The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-04
THE VlLVoRTH MURDER.
How Frank Walworth Bears the Imprisonment--
What Mrs Walworth Says About tha Re-
ported Application to Governor Dix for .
Pardon-Her Theory Of the Murder
and Of the Conduct Of Her Late
Husband-Her Opportunities
for Knowing His Charac.
ter Before Marriage.

Husband-Her Opportunities
for Knowing His Charac.
ter Before Marriage
A few days ago reporter Of the HERALD met In
the reception room Of the State Prison at Sing Sing
Frank Walworth recently sent there for life TN
prisonment, for the murder Of his father. The re-
porter had accompanied Walworth from the Tombs
in New York to the prison at Sing Sing and been
with him too In the transformation scene in the
prison dressing room when the prisoner takes OF
the clothing Of the citizen and puts that OF the
convict WalwOrth recognized the reporter as one
whom he had seen before, rose from his seat to
greet him, and both clasped hands. There was the
usual commonplace Introduction to talk, the heat
Of the weather, and then gentle reference to.tclr
former meeting The reporter remarked upon the
browner tint upon the c0untenance Of walworth
and was proceeding to ask him how he liked
his new experience, when Walworth broke In by
saying that he was not allowed to answer any ques-
tons, and gave rapid glance at q man who sat at
the corner Of the room, who wore the blue cloth
and brass button suit that has recently become tho
oicia attire OF prison ofcials. Sitting in the re-
ception room by the side OF Walworth was his
mother-the lady In deep mourning who figured 80
prominently in the recent trial In New York. A
previous introduction by Walworth OF the reporter
to hfs mother had rendered the conversation with
the lady easy. and the reporter turned to Mrs.
Waworth and said:-
"Mrs. Walworth, II am not allowed to talk to
Frank may have the pleasure OF asking you q
questonqn
Certainly" replied Mrs. walworth, smiling, ana
bending her head with that calm and serene
quietude that those who saw her at the trial will
never forget.
The conversation thus began ana continued.
THE APPLICATION TO TIE GOVERNOR.
"Mrs. WalwOrtb, see in one of the morning
papers to-day paragraph that is SO startling that
should have sought you out in the village to have
asked you about 1t, had ! not met you at the
prison."
look Of wonder and intense curiosity passed
over the lady's face, and she said:-
"What is 1t ?"
81 am sorry" answered the reporter, "that 4
have not the newspaper with me, for gave 10
away in the cars. The paragraph states that you
have presented petition, signed with more than
one hundred names Of prominent citizens, to tho
Governor, asking for the pardon Of Frank, and this
statement is accompanied by the copy of a letter
from the Governor to the District Attorney, asking
ior some particulars respecting the evidence and
'This is the first time / have heard IT," said
Mrs. Walworth. 'There Is no truth in 1t what
ever; ! have not presented any petition, or
recty endeavored to take steps In any way for the
mitigation OF Franks SENTENCE"
for yesterday heard this rumor In the city and
saw your counsel, all Of whom we're quite ignorant
said had he known that there were any such steps
thought Of would certainly have discouraged them"
t OF Mas wawG t tbs sac nIs
the Executive; and anyone who does 1t can be no
should certainly not take action now"
THE RUMOR DENIED.
-. "Then may deny this rumor, on your author
certainly; should be glad II you would do so.
have no other desire than that the truth should
Mrs. Waiworth rose to leave, and after an anec-
tionate parting LETT the room sne to the free,
porter saw Mrs Walworth to her carriage, and she
next train if possible, and in the cars the two met
again, and renewed the conversation begun at the
prison the substance Of which is ss follows ana
Waworths views OF prison life, and her theory 90
to the cause Of the shooting by her SOM
when saw " him last Mrs. Walwort6; the CONNIE
ayes it is telling upon him, and this has caused
me very great anxiety. There are no opp0rtuni-
ad Re in the 1as
promenade on the galleries, but here there is no
or unless they ri, are n
fitted. When he was at home, and after ONCE
hours be would walk to Saratoga Lake and back,
nasium, and now to be shut up without any exer-
else seat at all comparatively, must tell upon him"
"Ihe prisoners are locked up in their cells for q
good many hours together, supposeS"
.oh, yes; every day, from six at night to six in
locked up at six and not let out again until six
O'Clock on Monday morning, with the exception Of
.Does he complain much OF the monotony Of the
prison life 1
"No, he makes no complaints: he bears it very
manfully, and mas been all along just as you saw
him to-day passing or all he has to bear lightly and
he likely want sU Of Of
degenerate and drift down TO the level Of the gen.
be more untrue or more unlikely to occur. He has
the instincts OF gentleman, at least, and he can
up brought nine coud MOI
sink to the coarse low brutality manifested BY con-
victs gene rally: He is with them, is likely to be
it would be imprudent for him to shsw them what
may MAJ possibly be his feeling Of PITY for them and
to them. am sure he win never sink 70 their
level. know hmm too well for that"
Of your foes as well as your friends, and mean by
that those who would extenuate the circumstances
Of the crime ana those who would intensity them
and think that the law has dealt too lightly with
Frank"
THE THEORY OF THE MURDER.
'Tf did not know what do about Frank could
planned, meditsted and plotted this murder Of his
emily ; but don't think 80. The world does not
yet know the true circumstances OF this case; does
not know what we have had to sufer-the years Of
terror that we have been called upon to endure.
Even did not know what Frank had to endure,
Tor he read letters from Mansfield that had not
read. Besides ali this mental SUFFERING there was
added the physical suffering arising from epileptiO
fts.n
''Do you think that these dts will In any measure
account Tor the shootingY"
81 think so. My theory Is, that IN the presence
OF his father a condition OF mind and body was
brought about that made him utterly irresponsible
for anything that he did. He had no conception OF
what he was doing. The circumstances OF the
shooting support that view Why should he travel
from Saratoga to New York. stay at public hotel,
where his every act could be traced? II he wanted