The New York herald., 1871-01-08
TaWARlING THE GALLOWS.

The Insane, Starving, Condemned Criminal,
Sullivan, Intent Upon Defeating the Hang.
msn--nis Condition Yesterday-He Cannot
Speak-Re VIII Not Take NourishHent.
An emaciated, dislgured and distorted face, COW
cred with kind OF red pimple blotch, the mouth
firmly closed and the eyes riveted upon an object
apparently the ceiling OF the cell with a vacant
and meaningless stare, body drawn up together as
though the snews were frightened or knotted in the
centre Of the frame, all that remains to-day OF
the mortal sS stem OF
LAWRENCE SULLIVAN THE CONDEMNED CIR IMINA,
at present under sentence OF dea h in the Toinbs.
After DR.. Meals lett him Friday night he
appeared TO be less concerned about matters
arouId him than before, and has refused more
persslently 10 receive nourishment-that is to say,
IL LOW
TAKES TWO MEN TO GIVE HIM DRINK
OF the smallest quantity HERALD reporter visited
his cell yesterday morning about eleven O'Clock,
IN company with the prison doctor and Assistant
Warden Finley. AT the cell door large stove is
placed the heat from which passes through the
door and aperture into the CELL and creates a
pleasant and temperate atmosphere, SO that so
far the condemned man is guarded against the cold
chill which pervades almost every other part Of the
prison. On looking into the cell one Is Immediately
struck by
THE REMARKABLE ASPECT OF THE MAN,
as well as nom the general physique he presents.
The first thing that attracts the attention OF the OBJ
server is the almost total absence OF forehead or
anything that tends TO denote the presence Of any
thing in the shape OF intellect or intelligence From
the eyebrows TO the roots Of the hair where the
forehead com mences the distance does not ap.
pear 10 be more than enc inch, and when the hair
is lited back The fact Is still more apparent. HIS
head is certainly very small considering the size Of
his rame and If he has brain at all 1t would seem
/. fnllx
But he exhibits none o. the qualifications OF an IN
teiligent being. His cheek bones are nigh, and the
nose - spread ot at the point as Though ne hao re-
ceived some injuries III tnat member IN hls youth.
tbs body is bruised IN o frlgntfui manner. The
bones OF The arms near the elbow appear as though
taey would soon penetrate through the skin. and
the nesh, small III quantlty as II ls seemed To be
falling away from the tissue that formerly held 1t 10
the bone, aud Is now hanging out IL dlsagreeable
looking Jumps, pressing against the outer skin. His
breast mas also traces OF bruises OF severe charac-
ter. Alter the reporter mad oeen III the cell about
five minutes anu noted the above observations, he
RAISED THE HAND OF THE STARVING MAN
and endeavoreo TO encourage him 10 speak. To fur
lher assist In This the doctor ana the warden came
In Titn small quantity OF liquid which appeared
OF the man the former endeavored TO
FORCE PORTION OF IT DOWN HIS THROAT.
Al lrst Sullivan threw back MS mead and resting
II upon tie warden's knees endeayorea to turn his
mouth aside to prevent the liquid from being put
into his mouth,aand aiterward when MS nead was
placed between his lips, he kept his teeth SO Irmy
clinched mat 1t was necessary 10 force the lip OF
passed INTO ms mouth, but no sooner was the cup
removed than he commenced sputlng 1t out again,
and, competing this to his satisfaction, he again
threw back his mead, opened his eyes axe person
VINO mad awakened out OF a deep and troublesome
siumber, and, gazing at vacancy Tor moment, he
closed them again and
FELL FROM TIE wARDEN's ARMS PowERLEss AND
DEATHLIKE.
Immediately on being placed in his bed again he
pulled up the clothing close over his head anu CIV
ing as II last farewell peep he turned on hs left
slue and Sank, all appearance, INTO ,lound
lethargy. Every enort was made TO rouse ,ur Tor
the purpose Of getting few words from him. put 1t
was in vain the doctor pull at the cloiillug ana
tried 10 raise ms eyes upward; 40, he was, TO ali
lntens aud purposes, deaddead to alt this worlds
Joys or sorrows and regrets. AIter some converse
ton with the doctor IL ascertained that on the
first day after lie was committed to the prison ne
became
Sometimes ne would rage OF gobllns and gnomes,
and swear that
against him, with battle axe and fachlon, ana try
ing TO persuade him to destroy himself which sug-
gestlon he adopted on several occasions. This &C.
CURED subsequently at night, when all was quiet
IN the cell, aud the sounds OF his ravlng, they
escaped through the bars 0 ms cell door and passed
along the corridors, created the most norrlplelm
preston on the minds OF many OF the other pri.
soners. After this he began to lose all appetite and
persistently refused his iood whenever offered to
him. Gradually ne became worse ana worse, until
now nothing but the smallest quantity OF liquid can
be forced into his stomach, and II takes two men,
as stated above, To give him this.
Ia conversation with his wife the reporter
learned that Lawrence Sullivan was native Of Ire
land, now tweniy-six years OF age anu tnat sne
was married to him about the month OF June, 1857.
Since that time he has been workman, steadily
employed III New York tJr one man. she, however,
declined TO give any further details OF his history
previously, aud, as she was walking 10 and Iro IN
front OF her husbands cell, she looked the picture
OF misery and forlorn hope As bas been previously
published, Lawrence sullivan was committed ON the
tpe 9TH OF June last Tor causing the death OF man
nalned John 0'Bfien and OH tue 10Th OF December,
ls1V he was sentenced 10 be executed on the 2sl or
the present month, but owing 10 some private
ertIons, a stay of proceedings was grained; conse-
queaily II he does not cheat the gallows, which
seems highly probable, ne cannot be executed with
out being again aTralgled before the court and
celvag another sentence. the doctor or the prison
seems 10 have seri Gus doubts as 20 hts recovery
Jsaih, IL would appear, could have terror for
LiLl now.
shhTsyG Iy BR001aYg.