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


A SUICIDE AND AN EXECUTION.
"Details OF the Suicide OF Twhtch ell
History OF his Crimc--Scenes mt the
Execution OF Gerald Eaton-He Pho.
tests his Innocence so the Lmst-At-
tempt at Reconciliation.
The Philadelphia papers come to us filed
with the details of the suicide Of Twitchell and
the hanging of Eaton on Thursday last. We
make some extracts =. ~
SUICIDE OF TWrrCHELL.
Twitchell was found, at $40 A. M. living on
his back, with his hands clenched and his
mouth wide open, showing marks Of an ago
nized death: Alter death the body became
ton showed that he had come to his death by
strychnine, and that Eaton was fully aware Of
Twitchelrs intention to commit suicide. The
following statements were e.icited from the
watchman of the prison Twitchell was visited
on Wednesday afternoon by his friend (Mc-
Gully, by his father and by the Rev. MIR.
Bringhurst, his spiritual adviser. The inter-
view between the culprit aid his friend INC
Cully.) was very affecting The father of the
prisoner remained until q late hour, and after
he had gone the clergyman stayed with the
prisoner until half-past elegcn, when the pris-
oner requested that he m,2ht be left alone, as
night. He was utterly Frustrated 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-
cchell's cell and saw HIM stretched at full
length upon the bed, with the bedclothes
drawn over his head. The watchman supposed
him to be asleep. At a quarter past five this
morning the keeper went " the cell and called
to awake the prisoner; but. receiving no reply,
entered the cell and found that George s.
Twltchell was lfeless corpse. On the previ-
GUS night. owing to the account given by Jerry
Eaton who occupied cell in sight Of
Iwitchells and within easy hearing distance of
it-ot what had passed during the evening be-
tween Twitchell and himself. the cell OF the
former was carefully. searched to see il he had
any means or committing suicide. Eaton had
related that on calling out tc Twitohell to cheer
up and die like a man.. Tyitchel, said: 'tYou
will have to go alone tomorrow; IN not be
With yon;' and then held up his thumb and
and said. 'Mum's the word" From this Eaton
concluded that Twltchel intended to commit
suicide, and informed the keeper Of his suspi-
cions. A post-mortem examination Of 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 Twitchell procured the poison:
Or. e. B; Shapleigh being sworn, said I
made pOstmortem examination of the BODY
OF Twitchell; the Dyes were examined first, and
peculiar dlyness about the corners was OBJ
served; there was 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 congested, and the
odor of prussic acid was noticeable besides o
peculiar redness Of blood; that which ran upon
the bench and floor did mot coagulate; the
lungs were congested; tho heart was dacid
and contained fluid blood; the liver was in u
normal condition; the stomach contained but
q small quantity OF fluid, but no solid food;
the mucous membrane OF the stomach was in q
q a nf ioI, kinvs ~lo -
acid was observed whenever the body was
opened; had no doubt ON my mind as to the
cause Of death from the examinations: but in
searching the cell discovered bottle wrapped
in paper in the toe of boot; it contained o
solution OF cyanide Of potassium, which is q
deadly poison; it was q Ealf ounce bottle and
ls about nalr tuli;a portion OF 1T MAS evidently
poured in the tin cup by the prisoner and swal-
lowed by him as he lay on the bed; there is no
doubt that George s. TwtcheH came to his
death by poison administered by himself.
Other physicians all concurred with DR.. Shap-
leigh as to the cause Of his death.
1t was stated that Twitchel had contempla-
ted for some time the commission of suicide.
and this is based upon letter which it is alIeg-
ed he wrote to an intimate friend, in which he
is reported as having said: II cannot AMI win
not die on q scaffold.' Las evening two OF his
counsel saw him, and from his urging chem to
call on him in the morning, they believe that
Iwi chell must have made up his mind after
talked Of through this city last night, and as
an ev v:dence Of it's probability q Welt-known
gentleman states that about eleven o'clock he
was informed that Twitchell would oe found
dead this morning, and in SO positive a man.
ner was this assertion made that he was induc-
ed to believe it.
s TwTTCHELL's CRIME.
In the month OF November OF last year, Mrs.
Hill, an old lady Of sixty. five; Mr.. George s.
Twitchell, young man OF twenty years
Of age, and her daughter, Mrs. George 8.
fine house at the corner OF Tenth and Pine
streets, Philadelphia. They had in their en-
ploy a servant girl named Sarah Campbell,
who. on the ffternoon Of the AID ofNovember,
noon. to spend the time until evening with her
friends. Returning home at half. past nine in
the evening. she rang the bell, but no one
came to open the door. Again she rang, and
knocked loudly until at length George s.
Twitchen opened the door for her, q very un-
usual thing for him. as Mrs. Hill had been in
the habit OF staying up to let Sarah in. Mr..
and Mrs. Twirchell we're in the habit Of retir-
ing early. On opening the door that night,
Twitchell, after remarking that it was cold,
eaid,- II wonder where mother can be" to
which the girl replied that she did not know.
He then went up stars and Sarah Campbell
proceeded into the kitchen and lighted o can.
die. Seeing the kitchen door open she went to
shut it, when she was hOrri6led at beholding
the body Of Mrs. Hill lying upon the pave
ment. The alarm was at once given and
Twltchell came down stairs, as after . time his
wife also. On seeing the body Twitchell ex-
claimed, only God what is this 7? will some
one assist me in carrying her in 2" 2he body
was brought in and the neig hborhood aroused.
A policeman named Howard was the arst to
arrive upon the scene, and soon afterwards o
number of the neighbors. Twitcheil was wash
ing t.ie head of Mrs. Hill when these people ar
rived. The spectacle presented by the body Of
the murdered woman for she had evidently
been murdered-was ghastly. Thirteen deep
wounds were found upon the face and head.
'Mfss pwitchall, on being asked by one Of the
neighbors, q Mrs Morrell, what had happened
to Mrs. Hill, said, 'She fell ont Of the Wlndov."
An examination OF the premises was made,
when o scene OF sickening horror was found in
the dining room up stairs, from the window of
which Mrs. Hill was alleged TO have fallen. A
sofa and pillow stained with thick blood. a
pool of gore upon the. floor, spots OF blood
upon the carpets and sprinkled over the walls,
and the window sash and sill also smsare3
over with blood, while in corner of the
room poker covered with blood end having
gray hair sticking to- was found. Mr. and
Mrs. Twitchell were charged with the murder
and placed under arres,. Their trial came OF
in December and excited intense interest not
only IN Philadaphia, but over the whole coun.
try. The prisoners demanded to be tried
soparately. and George s. rWitchell was first