The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-15
SUICIDE OF A MURDERER.
The convict, David Scott, Hangs Him
self In the Hartford state Prison.

The Convict, David Scott, Hangs Him.
self In the Hartford state Prison.
HARTFORD, June IA, 1873
David Scott, who, with his brother Mitchell
Cherest, committed the horrible triple murder at
Windsor Locks, IN this State, in January 1872 and
was sentenced to State Prison for life, committed
suicide at the State Prison this forenoon.
The circumstances of the murder were briefly
these The brothers stopped at notorious house
Of illame on the Plains so called and while there
robbery being their object, 1t was supposed killed
Timothy Billings, keeper OF the place; Della, his
wife, and Julia Hayes, an inmate. The weapon
used was q gunbarrel. The murderers es-
capped and were subsequently found in Van
Vert Ohio, and brought back. The testimony
against them was entirely circumstantal, but con-
vincing. Scott was twenty-four years old, and
Cherest eighteen. and neither could read nor write.
They protested their innocence, and have adhered
to 1t since they have been in prison. Their be-
havior In prison has been excellent. Scott ap-
peared at times much cast down. and In January
last threatened indirectly to kill himself The War
den then had careful watch kept over him, but
he soon became cheerful again, and gave the
Botele had q conversation with him, during which
he spoke OF his innocence, and was very anxious to
know II there was any chance OF his ever getting
out. Yesterday he complained OF q lameness in his
wrist and the prison physician advised that he re-
main in his cell to-day.
At nine O'Clock this forenoon the Warden saw
him and he said he thought he should 90 to the
workshop. He was then lying on his back, and
when the Warden frst arrived his head was buried
in the covering. Half an hour later one OF the
Keepers saw him and spoke with him. At quar-
ter to eleven another keeper
FOUND HE HAD HANGED HIMSELF,
and an alarm was given. The cell door was
opened and 1t was found that he had used q small
hemp cord and tied IL to Of the bars low down,
that his neck not more than four feet from
the floor. The cord was cut suddenly and the
body fell, cutting on the stone pavement deep
cash In his head. He had been hanging, probably,
fifteen minutes and was quite dead. His face had
turned black, and upon stripping the body to place
1t in a coffin 1t was discovered that q recent
attempt had been made to commit suicide by stab
bling in the arm.
The Warden notified the brother this afternoon
OF the act and had him placed In the comfortable
quarters OF the hospital, that he might better
his grief but he did not show any marked symp-
toms OF anguish. HERALD reporter saw him this
evening" and he SAID that he should be lonely now
that his brother was gone, and that neither OF
them should have been imprisoned, because they
were innocent OF the crime. 'Thts isn't the first
tlme he said, 'tnat David tried to kill himself.
He tried it when he was first in jail and took
strychnine. told him then that he was foolsh.n
jury OF inquest found verdict OF death by hang
ing, and the body will be sent to Feeding Hills,
Mass, where the parents OF the boys reside.