The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-23

the arm and pressed It a moment and Foster was
an right again. The Sherin objected to saying VINO
told HIM that Foster had taken poison. ne said
that when Foster was still in his cell ne was obged
to ask the cergymen stop their prayers, as they
were having a depressing enect upon Foster and
he could not have STOOD .ae ohs onn% AGAIN
man was weakening, and this was brought about
by the absurdly long prayers OF the Rev. DR.. Tying
prayers on the scaffod and he had refused, saying
IL was against the rules. DR.. Tying had promised
his word, to conhne himself to three, or at the
outside Jour- minutes. When they arrived on the
scaifold DR.. Tying took twelve minutes, and he
finally seeing that IL was having depressing effect
upon Foster shut the Rev. Dr. Tying or 1t was to
the length OF the prayers and not to poison, that
he attributed the weakness Of Foster at the su-
preme moment.
WHAT DIR. vANpRwATER SAID.
Or. Vandewater, who Is the District surgeon,
attended Foster, with Nealis, at his last moments
as well be- attributed to The nervous prostration as
to poison. Unless he had strong evidence that
poison was used he would not believe 1t judging
laudanum might possibly act as he had done, but
man who had not would act in the same manner
food and from nervous prostration. Foster was
undoubtedly much affected by the hopes ne had
INDUCED IN OF communication, and when all these
which any man, under the same circumstances,
would give way to. He OR. vanSewaterl
s seis s sSs'er o Ss'0' the way he acted
did not think for a moment that poison
had anything to do with It. Still, the symptoms OF
opium poisoning were not sufficiently distinct to
be able tell At casual glance whether a man was
suffering from them or not. He only gave look
enough to 70 to the scafiod. Nobody had men.
toned anything to him Of the poisoning, and he
had not heard OF 1t until that day.
WARDEN JOHNsON's STATEMENT.
Warden Johnson, OF the TOmbs seemed to be
very unwilling to say anything about a matter ne
Foster Mo ococ Un The mornns
the condemned man was all right He heard moth
ing OF the poisoning until the execution was all
not. He did believe that Foster was weaker than
he should have been under the circumstances and
that his breaking down was very sudden.
WARDEN BROWNS STATEMENT
Warden Brown or the Centre Street Hospital,
who has great experience in these cases, gave It
fold that he showed none of the appearance OF a
man who had taken poison. 1t struck him as SIM
PIE ne''T THE w REV. Dr. rYNa's STATEMENT
The writer called at the Rev. DR.. Tyng's resi-
dence but that gentleman was absent performing
the funeral rites over the last remains q William
Foster at Greenwood Cemetery. On calling later,
at about hallpast four O'clock the reverend gentle
tanned, after some diniculty and delay, the follow
ing statement on the poisoning invention from the
venerable pastor:m"l read that statement you
contradicted from other sources; but thought it
proper to speak OFT at the funeral tins morning
for publication to the press. It was a most eyre
giOus falsehoOd to say that Foster took, or even
contemplated taking poison Immediately previous
to his death. am certain he did no snch thing,
and believe it Is sufficient for me to say that
am certain oft. The Rev. DR.. Walker and only
were with him from little after eight O'Clock I'M
til nine, the moment bordering on his death, and
no other person remained with him until the
Sheriff entered previous to the execution. 1t is a
falseheod, an outrage and shame to accuse him OF
suicide, sir. That Is 81 have to say or do with
the matter. am tired and will beg to be excused
from saying anything further, which, Of course,
WOuld he unueCeSSary." 49, sr.-@
THE REV. DR.. WALKERS OPINION.
The reporter then proceeded to interview the Rev.
DR.. walker The reverend gentlemen was !19gQ
attention being called by the writer to the object
Of his visit DR.. Walker, In an amiable but rather
reserved manner, gave his views on the statement
made regarding the taking OF poison by Foster
previous to his execution. The following Is the
substance Of what he said:-
and would much prefer you would see only the Rev.
DR.. Tying, as you seem to have partially correct
idea OF the matter from what he stated this morn
ing; but II were asked to state on my own re-
spoRsibility what my opinion OF the case is would
pronounce it altogether uncalled for, and do not
liam Fosters mental and physical condition, as
well as his piOus and penitent disposition imme-
diatey previous 10 his death, he did appear to me
to be the last man on earth who would contem-
plate suicide. While the Rev. DR.. Tying and were
present with him he was calm, resigned, penitent
and selfpossessed. Nothing transpired during that
interval to warrant the least suspicion OF such q
design. In conference with DR.. Tying we both felt
satisfied that he was In perfectly tranquil and
happy state of mind What might have occurred
wish to say only SO much and this with reasonable
reluctance