New-York tribune., 1873-03-24
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
VICTIMS OF THE GIBBET.
FOSTER NOT 4 SUICIDE.
THE REPORT A CRUEL AND MALICIOUS sENsA-
TION-TUF BuRIhL ON SATURDAY.

THE REPORT CRUEL AND hALiCioOe ob'N
TION-THE BURIAL ON SATURDAY.
Careful investigation has established tha
falsity Of the cruel and sensational report that Foster
had poisoned himself during Friday morning, and ihas
the Sheriff had fastened the execution In consequence
II originated absurd Jealousy existing between mo
Tornbs Prison officials and the SherTs deputies when
frequently develops reckless anmosty and In tb5
instance has beed the dead and added to the anguish
OF a family already overwhelmed with griet
The Tombs officials appontees OF the Commi-sloh-
er OF Charity and belong 10 political faction OF tho
sixth Ward bitterly opposed 20 that OF the Sheriff IN mo
same locality. Occasionally the sherirs deputies ha'e
to assume guard individual prisoners and thns
conflict OF authority arises in which, as rule the prs
oner is the greatest sufferer 1t is this jealousy which
now keeps Stokes and other prisoners In poor ce anu
which has originated this reckless story about Foster
The authority the published was the Ionbs
physician Neas who admits giving the facts 10 tno
reporter; and his informant keeper named Day.
whose jealousy OF the deputies charge OF Foster was
very marked. All the facts dsprovo their statements
The execution fastened in consequence oi tbo
rlmor that poison had been given Foster but on Ito
contrary was delayed by IT, Sheriff Brennan sent Wof"
TO this Office on Thursday that he had determined ae
the prisoners request 10 hasten the execution Deo"
the crowd could gather and that TRIBUNE reporters
wished present they must be on hand early ar tho
execution would take place sharp at 9ociocK' 10
was delayed for than quarter OF an hour later
while physicians examined Foster, who had grown
rapidly weak.
The origin OF the rumor the remark o' Foster 10
Keeper DAY. took "a dose at o'clock" TINS stale
ment was construed into an acknowledgment on the
part OF Foster having taken poison although poison
was not mentioned Dr. Neais insists that the doso
thus taken il DAILY is to be believed, was opium or
audauum; but DR.. Charles Budd who examined Foster
at the tme declares he not under any narcotic H.
fuence. DR.. Budd made the following statement 10
TRIBUNE reporter who called on him at his residence On
West Twenty third-st yesterday:
reached the prison entrance about hatpast eight
o'clock Friday morning. and was standing IA llhe -
said that Dr. Neals wanted to see me. l went IN and
the doctor said TO me " want you 20 see roster UP
doctor added that Foster was weakening. he Iu hOb
tell that Foster had taken poison nor even that the
rumor to that effect Tue Rey. prs. Iyng ana
we Dr. Nealis and u had to wait about
10 minutes before the DEVOTIONAL exercises WeIo
tioning who say Foster is weak the Rev Dr. Tying
prefers he should not take any stmuants want yHhs
opinion" introduced TO Foster by Dr. Nealls, WHO
asked him. How do you feel r. Foster replied, Pretty
well but rather weak" Doctor Neas an am ssoG @ nne, so
and looked into his eye. l found SLOW regulafl Dug
feeble Ras 6 6' sSraeon sSs %as ot the pupils HS
seemed to be affected as any, man %% %oun
that In my opinion Foster strong enough TO walk tn
the scatod without the aid Of stmulans Tue man aV
cansed by the natural mental emotion under which ho
was laboring. Neither from his conduct OF appe
could conclude that Foster suffering from aughD
than severe mental afctiOn. II Foster had taken posou
and Neas aware OF IT, 1t Is very strange shs ne
words poison " or opium never uttered IN NY
hearing in the prison by doctor keeper maroD OF any
one else.
Mr. Hamburg, one OF the deputies in charge OF tha
condemned man on Thursday night and up TO 7 O'Clock
ON the morning OF the execution said that Foster Was
sick at his stomach after taking the cup Of coffee he
had gone to bed at $3.50 aud Immediately went 10
sleep in which state he continued until o'clock Ibe
sheriff went into Fosters cell every 10 Minutes ahu
every time the prisoner was sleeping peaceloly, ,n
deputies in charge OF Foster rom O'Clock on Friday
morning until the execution, said; A. .,,o,...o, rho
There ia no truth whatever In the allegation 1no
secret weak condition was that the man was s9L-
fering terribly from nervous prosraon Wnen ne woko
mn about n O'Clock he said he did lot feel well. He
knelt down and said his prayers After dr,nhns mo
sick The cell in which Foster was was hlled by
fearful stencil, which would nave made almost any man
sick the stomach, and IN mis- weak condition the eueeS
upon Foster was only natural.
Mr. Johnson, Warden OF the TomDs, said:
1 investigated this report far as could, and can
edged TO him that he had taken poison. left Foster
little after O'clock Friday morning; he was then ~cIt
Went TO bed about 2oclock, and was awakened abont
1880 a. m by one OF the deputies saw nun soon aier
he was looking badly; he asked To let him have
drink OF brandy TO settle his stomach declined ID
give him brandy and suggested that ne sn9u.u nav
Johnson whatever YOU say" The natron pfOuyht ~ IA
NAV where he got ID, nor have any other eydeLoo
than Mr.. Days statement
sheriff Brennan stated 10 reporter that ne hearJ
that Foster had poisoned DlnseH tne moment ne ch-
tered the ombs on the morning of rhe execution, from
whom he did not recoect. when he saw Foster IN hs
cell the prisoner greeted him by saying, We'll Sheriff
am ready" All thought of questioning him about te
report left the Sherif's mind Mr.. Brennan said ho
| knew nothing further about the matter.
II will be observed that Foster was not once qn's-
toned about the rumOr indeed, it not actively o-
| culated until he could not deny II.
THE FUNERAL OF FOSTER.
The remains of Foster which lay during the whole ~
Friday up to S45 O'Clock night in the TOmbs prison
yard were removed at time TO the store Of
dertaker under whose charge they were placed for a
short time and then conveyed 20 adjacent chapel,
where prayers over the body by the Rev Dr.
afterxard carried 10 Greenwood Cemetery which was
reached about 10 o'clock on saturday morning soine 90
or 40 men and two women stood around them The Rev.
r vng had already performed the funeral rites at the
chapel After concluding lie made Anew DrieI
alive 10 the manner life of the dead which he thoueb
might nave been misunderstood. He believed he ded
a Thoroughly penitent man. During his imprsonnent
he showed religious fOritude and frequently professed
his hone in the OF God The Rev. Doctor then SAID
He felt t his duty his belief that the report that
Foster had taken poison and dying at the ume or
the execution groundless That ne ana Dr. walker
| were alone with Foster tbree-quaKfers OF an hour
good health and strength and showed remarkable sel
mind, dressed himself wltb mnule care,
and with cOmmendable resignation and resolution
walked firmly the scanold The mans ply seal con-
came him, yet only for very short time. He was calm,
tranquil and resigned he prayed piousy and feryenty,
and showed by act before his death ana up 10 mo
that he had not made an attempt 10 CON-
end gentleman the remains were Inferred