The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-09
On February 10 Governor Geary appointed the sth
M Anrii for the o. ecution of TwIfchell

the United States. IL was wnue the mater was
pending there that TwItchel on Saturday last, with
the hope perhaps Of influencing the supreme Court
in his favor, made the strange confession IN which
he alleged that his wife mad committed the murder,
and that he had nothing whatever 10 do with the
affair until called by his wife TO aid her In conceal
ing the crime. on Monday the Supreme Court de-
MED the writ OF error, and Twltcaell's hopes at
length utterly failed him. But Notwithstanding all
behalf were persisted IN, and certain parties, actu-
ated either 10y maudlin sentimentanty from worse
motives hesieged Governor Geary up to the last
moment praying him TO grant a respite.
These efforts failed, and George ;. Twitche and
Jerry Eaton were to have been executed on the
the authorities had been saved the necessity OF
double execution.
VIEWING TwITCHELI's DEAD BODY.
In company with the sheriff. deputy sheriff and
their jury | paid visit at eleven O'Clock this
morning TO the cell where the lifeess body of
Twitchell lay Entering the commodous and well
ventilated CELL the ifeess form OF the murderer was
seen stretched at full length upon low bed The
features were not at all disturbed. The lips and
eyes were wide open, the arms stretched out by the
sides ana the bedcolhes covering only the lower
half Of the body There were no appearances about
tne bOuy nor no nuicat,ons 10 the cell that Iwchel
had committed suicide by violent means. he must
either have died from physical prostraton brought
on by terror, or, what was more probable and
generally believed by the agency of some deadly
poison conveyed to him by one OF his friends. The
following statements were ELECTED nom the watch
or tue prson:-Twitchell was visited on
Wednesday afternoon by his friend (McCuly), By his
father and by the Rev. Mr.. Bringhurst MS spiritual
ADVISER The interview between the cnlprit and his
friend (McCully was very affecting. The father OF
the prisoner renamed until late hour and after he
had gone the clergyman stayed with the prisoner
until half.pas eleven, when the prisoner requested
that he might be left alone as he felt desire TO get
little sleep during the night lie was utterly pros
trated during the afternoon and so weak that II was
thought thai 1t would have been necessary to sup
port him to the sca1oid. At two O'CLOCK this
morning tue Waterman says he looked into
Twitchens cell ana saw him stretched at full
length upon the bed, with the bedcothes drawn
over his head. The watchman supposed
hun to be asleep. At quarter past five this
morning the keeper went to the cell ana called to
awake the prisoner; but receiving no reply, entered
lfeess corpse. On the previous night, owing to the
account given by Jerry Eaton-who occupied a cell
in sight of Twtche's and within easy hearing dis
lance OF it-of what had passed during the evening
between Fwitchell ana himself, the cell or the
former carefully searched TO see If he had any
means OF committing suicide. Eaton had related
that on calling out TO Twitcheil to cheer up and die
like man, rwltchell said, lyon Will have to go
alone tomorrow; pil not be with you;n and then
held up his thumb and finger, as II holding some
thing between them. and said, "Mums the word.n
From this Eaton concluded that 1witcnell intended
TO commit suicide, and informed the keeper OF his
suspicious. A post mortem examination OF the body
was he'd at three O'Clock this afternoon, and the lo
lowing testimony before the coroner's jury was
elected. NO clue was obtained as TO how Twltcheil
procured The poisOn:-
Doctor y. B. shapeigh being sworn, said:-I made
post mOrtem examination OF the body OF TwitcneN;
the eyes were examined hrst, and peculiar dryness
about the corners was observed there a stain
on the lower lip, which could not be washed away;
the brain was examined, the blood vessels of which
were found 70 be excessively congested and the
liar redness of blood; that which upon the bench
and Eoor did not coagulate; the lungs were con-
gesJed; the heart was hacld and contained fluid
blood; The liver was in normal condition.; the
stomach contained but small quantity OF mud,
but no solid food the mucus membrane Of the
stomach was in state OF nigh congestion; the odor
OF prussIc acid observed whenever the body
was opened: had no doubt on my mind as to the
cause OF death from the examination; but In search
ing the Cell / discovered O bottle wrapped in
paper IN the toe OF boot; 1t contained
a solution Of cyanide Of potassium which
about half FULL portion Of 1t evidently poured
IN the tin cup by the prisoner and swallowed by
him he lay the beo there Is doubt that Geo.
;. Twitchell came TO his death by poison admins
tered by himself.
other physicians all concurred with Dr. shapleIgh
The jury at this point Of the examination al.
journed until Saturday morning. at eleven O'Clock,
when the taking OF testimony Will be resumed
THR MURDER OF TIM KEENAN,.
The circumstances connected with the murder OF
Timothy Heenan, the brother Of the well known
interest that attached 10 the murder OF Mrs. Hun, and
also because II was believed in Philadelphia, even
tence OF Eaton would be committed. lew details
OF MS case are necessary at this time.
On the night Of the nth OF June Timothy Heenan
was at the pubic house OF a friend named Mike Sulli
at the corner OF Fifth and Spruce Streets Phila
dephia, when Jerry Eaton and James Trainor, alias
sugar Jin.v entered. There does not seem to have
been any previous quarrel between them but Eaton
and Tranor must have had some anmosty against
Heenan, for they began by threatening hlm, and
put the parties out OF the house. and Heenan crossed
the street and entered tavern kept by man
named Smith. Jerry Eaton and Sugar Jim then
went TO the Carpenter House, Kept by ran0r and
procured the assistance OF seven other rowdies.
Iney all armed themselves and started for Smiths
pubic house. Having arrived there Eaton renewed
the quarrel with Heenan, which resulted In the lat
being shot Eaton was tried and convicted the
testimony OF Aldermen Dougherty, VINO beheld the
ARRAY. From the testimony twas shown that Heenan
was unarmed and had iniorn his assailants OF the
fact, and that ne was on his way up rIfth street
when one OF Eaton's party fired; second shot was
fred Sugar Jim fired the third and Jerry Eaton
fired the fourth and 1t alleged the fatal shot After
the fourth snot Heenan staggered back slightly six
other shots were fired by the party. Heenan was
conveyed TO the pennsylvania Hospital and died
from MS wound.
Jerry Eaton was sentenced TO oe executed on the
25th OF February, but owing TO representations that
mad been made IN his behalf Governor Geary granted
hlm respite. On the 10Th OF March last, the same
day which Twitchers death warrant was
read, Deputy sheriff smith announced to
10 take place on the sth Of April. The
prisoner BETRAYED no emotion on learning tins. He
seems 10 nave felt certain that he would not suffer
the extreme penalty OF the law. Nevertheless, he
soon expressed desire TO see Catholic priest, and
began 10 receive with much doclIty the mlnstra-
tons OF Fathers O'Rely and Barry, who visited hin
frequently aud have continued TO do so up to his
last moments From the time OF his sentence TIL
the fatal bolt which launched him into eternity was
drawn the prisoner has borne himself with unnnch-
ing courage. IL was only ON the day prior to hrs
execution That he finally renqulshed all hope. Still
he betrayed no sign OF fear. lie redoubled the fer.
vor OF ms religious exercise.
PETITIONS TO THE GOVERNOR IN ms BrrALP
Some OF Eaton's friends have made the most
strenuous efforts TO save hlm. and seemed confident
oil being able To do 40 The fact that Governor Geary
had already granted him respite was taken a.
sign that Eaton would not be executed and la order
that the sentence that hung over MIN might be
avered number Of ward politicians succeeded IN
nurTying through the Legislature bill empowering
the Governor 10 commute the sentence OF death u
one o! Imprisonment for life. According to the laws
Of the state OF pennsylvania the Governor can re.
spite but cannot commute the sentence OF DEATH
There are AZ present In MOyamensing prison. Phila-
dephia, no less than thirteen murdcrers who have
been resped, but over whose heads the sentence of
death stu hangs. One of them was sentenced eiQh
teen years ago. ON Wednesday afternoon kilograms
announcing the certainty Of respite were received
IN fhlladeiphia from Harrisburg. But still no es-
pite arrived, aud Governor Geary refused TO sign i'm
medately the law hurriedly passed by the Legisla
ture. All hope was gone and Eaton prepared TO
meet his fate.
THE EXECUTION.
Eaton slept well on the night preceding the execu.