New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-09
PITMAN ENDS HIS TERM.
A CLEAR CASE OF SUICIDE IN PRISON.

WARDEN WALSH CeyRTs INvEsrIGATIoN," HOW
EvER-A BENCH WARRANT OUT FOR BURKE.
Francis w. Pitman, the murderer Of his own
child has served the sentence imposed upon him
last Friday. He has spent the rest Of his life
in confinement and under guard of officers of
the law. He is dead The heavyweight jailor
Of the Tombs Prison, Fatty" Walsh, as an in
direct consequence, is courting investigatiOn'
lie will get what he is languishing for for the
Charities Commissioners will try tomorrow to
fathom some Of the mysteries Of prison suicide.
Early yesterday morning the doctors at the Cham
bers Street Hospital. who had been working with
the poisoned convict all day and night gave
I'D his case as practically hopeless. From
l o'clock until shortly after IL a. M, the murderer
seemed to be in o calm sleep, but occasionally
he reused himself enough to wave his arms. At
/ 10 he died without a struggle, no one but
q nurse being in his ward at the time. Word
was sent to the coroner's office at once, and Cor
oner Levy took charge OF the Deputy
Coroner Jenkins arrived at the hospital about
O'Clock, and after waiting several hours for
DR.. Sholes, decided to proceed with the autopsy.
This showed venous congestion throughout the
body, as well as other symptoms OF OPIUM poison
ing Besides, the walls of the stomach were
saturated with the deadly drug. An examination
OF the liquid pumped from Pitmans stomach led
DR.. Jenkins to believe that the poisoning was
not done with powdered OPIUM but either with
tincture OF opium laudanum. III such be the
case, it makes the case at the TOmbS still more
pulling for not only must a bottle have been
smuggled into Cell No. g. but it must have
been disposed Of after its contents used. The
prison officials say that they have found no
empty bottle
THE wARDEN'S PATHETIC OUTBURST
After the result OF the autopsy had removed
the last doubt, even if there was one another
visit was made to Warden Walsh in order TO
see how his nervous prostraton" theory was
getting along. d" cannot understand the whole
business" the warden said. 1t is beyond me.
1t is so strange that l don't know what to say
about it. However, my conscience Is clear, ana
i court investigation. Yes sir; L court lnves-
tigation"
The only Fatty" tried hard to look like
MARTYR and, after q moments silence, he tortured
his face into an expression Of patient suffering and
said: 4" Oh, this life of terrible reSponsl blllty
is too much. 1t is wearing me out 1t Is killing
me. If somebody would give e., me C,is 3Si9oo Po
Pitman's family learned of the death about
half past o'clock when the murderers daughters,
Belle and Sadie called at the hospital to see t9er ,,1
hours. The two girls were not allowed TO see
the body. When rRBrNF reporter went to
the house in Jackson-st during the afternoon NTs.
Pitman was calm and seemed not surprised at the
suicide She denied positively however, that she
had had any premontion OF it.
TRYING TO HAVE THE FUNERAL PRIVATE
Pitman's lawyer, Frederick Edes, and the under
talxer, c. p. Blake. Of No. so Cannon-st, who
bmiel tie murdered Rachel Pitman and will con-
duct the funeral of Pitman, called at the hospital
Ptman's body will be removed to B!akes estaD-
lishment this morning. The funeral will not n Ike
place at the house In Jackson-st, and the family
are trying to keep the time and place OF 1T from
public knowledge, in order to avoid the attendance
OF q large crowd Ptman's body Will be Durle1
/ in Evergreen Cemetery, side by side with thai OF
his victim. ,...,.
Tho George Burke who, according TO Pltman
last letter, knows how the convict obtained the
poison lives at No % 1-2 Variccst., but has not
bccn there for several days, if the statements OF
his mother can he believed. From November 3
until March 8 Burke was imprisoned in the IompS
on an indictment for burglary. He was acquitted
but had made Pitmans acquaintance and calle9 q
on the murderer several times after nc hImScIt
was DISCHARGED He visited Pitman last on NIarch
81. hut on last Friday he was at the Iombs 70 sGe
another inmate Of the prison. TIL prison othclals
maintain that Burke was not near Pitman at INC
time OF his last visit. and assert with equal
positivcness that Burke was carefully searched
every time he called. bench warrant has peen %
issued for Burlxc's arrest, but at late hour hSb
evening he had not been found.