Whea the judge
Ioweveri adg5e him "to seek Him whose mer-
y IS all sufficient, even to the washing away Of
1000. he rolled his eyes upward as though in {
duplication, and let lis handi fall upon the /.
ail'ng Of the dock, which he hold firmly. He 7
vas evidently breathing down fast, MS he seemed j
have but little coulrol Of hms III when he All
dropped after sentence had been passed HIS !
ias Immediately removed to prison