New-York tribune., 1869-04-09
THE SCAFFOLD.
EXECUTION DAY IN PHILADELPHIA.
TWITCHELL COMMITS SUICIDE BY POISON
FOUND DEAD IN HIS CELL-GERALD EATON
his oFFENSE, TRIAL, IMPRISONMENT
EFFORTS TO SECURE HIS PARDON OR
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

FOUND DEAD IN Ills CELL-GERALD EAION
his oFFENSE, TRIAL, IMPRISONMENT
EFFORTS TO SECURE HIS PARDON OR
REPRIEvE-EXECUTION.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUNEI
PHILADELPHIA, April S.-This has been day
Of horror In this city. Two convcts TO have been
led execution; but the greater criminal orestaed the
operation Of the law became his eIeoutoner, and
died In his cell the death Of suicide from the effects OF
dose srychnine. Within the last "a hours Twitche
had evinced overwhelming terror at his impending
fate aud it not surprising therefore, that he sought
relief in suicide His spiritual adviser, the Rev. George
Brnghurst, parted from the prisoner at II o'clock last
night with promise TO return to him early this morning
At very late hour in the night three Catholic priests
who had been attending on Gerald Eaton. confined
in adjoining CELL visited Twitche The prisoner re-
ceived his visitors kindly and manifested satisfaction at
their attention The priests that the prisoner was
greatly agated and that he was suffering intense men,
tai agony but they had not the remotest idea that he
medated such close to career Of crime which the
morning hours revealed When the keeper Mr. Cassday,
looked into Twtchers cen about o'clock this morning.
Twtche appeared to be asleep he had the blanket over
his head. There was light burning in his room and
there indications that he was suffering from the
effects poison sickness Mr. Cassiday again looked
into the cell at ST o'clock, and noticed that
Twitchells looked pale and deathly. He then
opened the door, and in company with watch
man Peterson, entered. The blanket with which
Twitchels face had been covered thrown down on
the bed about to his middle. The sheetwas tightly wound
around his body Turnkey Casslday examined the body
and found the neck still warm, but the face and limbs
rigid and cold The death OF the prisoner was made
known TO the superintendent Of the Prison, Mr. W. b.
Perkins who gave orders that one should be admitted
to the cell until the arrival Of the Sheriff Soon after 10
o'clock the Sheriff, accompanied by his jury and the
coroner visited the CELL and made arrangements for
postmOrtem examination. The preliminary inyestlga-
tons made by the physicians at the County Prison led TO
the belief that the prisoner had committed suicide by
taking strychnine. stick OF licorice, with the
end bitten of, was found in tho cell, and It Is
thought that the fatal drug had been concealed
in this. There is story In circulation that Eaton was
made Of the intentions OF Twitche by means OF
signs and motions which visible through the iron
doors OF the opposite cells The furniture OF the room
was in perfect order, and there no evidence OF
struggle The appearance OF the body Indicated that
death had certainly ensued from s:rychnine OF some
other powerful mineral poison The face presented
vid appearance. eyes and mouth wide OPEN The limbs
were perfectly straight and the hands were slightly con-
tracted showing that there had been slight spaslns.
Thus ended life that, in it's closing weeks days ana
hours was food for the most intense feelings among the
friends and eDemIes Of Its possessor statements
promised from Mrs. Twitchen that Will explain the
motives for and the manner OF the murder OF Mrs Hill
THE SUICIDE OF TwITCHELL - THE CoRoNERs
INQUEST.
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPATCHl
PHILADELPHIA, April 8.-Twitchell was left
I'm his cell at o'clock by the Rev. Mr. Brinkharst in com
pany with Catholic priests who had been on visit
Eatons CELL The keepers removed everything from
Twitchelrs cell except tin cup, at which Twitchell
smiled and made jocular remar At $40 the watchman
found Twchell apparently In deep sleep He shook him
and found that life extinct. hasty examination by
she officers OF the prison, led to the conclusion that
he had committed suicide by poison conveyed TO him by
his friends. He had for the previous "a hours eyineed
overwhelming terror his fate and his conduct before
fiy ~
suicide, though this can only be ascertaned by an OIL
cia investigation. The Bulletin says: THE murderer
has added 10 his crime OF assassination and false
hood the crime OF suicide, 20 which he has been
undoubtedly driven by uncomfortable terror which
the failure Of attempts him had produced
His miserable end will awaken sensation OF pity even
with those who most hrmly believe in his guilt and In
the Justice OF his condemnation. lie has died and made
no sign convince OF the truth OF his socaed
confession and there but being alive who can un-
veil the whole mystery Of the dreadful deed which has
sent Geo. S. Twtche jr TO suicides and afeons grave
1t appears that during yesterday Twehen was allowed
to visit Eaton in his CELL During the interview Twitche
remarked TO that they woud not be hung together
THIS led TO a suspicion OF suicide being contemplated
and TwitcheIs cell was searched. and everyth"s ro
,noved I'm the shape furniture and convenences
when found he lying his back his hands cenched
and his mouth wide open showing marks OF agoniZed
death. Since his death his body has become
much dIscolored proving that death was caused
by mineral poison. further examination
OF the CELL led the discovery of piece Of hquorice
root which is supposed 10 have been impregnaed with
poison It has been asccrtained that Twitchel was
poisoned with strychnine 1t appears that Eaton was
aware OF Twitchells intention TO commit suicide gen
tlenan who had conversation with Eaton this morn
ing says that some time last night the two men
were allowed to have interview, and that
Twitchell said: "Jerry. you will have to 10
alone tomorrow; I'll not bo with you; but
NUNS the word" Aiterward Eaton revealed this state
ment 20 the cergymen In attendance aud they thought
IL proper to inform the officers Of the prison. Twitehes
cell was then thoroughly searched and everything was
removed by which he might inJure himself; even the
looking glass taken away but he must have had tho
poison concealed about him, may have already swa
lowed 1t.
Eaton took his farewell OF his wife this morning IL
was an affecting scene. He made statement on the
gallows.
The following portion testimony before the Coroners
Jury shows the cause Twitches death. No clue has
been obtained as 10 how he procured the poison
DR.. j. b. shapleigh, sworn, said:
Im.ds examination OF the body Of Tvtehs The
.yes we're examined FIRST and peculiar dn boa the corners
observed stain the lower lip which could not be
washed away The brain examined the blood vessels Of which
apd be excessively CONCERTED and ihe sor Of prus,c acid
noticeable besides peculiar redD. OF blood; that which upOn
the beach did eOig The lungs eongesed the
heart was nd contained nud blood The liver normal
condition stomach contained bat tm, quantity OF nuind bot no
o food The Of the stomach state Of high
congestion Odo Of psse acid observed wherever the body
was opened doubt mind to the Of DEATH from
the examination; but in searching the cell discovered bottle
wrapped Ia paper Of boot contained solution cyanide
Of fpota.inm which deadly poison 1t halfOunes bottle and
f. nt bali portion Off evidently poured the tin cup
N. prisoner and swallowed by him be lay the bed Thsreuno
o that George Twtehe hs death BY poison administered
BY himself
Other physicians all concurred with DR.. shaplegh as
10 the cause Of his death.
The Jury at this point Of the examination adjourned
un Saturday morning at II o'clock when the taking Of