Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-03-24
Hanging n Dying Man.

FOSTER HURRIED TO THE GALLONS THAT HIS sEN-
. TENcE MIGHT BE EXECUTED.
[From the N. Y. Tines.l
AT 81 o'clock Friday morning, Miss Flora
Foster, the matron of the prison. entered the
cell occupied by the condemned man for the pur-
pose of bringing him cup OF warm coffee. Fos-
ter was lying apparently senseess on the pallet,
when the matron shook him and asked him to
get up. Foster seemed to be in stupor, and
did not make the slightest movement or recog-
milton Of the summons, being evidently uncon-
cious. Miss Foster again shook the prisoner,
and said, "What's the matter with you !" Fos-
ter mumbled in reply, "rm very sick" The ma
tron at once suspected that something wrong
had happened, and exclaimed: oh v@lhETAtcn-
ed man. what have you been doing himself, es
you taken?" Foster partially rataeo - -~'~ no
not to- but dld. - Ia
The matron became quite alarmed, and SAID,
"0h, take this" at the same time loLcS t. snS sn5
rim OF the cup between the prisoners teeth M ana
mourning the contents down his throat. Inns
ccanaed immediate nausea. and the unfortunate
man began to vomit Seeing this, MISS roster
| ran into the female prison, and hlilng cup
| with strong, black coffee, carried it back and
gave Il to the condemned prisoner. This pro
Il dueed more nausea, when Miss Foster, rearing
| that the prisoner was dying, informed Keeper
Mathew Daley Of the fact that Foster had pol
| soned himself. Il
tallieeuce. at once rushed into the condemneds
| call and pulling Foster out into the corrldorl
| hathed his head with ice-water, and walked nlm
| ranidly up and down the corridor Dr. Nealls
the physician attached to the Tombs, was at the
same time sent for by Keeper DAILY.
| ON the arrival of DR.. Nealis he at once enter
| ad Fosters CELL and inquired OF the prisoner
.iWbat is the matter with you Are you SICK !,
| Foster. in a faint voice and uncertain way, sald
81 am very nervous" DR.. Nealis then noticed
neculiar appearance about the condemned man
Fosters face presented the dull yellow aspeo
noticeable in opium poisoning. His eyes wer
CLASSY and firmly set and his hanus "eh
tremulous and wavering. 80, A..
At that moment Sheriff Brennan entered tn
| corridor with his deputies, Mr.. Brennan advanc
| ing alone to the cell door. he at once peroeh1
| ed that Foster was not in the condltlon ne ouSu
TO have been in, so said to DR.; Neails' s Ma va
man Al TO 20 out into the yard now 7" Dr. Nea
liz readily compreheuding what was in the She
: ;FS;s mind replied. "He is if he is carried OF
rioht away" The Sheriff at once signihed n
Intention to hasten the proceedings. as alreao
y atatad. and Foster was at once pinioned al
u made ready for execution. The prisoner WI
| avan then 40 weak that Sheriff Brennan an
b Hinder Sheriff Stevens had to actually hit al
=, | ont Of the cell into the corridor They the
a Almost carried him to the entrance, and su
y norted him to the gallows, as previously desorl
70 al while the spectators thought that the dur
t;on 81 fine Religious exercises we're telling
Foster'a nerves. it was i'll reality the weakne
IN osnsed nv the poison acting upon his systel
,k When the rome was cut he was really dying.
The opinion of Dr. Nealis is that II the exec
10 | t;on mad been DELAYED until 10 o'clock. the no
orioinailv fixed by the Sheriff, Foster would ma
n, died in his cell from poison taken by himset
that purpose.