The New York herald., 1870-02-05
THE BUTCHER, JACK REYNOLDS.
Reynolds Visited BY Counsel, the Surgeon
81 the Prison and Herald Reporter
Yesterday at tho Tombs-Reyneids'
Early Life - His Arrival in
New York and His Re.
ligious Condition.

Yesterday REYNOLDS, the murderer OF Townsend,
was visited by Mr. w. r. Howe who has undertaken
TO defend him without fee reward; DR.. Nealis ana
HERALD reporter. The object OF tbe visit was to
ascertain II possible, the actual mental condition Of
this etroclous murderer and the result far Is ae
no satisfactory conclusion on this important phase
OF She case is arrived at. *
Reynolds walked steadily and firmly from the
male side OF The prison to the consultation room,
with firm but shuniing tread He Is young
man, about twenty-seven years OF age, below the
middle statute, OF slight build; has not tho repulsive
look which the Bohemian writers have described,
but has the healthy, sharp cut features commonly
seen among the young Irish Americans. In conyer-
saton he Is quiet, reserved hesitates little In his
speecn-is far away from anything like demonstra-
tveness OF manner or address His mental organic
zaton Is in neglected rather tnan In a detective
condition. and he is by birth and education Roman
Catholic. Hts education, however, Is exceedingly
limited.
He said that he lived up to the time of ,ho
eighteenth year with his father and mother in South
Ireland; that when he was eighteen he left there
and went to Dundaik, from there to Liverpool,
where he embarked for America. He had brother
In woOlen factory In Massachusetts, and went
there. he sought em0oyment 10 Phiiadeipnia as g
shoemaker, but did not succeed very well, and de-
pended for his livelihood upon miscellaneous jobs.
When IN Ireland he made precence or going 10
school, frequently played truant, and therefore can
read, but not write. Though an apprentice to the
craft shoemaker, he never learned the trade suf-
hcient to become proficient in any department. Of tf
Wne IN Massachusetts he got uto scrapes OF vsrtS
Gus kinds and spent some or his time In prison. the
ASSAULT ans asy as He ens
ever seen seen anything q sing sing ,eSrSa| exSep|s
hood. at Philadelphia ne introduced himself 10
Mr. Cailerton whom he knew as "tlneens Counsel.
in the Irish courts, but who now keeps general
store in the above city. This gentleman according
to Reynolds account, knew MS father and motheT
whether his father and mother are living dead and
equally ignorant ABOUT all his otner reiatt0naS
a. 70 came to to- New York With 81 IS II
his pocket. He sought 1or work. but did not obtain
IT. 'nobody would employ him;', ne slept aboutf
when Ills money was gone, wherever he conld hnd
shelter and he got great deal more 70 drlnk thaH
he did to eat for he that ne hung about saloons
ana people used to ask him to drunk, and ne accepted
their Invitations. Na j
lie has not the slightest recollection or the night
OF the murder except that he remembers being IN
tue station house and some .gentlemenn talking to
him there. It all seems to MIN liae dream.' He
dlsayows going IN to steal and he did not know
until the next day that ne had taken 5noenaker'a
knIie from an adjoining store and murdered Town<
send with It, Al the lime ne committed the murder
he thinks he must have been mad with drlnk.H
one Of the gentlemen present at tue interview yes4
terday asked hlm what lie thought about his future
prospects.
REYNoLDs-I hope for mercy.
INQuIRER-Well, DO you expect 10 be hanged?
REYNoLDs-They have told me shall.
lHoUIRER--Do you think you viii be yoursei2
REYSoLps-l hope for mercy.
lNQUlRER-trOm WnOmf
REYNoLDs-Well, should like 10 be the same az
other people. Nb
iSo1lnER-But youcannotbe; you stand both be4
fnre God ana man as ulurderer-as man Wno
has taken fellow creatures life without the slig IL
est observation-disclosures you cannot be the same
as otner people We're your father and motner
REYNoLDs-Yes; but don't know much about rea
liglon.
REYNoLD5-No. All l care about Is don't want
to go to hell. dont know should care about be.
IA
there.
INQuIRER-who told you anything about hell
KEYNoLDs-oh, have heard about II. ITO Nrs
he'll?
Mr. HowE-r will do all can for you in this world.
Neither time trouble nor expense shall be spared to
save your neck; but must ask you not to trust I'd
that and IL your time III making your peace
with God. Do you ever 5ny your prayersf lave
you said them while you have been here
REYN0LDS--l pray TO the Spirit TO have mercy
upon me. have heard that there Is mercy Tor tn6
worst; but don't know what prayers to use.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, whatever the result OF your
and Tor tnat you must ask for the mercy and fora
glyeness Of God. You need nave no dilculty about
your prayer In the New Testament there Is the
narrative Of man who Is described as great sins
ner, who asked God to "be mercitul" TO him, and
told that all that he said, and VIC are also
told that that prayer WAS heard; aAd your prayer
may be.
Reynolds wiped the tears from his eyes and said
II hope there is mercy for me. know now did
wrong, but didn't know what Twas doing when
Dr. Nealis is OF opinion that the mind Of Reynolds
Is affected, and the attention OF Surgeon General
HanmOnd, late surgeon OF the United states Army s
to be called to Reynolds and he is to report upon his
mental condition Reynolds lett the consultation
room OF the TOmb5 after this interview with o 1rIn
step, twrling his cap Ia his hands and Ia an ex.
ceedngly suDdued mood, with no manifestations Of
feroclty but every Indication OF feeling himself ID
pe what he is, an ''outcast OF society.' - 'A'