The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-13
TWITCHELI IND EATON.
A SUICIDE AND AN EXECUTION.

A SUICIDE AND AN EXECUTION.
Details of the Suicide of Twitch ell
History of his Crtme-Sccncs at the
Execution of Gerald Enton-He Pro.
tests his Innocence to the Last-At.
tempt mt Resuscttation.
The Philadelphia papers como to us filed
with the details Of the suicide Of Twtchell and
the hanging of Eaton on Thursday last. We
make some extracts:
SUICIDE OF TwITcHELL.
Twitchell was found, at $40 A. NJ. lying on
| his back, with his hands clenched and his
! mouth wide open, showing marks Of an ago.
nized death. Alter death tho body became
very much discolored. Subsequent investiga-
tion showed that he had come to his death by
strychnine, and that Eaton was fully aware of
Twitchell's intention to commit suicide. The
following statements were eicited from the
watcbman of tho prison: Twitchell was visited
on Wednesday afternoon by his friend (Mc-
CuIly). by his father and by the Rev. Mr..
lSrinchurst, his spiritual adviser. Tho inter-
view between the culprit and his friend { Nc
Cullv.) was very affecting. The father OF the
prisoner remained untll late hour, and after
he had gone the clergyman stayed with The
oner requested that he mich; be left alone, as
he felt desire to get little sleep during the
night. He was utterly prostrated during the
afternoon, and so weak that it was thought
that it would have been necessary to support
him to the scaffold. At two o'clock this MORN
ing, the watchman says he looked into Twit-
chelrs cell and saw him stretched at full
length upon the bed, with the bedclothes
lrawn over his head. The watchmGn supposed
ft-ot ,io
morning the keeper went to the cell and called
to awake the prisoner; but, receiving no reply,
entered the cell and found that George s.
rwltchel was lifeless corpse. On tho prcvi-
GUS night, owing to the account given by Jerry
Eaton-who occupied cell in sight Of
Twitchcll's and within easy hearing distance Of
it-ot what had passed during tho evening be-
tween Twitcheli aud himself the cell OF the
former vas carefully searched to see il he had
any means of committing suicide. Eaton had
related that on calling out to Twitcholl 10 cheer
ND and die like q man, Twitchell said: "You
will have to 70 alone tomorrow; I'll not be
with you;" and then held up his thumb and
finger, as if holding something between them,
and said, "Mum's the word" From this Eaton
suicide, and informed tho keeper of his suspi-
cions. A post-mortem examination the body
was held at three o'clock this afternoon. and
the following testimony before the coroner's
Jury was elected No clue was obtained as to
how Twitchel procured the poison:
DIR. T. 3. Shapleigh being sworll said !: l
madc post-mortem examination OF the body
OF rwitchel; the eyes were examined first, and
q peculiar dlyncss about Tho corners was OBJ
served; there was o stain on the lower lip,
which could not be washed away; the brain
was examined, the blood-vessels Of which we're
found to be excessively congcsted, and the
odor of prussic acid was noticeable besides
peculiar redness OF blood; that which ran upon
the bench and floor did not coagulate; the
lungs were congested; the heart was aacid
and contained fluid blood; the liver was in u
normal conditions; the stomach contained but
small quantity OF fluid but 10 solid food;
the mucous membrane OF the stomach was in
state of high congestion; the odor of prussic
acid was observed whenever tho body was
opened; I had no doubt on my mind as to tho
cause of death from the examination; but in
searching the cell discovered bottle wrapped
in paper in the toe OF boot; it contained
Aption OF cyanide OF potassium, which is
deadly poison; it was half ounce bottle and
is about half full; "a portion OF 1t was evidently
poured in the till cup by tho prisoner and swal-
lowed by him as he lay on the bed; there Is no
doubt that George $. Twitcholl cano to his
death by poison administered by himself.
Other Physicians all concurred with DR.. Snap
leigh as to the cause OF his death.
1t was stated that Twitchell had contempla-
tel for some time tho commission OF suicide,
and this is based upon letter which it ie aueg-
ed he wrote to an intimate friend, IN which ho
is reported as having said: ii cannot and will
not die on scaHold." Las: evening two of his
counsel saw him, and from his urging them to
call on him in the morning, they believe that
Tw! .chell must have made up his mind after
this interview. The matter OF suicide was
talked OF through this city last night, and as
an cy dcnce OF it's probability well-known
gentleman states that about eleven o'clock he
was informed that Twltchell would DC found
dead this morning, and in so positive man.
ner was this assertion made that he was induc-
cd to believe it.
TwITcHELLs CRIME.
In tho month OF November of last year, Mrs.
Hill, an old lady OF sixty FIVE; MIR. George S.
Twitchell, young man of twonty-elght years
OF ace, and her daughter Mrs. George s.
Twitchell. aged about thlrty-fye, occupied
fine house at the corner OF Tenth and Pine
streets. Philadelphia. They had in their en-
ploy q servant girl named Sarah Campbell,
who. on the ptternoon OF the 22d OF November,
went out, as was her habit on Sunday atler
noon, to spend the time until evening with her
friends. Returning homo at halfpast nine in
the evening, she rang the bell, but no one
CAM to open the door. Again she rang, and
agai,. seven OF eight times at intervals. and
Knocked loudly until at length George s.
Twilc lchell opened the door for her, a very un-
usnnl thing for him, rs Mrs. Hill had been in
tLe habit OF staying up to let Sarah in. Mr..
and Mrs. Tw,tchell we're in tho habit Of retil-
ing early. On opening tho door that night,
Twilcheil, after re'narking that it was cold,
said. "I wonder where mother can be?" to
which the girl replied that she did not know.
He then went up stairs and Sarah Campbell
proceeded into the kitchen and lighted u cam
die. Seeing the kitchen door open she went to
sbut il. when she was Mortified at behoding
tho BODY of Mrs. Hill lying upon the pave
ment. The alarm was at once given and
Twltchc.l came down stairs, as altera time his
wife also. On seeing the body Twitchell ex
claimed, s'AIy God what Is this Will some
one assist me in carrying her III e lhe BODY
was brought in and the nclshoorhood aroused.
polccnlan named Howard was the first to
arrive upon the scone, and soon Afterwards
number of thc ncghbors. Twtchell was wash
ing The head of Mrs. Hill when these people ar
rired lho spectacIe presented by the body of
fine murdered woman for she had evidently
been murdered-was ghastly. Thirleen deep
wounds were found upon the face and head.
Mrs. Twitehell, on being asked by one OF the
nelrhbors. a Mrs Morrcll, what had happened
to Mrs. Hill. sald ''She fell out of the window"
An examlnatlon of the premises was made,
when scene OF sickenlns horror was fund i'll
tno dining room up stars, from the window OF
which Mrs Hill was alleged to have fallen. A
sofa and pillow stained With thick blood,
pool of coro upon the floor, spots OF blood
upon the carpets and sprlnkicd over the walls,
and the window sash and sill also smcarcd
over with blood, while in corner OF the
rom Il poker covered with blood ana having
.ray har sticking to 1t was found. Mr.. anu