New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-08
PITMAN TAKES. POISON.
WALSH CALLS IT NERVOUS PRosrRArIoN
THE sToMACH-PUMP AGAINST THE wARDEN-THA
PRISONER DYING AT THE HOSPITAL

4
murder Of his daughter Rachel, would not keep
him behind the prison-bars long as everybody
expected when sentence was passed on the con-
Wet last Friday. The murderer took Judgment
into his own hands yesterday, and made an at
tempt at suicide, which promises to be successful.
lie was lying IN Chambers Street Hospital late
yesterday in precarious condition, which tbs
doctors describe as nip and tuck for life or death.
The fact that Pitman is dying from the eff
fects Of large dose Of some preparation of opium
gives another instance of the excellent care with
which Warden Walshs prisoners are guarded.
At $50 a. m. yesterday, the usual hour for awaIs-
ening the prisoners Barney Clark and John Orr.
the tiermen Of the Tombs, walked along MUIR
derers Row" rapping at every cell, and shouting
at the occupants When they reached cell No 3.
in which Pitman was confined, they received
no answer from the prisoner. but paid no especial
attention to it until they returned Then Orr
raped again, and noticing that Pitman snored
loudly, he entered the CELL and began shaking the
convict whom he found apparently in deep
stupor
NERVOUS PRosTEATToN "sUsPECrED'
After repeated attempts to arouse the prisoner
by Orr Clark and Keeper Young, Warden Walsh
and Deputy Warden Finley were informed Of the
peculiar case. They suspected that the prisoner
was feigning. Ptmans stubborn determination
to remain unconscious frightened them, however,
and Warden Walsh sent for DR.. David McGee. ths
prison surgeon of No. 1,o55 Lexington-ave. In
the meantime, however, DR.. David II. Agan, Of
No. 363 Broome-st., called in, and, according
to the Warden, pronounced his diagnosis that
Ptman was suffering from nervous prostration.
At about this time Deputy-Sherf Joseph Burke
arrived at the prison to take charge Of Ptman.
The deputy was at once informed that the prisoner
was shamming insensibility Burke looked at the
patient himself, however, and, though a layman,
saw at once that not mere nervous prostration
or case of feigning was before him. He ordered
an ambulance at once, and Chambers Street Hos
pital responded. AT 40 the sick man was taken
to the hospital in charge Of Keeper McCafrey.
Dr.. Swinburne, the house surgeon, made an ex-
animation and in moment diagnosed opium
poisoning. stomach-pump was applied by Dr.
Kimball, and large quantity of opium in solution
was taken from Ptman's stomach. According
20 Dr. Kimball, the dose was large enough TO kill
four men. II the opium taken was in powdered
form, the prisoner must have swallowed about an
ounce The surgeons tried every method known
to science to arouse the patient, but did not sue.
ceed During the entire day Ptman remained
unconscious, out at long intervals he half-opened
his eyes and gasped deeply
THE WARDEN CLINGS TO HIS THEORY.
Warden Walsh clung desperately all day to ths
nervous prostration' theory. He made his off,
cial report to the Commissioners of Charities and
Correction during the morning, and in it gave tho
circumstances Of the finding Of Pitman, the
latters removal TO the hospital and characterized
the prisoners ailment as nervous prostration.'
When the Warden was seen by a TRIBUNE re-
porter and informed of DR.. Swinburne's diagnosis,
he sid; sad =. ..,... n...n, J.. u.u .,..
man has been so carefully watched since the knife
was found on him that nothing could be passed
to him. The idea that he took poison. or had
poison or that poison could T, have been smpggled
down from the strain Of his trial and CONVICTION
It was learned at the Tombs that Mrs Pitmau
had been at the prison Friday afternoon shortly
before o'clock stated.
however, that she was only near enough TO the
prisoner to kiss him through the grating" War
70 bid her husband farewell he ordered Matron
Stone TO search the woman with the most
thorough care. The matron, he said, obeyed the
mans apparel, including her back hair and hen
shoes.
WHERE DID PITMAN GET THE PoIsoNi
At Pitman's last appearance in the Court OF
General Sessions, when he received his ntence.
he was carefully watched so that nothing could
be handed to him. Under an arrangement which
has been in effect for several weeks, the sherifs
officers have the sole charge of the prisoners
when they taken to court, up TO the time
when they enter the prisoners pen. The court
officers. who formerly shared the responsibility
with the sheriff's officers, are now relieved OF
that care. While in court the prisoners are
closely guarded. II poison was passed TO Pitman
the court attendants declare that IL could not
have happened when Ptman in their custo-
dy They quote the Warden's statement that
Ptman was searched when he returned tC thu
Tombs after receiving sentence, as evidence that
the poison had been concealed in Pitman's cell.
Dutch Fred" or Frank Belmont, who cut ht
throat while in the prisoners pen in Part ILL
Of the Court Of General Sessions last January,
said that be obtained the razor with which he
committed the act in the Tombs, and that knives
could readily be obtained among the prisoners,
the current price being twenty-five cents foa
each weapon.
Mr.. HEWITT DIscLAIMs RESPONSIBILITY.
"The Times" yesterday after referring I'd
Fatty Walshs appointment as Warden of thu
Tombs, as O great mistake" and being
gsrded by the public with general indignation
and disgust adds:
During Mr.. Hewitts term, however. there has been
alOge her much OF putting persons OF unsayoy his
nes into public oies in order q give them chance
reform Fatty has not re orned but has shown thit
he is the same old unregenerated Fatty
Allnding to this statement, Mr. Hewitt said
yesterday that he was in no wise responsible
for Warden Walsh's appointment. He had
taken occasion, however, shortly after entering
upon his duties as Mayor TO examine the recon-
on file in this case, and he had found
that his predecessor ex-Mayor William T. Grace,
headed the list. Mr. Hewitt further said that no
deied any newspaper TO publish the names Of
" persons of unsavory histories whom he had
" put into public office TO give them chance to
REFORM" or otherwise.
A LETTER FROM THE MURDERER
A letter was found in Pitmans cell, written
to his wife, apparently soon before he took the
great dose of opium. The missve was written
with lead pencil on piece of MANILA paper,
and was as follows:
Dear salne: Forgive ne. but the papers are too
bitter against L stand It no longer.
Flsnk / know promised you 1 would not; 50 ala
the girls but I'm only human and control my
self 1 know you would tell mo IL le: you know,
so denied It For all ouI sakeS as well be dead Qua
Of the world dead in. Il. w. p.
you accused George Burke will tell where
got
The only Burke connected with the case il
Deputy Sheriff Burke. who was to take Pitmsn
10 Sing Sing yesterday. The deputy sheriff who
vas guarding Pitman at the hospital last even
ng declared that the last sentence Of the con-