Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-04-14

Lets OF blood, AN., md hot ihc result
oi contact inoide1t 10 carrying a dcal
body Blood WAS also traced 10 TNit
cbcll's bedroom, and TIVE spots wcr
found on ihn blankets o8 Bis bed
His pecuniary difficulties. Bis thrcau
against Mrs Hin, the presence Of d
poker covered with blood, were also
shown. The latter. il was testified,
might have mado the wounds, thirteen
OF which were found on Mrs. Hlrs
head, ono penetrating through the
temple to the brain, az though tho
tongue Of the poker had been used
The fall from the window accounted
for the more extensive fracture which
was found across the base Of the skull.
The defense was an ingenious one.
1t consisted of medical testimony that
the blood stains on the clothes could
have been caused by carrying tho
body; that tho accused was peacca-
bic and quiet citizen; that a man
named Altgelt had seen two men leave
the house at an hour earlier than that
fixed by Sarah Campbell for the dis
covery of the body. But after the
most superhuman cxertions, the result
was-a verdict Of guilty Of murder in
the first degree, rendered on the first
of the year.
Mrs. Twitohell was then arraigned,
but the case against her was abandoned
by the Commonwealth. In George S.
Twitchelrs case motions for new
trial, appeals to the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania, and finally to the Su.
preme Court Of the United States were
made, and the result is well known, as
is the fact Of the so.called confession
and subsequent statements given in
support Of it.
Yesterday morning the persons who
were in the vicinity Of the Central
Station were startled by the report
that Twitchell had committed suicide,
and thus cheated Justice out Of one of
its victims. The report spread with
the greatest rapidity, and every cir
cumstance relative to the death of the
man was eagerly sought
for. There were many who had care
fully watched the actions of the con-
demned man during the night and day
prior 10 the time fixed for his execu-
tion, to whom the news of his self
destruction occasioned no surprise;
for be had broken down completely,
and could not bear the thought Of his
execution without the most terrible
grief.
Yesterday afternoon Coroner Dan
iels held a formal inquest into the
pause of Twitehell's death. The fol-
owing testimony which was given
will give more in detail the circum-
stance relative to the unfortunate
mans demise which We have men
Toned:
Mr.. Cassidy, prison keeper, testified
AT about twelve o'clock last night 1
stepped up to Twitchell's cell, and
ooked in, saw him lying on the bed
Sith blanket covered over the face
md head / remained there for some
lime, and seeing no movement called
he watchman he came, and, after
ooking through, said, "he is almost
severed over with the blanket; !
hink be is asleep" / did not wish
o disturb him, as Mr.. Bringburst
Wished that he should have a good
leep; before going away on the
'vening previous Mr. Bringburst said
hat "George was clean person and
Wished 10 have a wash !" at two
'clock this morning l visited him
gain he lay in the same position;
It quarter past five o'clock, after
eaving Eaton's cell, ] went to that Of
Dwitchell / opened the window and
aw that he made no movement, and
went in; ] called George three times
nd he made no answer; then went
n and discovered that be was dead.
DIR. Shapleigh, the Coroner's ply
ician, testitied-I have just concluded
be post-mortem examination Imade
n inspection Of the body this morning
little after nine O'Clock the body
Fas lying extended on its back on the
ed +; the limbs extended; the hands
the mouth and eyes were
open; there was an appear.
nee Of repose about the body some
That peculiar; no appearance as if
here had been any commissions or
iruggle the body was still warm,
ut the hands, legs, arms and feet
ere cold this afternoon, assisted by
II. Butcher, Of the Institution, in tho
resence of Drs. Lewis, Dyer, Packard,
myth and Adler, post-mortem was
eld the eyes were examined first,
nd peculiar darkness Of the cOrnea
as observable; on the lower lip
lere was a stain which could not be
ashcd away; the brain was first
CANNED, the blood vessels Of which
ere excessively congested, and the
nell Of prussic acid was distinctly
)ticeablej a peculiar red color of tho
ood was visible; the blood did not
'agulate; it was fluid and ran upon
ie floor; the lungs were in normal
I'd somewhat congested condition;
70 heart was faccid, and contained
lid blood the liver was in normal
'ndltion; and the stomach contained
II small quantity Of fluid and no
lid the mucous membrane of the
omach was in n state Of high con-
'stion; at one point there was af-
sed. blood upon this membrane; tho
her organs were normal the odor
prussio acid was very distinct when
e body was opened and the visoera
moved, leaving no doubt upon the
ind Of any as 10 the cause OF death;
searching the cell again since the
'st-mortem ] discovered in tho
yht boot this bottle "a half ounce
nal, half fall shown D the boot stood
the foot OF the bed the bottle was
raped vel around with a piooe of
,ht brown paper; It contained some
rm Of prnssic acid or solution Of
'anide Of potassium the deoeased,
gorge S Twitchell, Jr., came to his
ath from poison, viz, prussio acid