The New York herald., 1869-04-08
DOUBLE EXECUTION IN PHILADELPHIA
TO-DAY.

Preparations for Hanging George =. Twitch.
ell, Jr., for the Murder of his MOther-in-
Law, and Gerald Eaton for the Murder OF
the Brother Of Heenan, the Pusilist. ~
PHILADELPHIA, April I, 1869.
Preparations for the execution of Gerald Eaton,
convicted Of the murder OF Timothy Heenan, and Of
George S. Twltchel convicted Of the murder of Mrs.
Mary e. Hill, have been commenced at Moyamen-
sing Prison. The same scatfold will be used upon
which Probst and others have suffered the death
penalty. The execution Will be private. Only
officials and six reporters are to be present.
Eaton IN conversation to-day expressed himself
ready to meet his fate. He declared in a decided
manner that he did not fire the fatal shot and should
not have been convicted of murder. He says he is
ready to go out and die like q man. He was thirty
three years OF age on the 10th OF March, the day on
which the death warrant was read to him.
Twltchell has taken farewell Of his brothers and Of
young McCuly, who was his steadfast friend during
the trial. The parting was very Affecting and all
bitterly & awfhe o eeSame s re5S WI
to have lost much Of that frmness which character
ized him during his trial and since his conviction
Twitchel said that he was as well any man could
be under the circumstances, and that he had suf-
fered all that any person could in his position. No
thing was said about the murder.
Efforts to Procure the Pardon Of TwitcheIl
and Eaton.
HARRISBURG, Pa, April I, 1909.
Tremendous exerti0ns are being made for the par
don OF Eaton and Twitchell, but the Governor has
fully decided to let the law take its course with
Twitchell, and more than probable, in Eatons case
also.
Another Interview With Twitchcll-He Re.
iterates the Truth Of His Former state.
ment.
From the Philadelphia lnquirer,.Ap II
Yesterday afternoon. about three O'Clock, Mr.. T. b.
RausfOrd, OF the counsel for George s. Twitche
Jr., at his trial, visited the unhappy man In his CELL
and held quite long conversation with HIM. OF
kindness OF Mr.. Ransford himsef:-
After few remarks Of greeting Mr.. Ransford
to the public concerning your confession Of satur.
day will endeavOr 10 be OF service 10 you In con-
veying 1t to the community at large"
TwITCHELL-l have something further which the
action of the newspapers render IL necessary that
should say. am accused Of having made the con-
fesson Of last Saturday merely for effect and In the
hope that 1t would secure me reprieve; but reso-
lutely deny that II was for such purpose. say,
only after my DEATH and strenuousy objected to
Its present publications.; but Mr.. Brnghurst gave 1t
to the newspapers against my wish ana consent. TO
the confession there is nothing to be added, but
reiterate its truth. In saying that made 1t for effect
the newspapers criticise II and point out incon-
are the best @ proofs Of its truths m Had nv design
been to lie to the public and thus gain its pity could
not have manufactured q detailed statement, con-
nected in every particular / told everything as
Mr.. RANsFoRD-when your wife called you down
stairs after her mother was killed did she have on
her night clothing, or was she dressedA
TwITCHELI-I do not recollect. I was 80 much
stunned that did not notice. / can't account for
got 1t there while carrying the body to the window.
Oficer Howard's statement at the trial about ques-
tioning me concerning the blood on my shirt when
he arrested me at the house Is not true.
Nix. RANsFoBD-How came you tc make confess
slon2
TwrrcHELL-I made 1t because my wife deserted
me. Before last Friday, a week ago, she called to
see me twice week. but always seemed in hurry
TO get away and never show ed any affection ior me.
At her last visit the officers Of the prison told her she
might come to see me every day from that time II
she desired. When she was leaving said, Camilla,
there must be some light thrown upon this thing,
she only replied, Il will come again soon,' and
haven't seen her since. think very hard that she
should abandon me now, after the sacrifices have
made for her. II Immediately after her acquittal she
had told the whole truth think my life would have
been saved.
Mr.. RASsFoRD-The papers say she has not left
town.
TwrrcnELL-I say she has; she cannot now be
on Thursday would not change places with her,
for Will die with the consciousness OF yielding up
my life for faithiess and criminal wife, while she
VIII add my blood to her soul already stained by that
OF her mother. she hasn't half the regard for me
that my aunt has. My poor old father, good man,
stood trpy by me. Before this he ). was .o light,
dsgraced heartily depreeate the CRITICISMS against
me that the pabcfs Indulge they, bs theif trurl
caumnies, are pressing down dying man. be-
lieve they aided materially IN my conviction by ex-
citing false prejudice against me. ] don't see
that O good life always avails q man In this
world. ! have tried TO live well, and now | am
in q felon's CELL about to die upon the gallows. ON
the other hand, Gerald Eaton. believe stands
good chance OF being reprieved and hope he will
if,er some casual remarks MIR. Ransford arose TO
leave MIN, and Twltchell then said:--"Be assured
that win make no further confession, for nothing
remains TO he told. am not afraid to die; am
prepared for the end"
shaking hands with him, Mr. Ransford left the
doomed man TO his own thoughts.