The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-09
THE TWITCHELL CASE.

It has already been stated that George
Twitchell, Jr., who, as the telegraph informs
u.s. committed suicide yesterday to Escape
hanging for the murder of Mrs. Hill, his
mother-in.law, made confession charging his
wife with the horrid crime. 1t was also alleged
that the confession of her conde mned hus.
band had caused her to leave the city very sud.
denly. The Philadelphia Ledger, however,
says:
The statement that Mrs. Twitchell had fled
was untrue She had an interview with her
couascl on Saturday, wheh she stated that she
did not intend to make any reply AZ the pres
| ent time to the confession OF George. From
remarks made by the condemned to persons
who visited him in his cell, it was believed
th at he had made such confession week or
two ago to the attending clergyman, which he
| did not feel at lib3rty to have published. Such
an impression was created by a remark made
| to one of the reporters by the Rev. MIR. Bring
hurst. to the effect that what information he
had obtained as a clergyman he did not feel
hims at liberty to communicate to others.
The confession made in the presence OF the
Rev. MIR. Bringhurst and Mr.. William B. Per.
kins was published at the request of T"itchell.
1t is alleged that his wife had not been to see
him for several days before, aud that she had
expressed fear of confession by hlm. 1t is
singular that report was current in tho early
part oflast week that Mrs. Twltchell intended
to confess to the commission OF the deed, and
to declare that George had no act or part in it,.
Another Philadelphia paper says:
Rev. Mr.. Brioghurst, as everybody knows,
is the pastor OF All SAINTS (Episcopal) Church,
in Twelftb-street below Shipper. The Twitch-
ella and Mrs. Hill, when they attended any
church, went thero, but MIR. Bringhurst had no
ACQUAINTANCE with them. When lncarcerated on
the charge of murder, George Twitcheil sent
Ior him. For.more than seventy days he has
not lat twenty-four hours pass by without q
visit to Twitchells cell. he baptized him in
tho prison, and believed that he had prepared
him for death. MIR. Bringhurst is one OF that
class OF unsuspechng, guleless gentlemen
who would very probably mistake q horse
thief if travelling with him in railroad car,
for a student of divinity, or u gentleman who
does business with "the little joker" for mis-
sionary lust returned from Hindostan. Mr..
Bripghurst received Twitchells acknowledge
ment, as above with great surprise. Iwitchel
begged that it should be suppressed until after
his execution, but MIR. Bringhurst refused to
receive it upon any such terms. The reyer-
aud gentleman himself produced IL ror puoll-
ion on Saturday last.
The heart OF George Twitchell opened on
Friday when, after an absence OF hye days, he
becams satisfied that Camilla had forsaken
him. BE was led to believe that she was too
ill 10 visit him, and was apprehensive accord
ingly. Uns ple to lie, and unwilling to prevarl-
cate, Mr. Dringhurst told him that his wife
was not sick, and was in the city: She had
paid O fying visit to Mlllville, N. j., but had
returned. The statement that she had taken
a cottage in West Philadelphia and was living
thero, MIR. Bringhurst says, was erroneous.
The lady requested Mr.. Bringhurst to ask
George where hs would like, after he was hung,
that his body should lie. Rev. Mr.. Bringhurst
reiterates his statement that she so asked him.
Mrs. Twitchell has always manifested exceed
ing trepidation Of thu idea OF the reporters
witnessing the execution of her husband and
taking notes of any confession he might make.
The report that she fed the city on Saturday
is doubtful unless the hour was late, as she
was in consultation with Mr.. O'Byrne during the
morning. Mr.. Bringhurstin the case Is sorely
puzzled. Anterior to this confession he be-
1ieyed in the sincerity of TwitchelPs state
mcnts; he now knows not where ne can cast
the anchor OF hope. So far as the pulse OF pup
lie opinion can be felt by the reporter OF q
newspaper, no one believes any moro of the
confession of the unfortunate naatricidn- than
thai lie was cognizant OF her murder-but be-
fore, not after. the fact.
The Philadelphia Press referring to the con-
fession of Twitchel, the condemned murderer,
says:
On Monday, two friends of Geo. s. Twitchel,
Jr.. visited him nj the county prison, and en-.
gagged in o conversation, he having expressed
a desire to explain the statement made on Sat
nrflay. The following interrogatories and the
replies thereto are given for what they are
worth:
Question. Is the statement made on Satur-
day of yo-r own composition, and without any
influence whatcver2
Answer 1t was my own entirely, AMI on
Saturday asked for Mr.. Perkins to be pres
ent, along With Mr.. Bringhurst, at the read
8. Did YOU, on any occasion ever before,
know Mrs Twitchcll to leave her bed after
retiring?
A. Yes 1 have known Mrs. Twitchell fire.
aueuly to leave the room, and also have known
her to be gone some times for over an hour and
converse With Mrs. Hill. But OH the evening
in question fell asleep on the Tongue, and can
not saw whether she left the room or not.
o. How do you account for the bl>od on your
shirt and person?
A. All T can say to that is, that in lifting up
the body to throw it out OF the window,
caught hold of The head and shoulders, tho
heaviest portion, and my wife the feet.
o. Was Mrs. Hill dead when you threw her
out Of the window?
A. AS far as l am able to judge, Mrs. Hill
was dead when hfed up the body.
O. Where was Mrs. Twitchell when che called
you?
A. She was in the entry, at the end of the
staircase leading up into our room.
o. Can you account for the poker in the yardf
A. cannot; Iknew nothing OF poker until
after our arrest.
o. How about the ashes on the window-sill?
A. was smoking after tea, as it was my
usual custom, and presume left them there.
Twitchell here added: did not entertain the
slightest idea that my statement would alter
INV situation as far as the law went, but made
il to have entire peace with my God, and did
not think it would be published until after my
execution. NV reasons for not stating it soon-
er are simply these: that l fully expected my
wife to come forward and state all, and pot
leave ma to perform the unpleasant duty; but
her absenting herself from me, and her actions,
so unnatural to me in such a position, have
compelled me to come forward and state all l
know, which | did on Saturday. / would state
also, gentlemen, that if these statements can
be said by my wife TO want foundation, and arc
incorrect, let her como forward and deny them.
They have novel mode Of execution in