The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-12


The overshadowing public excite
ment created by the Twitchell case
caused Gerald Eaton, his crime, and
anproaching doom, to be almost for
gotten, The case is peculiar one. On
| the night Of the 18th of June, 1865,
| Gerald Eaton, with party OF associates,
ware in a saloon on the corner of Fifth
and Spruce streets, where they drank
freely. While under the influence OF
Ii0uor, he met Timothy Heenan and
! attempted to shoot him, but was re-
strained by his companions. The
party visited other saloons, and, at a
later hour, encountered Heenan on the
street, when Eaton made second un-
successful attempt to discharge his
pistol at him. Subsequently,, however,
while Heenan was endeaVoring to help
a friend, who was drunk, out OF the
street, he came close to Eaton and his
party, and was shot, and died next
morning. Eaton and one OF his asso.
ciates were arrested and put on trial
for murder. The defense set up that
Eaton did not discharge the shot, and
two witnesses, one of whom admitted
his profession to be that OF a thief, as.
serted that some one else seized the
pistol in Eaton's hand and discharged
| 1t.
II was notories that the accused was
the associate for years, of thieves and
yagabonds, but the detectives assert that
he was never known or believed to have
bean concerned in any unlawful prac.
| tice, He would assist the pickpockets;
he would act as their messenger; he
would assist them to the extent of his
power when they were In difficulty; but
he never was concerned in any overt
act himself, and was simply tool in
| the hands of other and shrewder men.
So, too, in Fifth Ward politics. He es-
poused the cause OF one local faction In
In ~ II n hot M
incurred the enmity OF those, who, in
his dire distress, have bSen afraid to
come forward to urge reprieYe in his
behalf Could the history OF Gerald
Eaton's case be given, and all its details
OF political trickery, jugglery, and de-
sertlon OF one who had rendered essen
tial and important service to one wing
of u party, II rich chapter in the local
Democracy would be opened. But he
was considered worthless after he could
| do no more dirty work, and his trial,
which ended December s, 1868, was soon
| followed by his sentence TO death, Jan.
uary 16, 1869.
| Eaton had once received respite
from Gov. Geary, and 1t was firmly be-
lieVed by many of his friends that he
would never be brought to the scattold.
| During his long Imprisonment he was
cheerful, and often talked lightly OF
| learning a trade and becoming OF use to
the public. When, however, he dis
| covered that his fate was sealed, and
that his crime must be exptated with
his life, he asked for the ministrations
of q Catholic priest, and since then
Father Riley has been in constant at
tendance upon him, and brought him
to that frame of mind that, while dis
carding all appearance of bravado, he
| expressed his Willingness and readiness
to go upon the scatTold. Throughout
there has been no Hypocrisy with him
He admitted that he discharged one
| shot on the night of the fatal occur
renee, but declared his belief that it did
not take effect. Yesterday, he asserted
that tho man who killed Heenan Is
walking the streets OF Philadelphia.
Gerald Eaton died, il not Christian,
at least like a stole. He was attended
up to the last moment by Rev. Fathers
O'Rellly and Barry, both OF whom ex-
pressed to our reporter the satisfaction
| they experienced in his childlike doctl-
| ity, his frankness and the gentleness OF
| his demeanOr. lie assembled the plat
form with the self.possession of man
who is first entering into possession OF
evident fataIist. "If was born to be
hung, and to die this day." said he.
| Yesterday, to our reporter, 81 shall
meet the fate before me like man who
has not a single mIsgiving other than
any mortal must experience when upon
the brink ofan unknown world"
And here let II be put upon record,
that toward the unfortunate man no
sister could have been more tender In
assiduities than was Sheriff Lyle.
During the morning Eaton received
visits from his vito, his adopted child
and two sisters. in-law. He babe them
farewell In manner in which, though
cheerful, there was nothing OF bravado.
A number of his male friends also had
interviews with him, all being careful
not to state TO him the efforts being
made for his reprieve. Eaton express
ed his belief that there was no hope Tor
him, and stated that he was ready to
die.
Unlike TWitchell, he slept soundly
during the previous night until five
O'Clock yesterday morning, when he
was awakened by the keeper, who, a
few minutes subsequently,, made the
discovery of Twitchell's death. About
G O'Clock two clergymen again waited
upon Eaton in his cell, and celebrated
| In his presence the service of the mass
and the communion. This over, about
Z O'Clock he parlOok OF a substantial
breakfast.
About ten the rosary was recited by
| Father Reilly, in presence of Joseph X.
| Chandler, Esq, one of the prison In
spectors, and another gentleman pro-
Tossing the same faith with the con-
demned mao. Eaton entered into these
services with great earnestness, making
| the responses, which he had thoroughly
committed to memory, and appearing
fully to realize the solemnity of the oc-
casion and of the services.
| Under the guidance of his spiritual
advisers he had been faithful and zeal
Gus in observing the requirements OF
the Church, and prepared to meet his
| fate with fOrtitude. The fact, however,
| Is not to be disguised that he considered
himself martyr, and firmly believed
| that had the suicide OF 'Cwitchell occur
red a single day sooner, the Governor
would have reprieved him.
Sheriff Lyle made all his arrange
ments 40 as to comply with tho terms OF
the law requiring executions in the
State to be private. Only himself and
his deputies, the prison officials, the at
PENDANTS upon the condemned man, the
Sheriff's Jury and q limited number OF
representatives OF the Philadelphia
press, were permitted to be present.
! An immense pressure was brought to
| bear upon him to secure an opportunity
to crafty morbid curiosity, but without
avail. Shortly after nine o'clock the
party who were selected to accompany
| the Sheriff to the scene of the execution
met ut the Assembly Buildings, leaving
there in time to arrive at the prison at
ten O'Clock, by a special car OF the
Tenth and Eleventh Streets Railway.
At half past II o'clock the Sheritf's
jury were called to order By. deputy
Sheriff Smith, in the prison keepers
| Office. After the calling of the roll, the
| Governors warrant was read in their
presence. The scaffold occupied nearly
the exact spot where it stood when Got
| lojh Williams and George w. Winnie