Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-12-12

From the Wilmington Commercial Dec. g..
Through the courtesy of Deputy Sheriff
Titus H. Irons, the Commerce. repr esents-
tive was shown through the new jail, and ad
mitted to one Of the two ''murderera! cells"
in which West is now confined. No one nnac-
Quainted with the prisoner could help being
astonished to look at his face aud features and
couple him With the terrible crime he has COM
mitted and the fendish manner in which be
buschersd the body after taking the man 3 life.
With calm, clear, blue eye, aa Intelligent
looking face, and entirely void Of anything like.
brutality or fendishness, he would readily be-
taken for man of about % or "a years, yet he
is nearly 80. -"
About two hours We spent in the cell with
West, who was apparently calm and composed,
and talked easily and freely of the sad affair
with which he is so closely connected. A cupy.
of his confession" was handed him with the
request that he would look over it and see if
there were any omissions or errors which he
would like to correct he took the copy, and
slowly, calmly and deliberately read the article
over, correcting few slight errors aud then
signed his name to it as true statement The
rehsarsing of all the 6endishness contained in
the statement seemed to produce not the
slightest emotion or uneasiuess. 49,,
Revelations, not In confession made to our
representative, are not only Ola strange and pecu:
liarnature but may yet take an active part IN the
affair before its close. OF the peculiar sort of
for which he,claimed secret, and which he has
no, only used himself but bas been dispensing
to others under the pretext of its wonderful
curative properties for certain, diseases, but In
reality for the exceedingly e1hilaratipg and In
roxicating influences, there il no special secret.
1t is sim ply nitrous oxide gas, and 10 order to
give it different appearance it is disguised, by
q solution Of sesquioxide of sub carbonate of
iron, which changes the color. The effect Of
an excessive use Of this gas, it is declared by
medical men, cannot in time do otherwise than
produce temporary, and in some cases perma-
ment, in4anity:f The prisoner admitted that
he had been in the habit of, using it Tor more
than a year, and aside from this had been us
ing gunpowder for q disease Of the kidneys,
Some time ago West had an office 10 Baltimore,
where he manufactured and used this gas. He
.ubseou uently sold the right to manufacture to
man named Walton r. Way, on Baltimore
street near Broadway West further states
.hat this man, by use OF this gas is now an in-
mate of an insane asylum, hopelessiy insane.
Another instance of its fearful effects is at
Newton, Pa, where it has produced violent
hemorrhages on lady, aud that now her life
is-despaired of, and with peculiar apd slgnl-
6cant expression, he said, "snd has done other
mischief" He. stated that on Monday, pre-
vious to committing the foul deed, no had two
gallons Of gas left, and not wanting to waste
it, inhaled the whole amount daring the, day.
The prisoner declares the affair now seems
20 him . fearful nightmare" and says he can
find no reason for his fight and sudden reap
pearance. DIR. w. C. Davidson, of Milford,
who has known him from boyhood had an in
terview also with him on Saturday, and admits
that his previous convictions Of the, mans In
sanity are confirmed. His excessive use OF the
gas" be thinks, has done the work.