The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-09
THE PHILADELPHIA TRAGEDIES.
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A DOUBLE EXECUTION F0ILED.
Suicide of George S. Twitchell in His
Cell on Wednesday Night.
EXECUTION OF JERRY EATON.
Sympathy fer the Criminal and Dissatisfaction
With the Action Of Governor Geary

PHILADELPHIA, April s, 1869.
The past few days have been exciting in Phia-
delpha and the approaching executions OF Twitchell
and Eaton the main topics or conversation on all
SIDES Up 10 the last moment 1t was considered GER
tam that the last mentioned culprit would be
respted, and on Tuesday q bill hurried through
the Legislature at Harrisburg empowering the Gov
ernor OF Pennsylvania TO commute the sentence of
death TO one OF Imprisonment for life. IL was owing
to the pressure brought to bear the Legislature by
the friends OF Eaton that the measure was hurried
through with such unseenly haste. once passed 1t
was considered morally certain that the Governor
would Immediately sign It for the purpose Of
giving Jerry Eaton the first benefit of the enact
ment. kilograms announcing that Eaton had
been respited were received in Philadelphia from
Harrisburg on Wednesday afternoon, and believed
as matter OF course. Even the sheriff. who had
received Official information on the subject,
pressed his belief that the statements received by
telegraph announcing the respite OF the culpr would
prove true. still the preparations fer double exc
cution went on and were completed. Hour after
hour few by ana tde public interest grew In inteE-
sty as the shades of evening came ON and the night
became far advanced and still no message arrived
from the Governor. The desire that eaton might
not suffer the extreme penalty of the law was almost
universal. Nothing but expressions Of sympathy for
him were heard: GOJbt5 OF his quit were openly ex-
pressed, and tie deep Indignation Of the prisoners
friends who were legion, found yentln angry COM
ments on the Governors sIcace. The friends of the
doomed man Seemed unable to compre-
bend that all the influence brought to
bear in his behalf would prove unavailing
especially as there was far from benz moral GER
tainty that Eaton fired the fatal shot. Dr. Sharp
leigh had stated recently that Tim Heenan had been
shot in two places. Only barrel OF Eaton's pis-
toll was discharged, and how, therefore, 1t was
asked could IL be shown that it the bullet from
his pistol which killed Heenan2 The morning Of
execution arrived, and stin no respite for Jerry
Eaton. Then was that the public began TO realize
fully that his last day earth had come and that,
IN company with Twitchen, he would perish isuo-
mlniously on the scadold.
AS for Twitchell, no one pitied him. The convic-
ton OF his guilt had become settled in the minds of
the people Of this city, and few regretted that he
would meet a felon's doom. Everything however,
that was said or printed about him eagerly de-
voured by an excited public. The circumstances of
Eaton's case were little dwelt on owing TO the
intense interest that centred around the murder OF
Mrs. Hill and The murderer Twitchell. The denoue-
ment IN this drama looked for with still greater
eagerness in the hope that at the last moment the
IN urderer would make a truthful confession OF the
crime and clear up the doubt as to whether his wife
had also a hand in IT. The anXiously lookedfor
morning Of his execution arrived, and the populace
already thronged the streets and renewed the all
engrossng topic OF conversaton-the approaching
executons-when a rumor arrives and spreads with
the speed OF the wind that George 5. Twitchel, the
murderer Of Mrs. Hill, has been
FOUND DEAD IN THE PRISON CELL
Little credence at FIRST given to the report bat
was reported from mouth TO mouth and in short
time numbers OF people were seen hurrying towards
the sherGs Office TO learn the truth. He not TO
be found being engaged IN search OF the Coroners
physician, In order 10 send MIN TO the
prison TO examine the body Of TwItchell. After
time 1t became known a certainty that a telegram
had been received that morning by Mr.. Lyle, the
sheriff, from Mr.. Perkins, the superintendent OF
Moyamensng prison, conveying the startling intelli-
gence that at half past five that morning the keeper
had found George 5. Twitchel dead IN his cell The
Rallows had been robbed VI the only OF the two
culpriis of whose life the people demanded the for
felt. He was dead dead after so much tergiyersa-
tlon and so many contradictory statements, and so
much display OF at one time determined front and
persistent asseveratOns Of his innocence, followed.
AZ soon as he realized the certainty that no hopes
renamed for him on tnls side OF the grave by such
al utter prostration Of his mental ana physical
beng. lie was dead-polsoned, II was believed. By
his own cowardly hand and the conviction OF his
CUNT became, If possible, deeper than ever. Not a
word OF pity was expressed Tor the miserable and
unmanly suicide.
The particulars OF the murder Of Mrs. HIN are so
well known that IL Is necessary TO refer only IN most
concise terms 10 the tragedy that condemned George
s. TwItchell TO a murderer's death on the scafod
which he escaped only as 1t at present appears, by
TwITcHELL's CRIME.
In the month Of November Of last year Mrs.. Hi.
On Old lady OF sixtynve; Mr. George - IwItchel,
young man Of tgenty-eight years OF age, ana her
daughter Mrs. George >. Twitcnel aged about
thirty-iiYo, occupied fine house at the corner OF
Tenth and Pine streets Philadelphia They had in
their employ a servant girl named sarah Campbell
who, on the al ernoon OF the ed OF November, went
out "a was her habit Sunday afternoon, TO spend
the time until evening with her friends Returning
home at hali-past nne Ia the evening she rang the
bell, but no one came 10 open the door. Again she
rang and again. seven or eight times az Intervals and
knocked loudly, until az length George = Twiichell
opened the door for her. very unusual thing for
him. as Mrs am had been IN the habit Of staying up
20 let Sarai IN. hr. AID Mrs. Twitchell were Ia the
habit Of retiring early On opening the door that
night Twiicheil after remafking that II was cold,
SAID, 81 wonder where mother can beri 10 which
the gir replied that she did not know. He then
the Kitchen and lighted candle Seeing the kitchen
door open she went 10 shut H. when she hor1led
al oehOding the body OF Mrs. Hin lying upon the
pavement. Tie alarm vas az once gwen and
Twichel came down stairs, as after time ms wife
also On seeing the BODY Twitchel exclaimed my
God what thlsY VIII some one assist me IN carry
mg her iny The BODY was brought IN and the
neighborhool aroused. A policeman named How
arr was Tue hrst TO arrive upon TIE scene, AID
afterwards number Of the neiehbors. 1witchell
was washing the head Of Mrs. I'M wnen these people
arrived. The spectacle presented by the body OF the
murdered wOman-iOr she had evidently been mnr.
dered-was CHASTITY. Thirteen deep wounds were
found upon the face and head. Mrs. TwItchell on
being asked by one OF the neighbours, Mr.. Morrel
what had happened to Mrs Hin. SAID 'she iell out
nf the window an examination Of the premises
was made. when q scene Of sickenng horror was
found IN the dining room up stairs, from the window
OF which Mrs. HilI was alleged 70 have fallen. A
sofa and pillow stained WITH thick blood, pool OF
gore upon the ioOr spots OF blood upon the carpets
and aprinkled over the walls, aud the window sash
and all also smcared ever with blood. while IN a
corner Of the room n poker covered with blood ana
having gray hair Sticking TO IL was found. Mr.. and
Mrs. lNgitche were charged with tho murder and
placed nnuer arrest.
Their trial came on 10 December and excited IN
tense interest not only In Philadelphia ut over the
WhOie country. The prisoners demanded 10 be trieo
separately, aud George y rwltchel was n ret placed
on the stand. Tne evidence adduced against him ~
sli iresh N the public mind sufiice II therefore,
70 say thd u was shown that when he weni up stairs
70 put on 9yest and linen shirt, which be had not
on wnen he carried IN and washed the Dolv, It was
found by the officer who accompanIe1 hin 20 the
room That the vest and shirt were sfaina with
blood, and 1witchell failed 90 account for these