The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-01
BLASIUS PIS7ORIUS
a Talk with the Condemned
Priest in Jail.
is HE IN S A N E i?
He Tells in Broken English His Story
Of the Shooting of Jacquette.
A VICTIM OF BISMARCK'S MALICE.
PHILADELPHIA, May 80, 1878.

PHILADELPHIA, May so, 1878.
On the 10th OF June. 1875. the Rev. Blasius Fis-
torius arrived from Germany the farm OF his brother
John. near Norristown, Pa The reverend father was
clergyman OF the Roman Catholic Church. repre-
sentative Prussan, fresh from Saarvclingcp, unable
10 speak English, aud entire stranger TO the Ian
guage, customs and institutions OF this country. He
brought hterc din.issorales from Bishop Eoerhard,
Of Tricr, showing him 10 be priest good standing
ana entitled to ask aud receive parochial
rharge In the New World Establishing himself
temporarily a. tho quiet country homo OF bis
brother The clergyman made an application of this
nature to Bishop Krautbauer, OF Green Bay, Mich,
and received letter from that dignitary consentng
10 give him congregation within his diocese where
The newcomers ignorance OF English would not be an
obstacle.
THE MrRpRR.
Within SIX weeks from the time of his arrival In
this country the Rev. Basus Pistorius In prison
charged principal In deliberate murder, to which
hts brother, the farmer, was an alleged accessory.
Five months later the clergy had tried aud
convicted of murder in the rrst degree and had been
sentenced TO upon the scadold The strange
stances which led to this startling change in the
peaceful life OF minister OF the Gospel ia
mitar TO the public need recapitulaon here. The
disputed boundary between the farms OF John Pisto-
Rus and his neghbor. Isaac Jacquette the espousal
OF his brothers. cause by the nowiy arrived clergy
man; his warning TO Jacquette's boy not to mis-
COWS at the disputed creek, and his shooting and kill
Ing OF farmer Jacquctte the next day when the warn
Ing was disregarded are all matters proven mt the
two trials which the HERALD has referred at length.
THE xURpzaER's VIOLENT CONDUCT
Pistorius' excitabie, passionate nature his persIs-
tent belief that he opject Of conspiracy, his
violent outbreaks the court room, where
he has denounced his judges. jurors and even MS
tion all features OF this remarkable we'll
known that they are only referred to here because
they have led many TO
ing the two trials both resulting verdict OF MUIR
der IN the frst degreelhut Basus Pistorus 10 either
insane or the victim Of passionate temper
that led HIM 10 commit an unprcmed-
itated crime In the sudden heat OF anger .
II IL this belief has led his counsel aud others to
make every sxerton have his terrible death SON.
tence committed; but the prisoners own conduct has
prevented their SUCCESS by declining the ovsrtures Of
the Com nonwsaith's legal officers TO accept verdict
for lesser degree Of the crime, and recently by Piss
torius' absolute refusal 10 accept pardon, even II
rendered 10 MIN, he having demanded, IN a violent
letter 10 Judge Mitchell that he shall be hanged as
possible. M. stephsns. Remak, the counsel
assigned defend him by tho German government
(whose SUBJECT Pistorius IN, has just made last
appeal TO to supreme Court H. has failed. and the
condemned priest will doubtless be executed upon the
date to be nxea In the Governors warrant
PIsroRIus IN PRISON.
Pstorius Is now In the Philadelp hia County Prison,
better known Moy amensing, IRON tho district OF
the oily IN which IL Is located Ho has been there
aimee bis second conviction two months ago, and has
rspuissd abuse aud rage the visits both friends
aud strangers alike. He has refused his coun-
sci and others who are Interested him. Even tho
ernhl Il tha nra danl of I he
Catholic Club and well known phiisnthropisl, who
went him OF tho kindness OF mis- heart, was
hailed VILLAIN and scoundrel and q
varied assortment Of similar eptheta 1T nearly
knocked me down, :" said Mr.. Chandler; III am afraid
BIO won't see you.' When l resolved 10 make this
attempt IL said ali sides that II would be Of
USE ana when found that the Jalers propnesed
. reception Tor II was with some hesitation
that presented myself a. the prison doors armed with
spermi courteousiy issued by Que Of the inspectors
BEARDIsG THE
Biasus Pistorius occupies the coll officially dcsig.
mated "Lsiter D. nrsl loor south" Il Is not ths reg
uar condemned cell where murdcrers under scntsnce
Of death usually confined, but 1t Is cage in which
moro than unhappy wretch has passed his last
hours. Quigiey, the wife murderer, who was hanged
last year, WAS locked ~ here until he ieft " "
loug rows OF similar celia IN the tnrse-storiod
convicts' cotridor Of Moyamensing, aud as the
grun keeper turned the koy In tbs massive
creakng luck OF the low and narrow outer door, saw
that ueuvy oakeu panel was exactly ike nifty others
stretching around both sides Vi the gallery. When
the wooden door opened there was visible a second
door deep within the iron shsathed smbrzsuru IN
the thick wall This inner door was lattice work Of
heavy hat bars OF wrought iron aud through tho In
tersuces OF thus aud ilts window wnicn the jailer
opened the interior OF the cell was seen.
A STARTLING PICTURE
The strapgo prisoner WHOM l mad come with
70 many msgvings 10 SEQ stood STOPPING forward,
pesrug with lowering eyes suspicisusly ut his visitor
neglected appearance; mis- haggard taco, with its sicky
paiior. teing OF long connnsmsn and anxiety, and
heaa-sii combined 10 form starting picture. Ro.
sentiment nj the Intrusion as an attack by a deadly
.,tucs ana expression He stood motonlsss, glazing
through the bars liko wild animal At bay.
A low hasty but kindly spoken words announcing tho
visitors friendly mission produceda remarkable effect.
The animal became = man, mis- face lost It's ierociiy
aud smiled y welcome us the condemned moved tor.
ward 10 put his hand through the little window 10
greet The caller The interview that followed was
conducted through ,his opening. the grated door re-
naming locked and TIE keeper standing beside the
visitor, silently watching and listening
MS PERSONAL APPEARAxcK
Having put tue prisoner ~ ms ease had az oppor.
y muscular grip he has bright, nervous gray eyes.
sandy unoom0ed hair, smooth face with three days
mouth II largo, with thick lips. when continually
open In versation TO expose dirty brown teoin.
Tue nose and largo and fiat aud the forehead
not broad Tor high. Tho expression OF faco 10 not
pleasing and the prisoner looks 10 DO what he 10 de-
bcribei-an exceedingly excitabic passionate man
There IS the slightest vestge OF that charming re-
pose peculiar 10 the Catholic priesthood.
he wore soed gray pantaloons, Cardigan jacket
shirt that YEAS not white ana no colinr.
Pis,orlus dovs not speak English WE'LL although ho
u dev ong himself " studying u perinacousy. He
understands aud reads readily enough aud writes II,
but IL Is painful 10 hear him Try to express himself 10
English conversation. He chooses his words Accu-
rstsly somstines very iorciDly but IL would 10
Impossible to represent In English the fantastic Ger.
man pronuaciauon OF bis words II Is sometimes
great enort ior nim 10 approximate the sound Of
some our simplest words; and though they are the
we'll selected phrases OF an intelligent student, his
pronu nsiaiion is almost uninleiigiDle.
LoSG IxrKRvlkw.
The Interview was prorscted to nearly three hours.
during VII ch no gave history OF the killing, the Two
trials Tor murder and long TRADE against those
whom he accuses OF treating him unfairly. During
sl this timo Pisorious showed no indication oil In
sanity aud no unduc excitement, matter or great
SURPRISE remembering the terrible outbreaks In which
he has been known to indulge wnen speaking Of hts
case ana the ukablc scene IN the court when
he rose and denounced tho Judge on The bench aud
Ss own counsel at MS side. Even when, In the
sourse Of tho conversation, he nveghod against those