Dead in a Prison Cell March, 1881

The End of Two of the Eastern Penitentiary Inmates

One Murdered, the Other Hanging from a Gas-Bracket--The Coroner's Investigation--Where the Men Came From.

"Great God!" exclaimed Thomas McGuigan, overseer at the Eastern Penitentiary, yesterday morning as he opened the iron door of a cell on the second block preparatory to furnishing the two inmates with their morning meal. There was just cause to provoke such a startling and irreverent exclamation, for by the dim light that filtered through the only window in the narrow apartment McGuigan saw the dead bodies of the two convicts, Frank Pfeifer and John McBride--one lying outstretched upon the floor and the other hanging by the neck against the stone wall of the cell. McBride lay upon the floor, with his face upturned, cold and distorted, near the grating of the cell door. There was an abrasion on this left forehead as if made by some blunt instrument, and around his neck was a piece of sheeting from the cell bed, which was drawn so tightly as to cause the tongue to protrude, indicationg that he had died of strangulation. His clothing was not materially disarranged, but the front of the convict garb was sprinkled with blood.

A Case of Determined Self-murder. The cold and inanimate body of Pfeifer was suspended by a piece of sheeting and twine from a gas bracket which projected from the wall, and which was so low as to render it neccessary for the suicide to draw up his feet in order to carry out his horrible design. When discovered, therefore, the body was in a kneeling position, with the face against the wall. The suicide was terribly in earnest when he began his work of death, for to make sure of having a strong rope he ingeniously twisted the heavy twine and sheeting together before attaching them to his neck. His death must have been a horrible one, for there was no fall and the neck was not broken, consequently it was a clear case of determined self-murder by strangulation.

Upon making the ghastly discovery McGuigan quickly notified Warden Edward Townsend, and the resident physician, Dr. Comegys Paul, was summoned. In the interim, however, Pfeifer's body, which was yet quite warm, was cut down, but upon the arrival of the physician an examination revealed the fact that life was extinct. By this time the excitement consequent upon the discovery of the terrible tragedy had somewhat subsided, and various conjectures were offered as to the probable cause that led to the death of the two convicts. It was known that Pfeifer was not of sound mind, which fact was seemingly a tangible thread upon which to weave a network of plausible circumstantial evidence of murder and suicide. This theory of the tragedy, however, was reject by many because it was known that Pfeifer's mental derangement had never manifested itself in any thing more serious than sensless prattle, and that for a certainty the two convicts were on good terms up to the time they retired on the night of the tragedy.

The surrounding circumstances, however, point with unerring accuracy to Pfeifer as the murderer and suicide. If such be the case, the only reason that can be assigned for the terrible double crime is insanity and during his frenzy, overpowered and strangled McBride and then hung himself. The condition of both men and the disarranged condition of the cell seemingly corroborated this theory, although no ample evidences of a terrible struggle within exist. Pfeifer's right arm is severely bruised above the elbow, as if it had been clutched in a vice-like grasp or struck with some blunt weapon, to prevent its use and there is a deep lacerated wound on the left wrist. McBride's body is covered with bruises evidently received while struggling for his life with his maniacal murderer.

The Third Victim. To further suppoort the theory of murder and suicide the slate in the cell used by the deceased cconvicts to communicate with the prison officials was found to bear the startling confession, "This is the third man I have killed," written in a nervous hand. This seems to corroborate the belief that Pfeifer committed the murder while laboring under a sudden attack of insanity. No credit, however, is given to the voluntary confession of his being a triple murderer, the impression being that while gloating over McBride's corpse his insane frenzy dictated the ghastly works on the slate. The fact of the two prisoners being in one cell is easily accounted for from the fact that there are on 731 cells for over 1,000 convicts; hence it is that many of the cells contain two inmates. Pfeifer and McBride were employed as tobacco-strippers and without exception, were always occupied with this work in their own cells which is at the eastern extremity of the building.

Deputy Coroner Thomas J Poweres and Dr. J. G. Lee, Coroner's physician, visited the Penitentiary in the afternoon and after viewing the remains ordered their removal to the Morgue. Later in the day, Dr. Leo made a post-mortem examination of both bodies, the result of will be submitted at the Coroner's inquest at noon today. Pfeifer was 23 years old and was known as convict No. 728. He was sentenced at Wilkesbarre in February last to three years and a half for burglary and arrived at Cherry Hill on the 18th of last month. He was a well-known New York thief, having served three terms in Sing Sing Prison and one on Blackwell's Island. McBride was 49 years of age and was known in the prison as No. 525. He was admitted on September 30, 1880, for two years for aggravated assault and battery and indecent exposure in this city. He was a married man and has a sister living at Twentieth and Pine Streeets. Neither of the men had been to the Eastern Penitentiary before.

McBride was a man of low instincts, and got himself into trouble some ten years ago for the same offense. Little Mary Colligan, the child whom he attempted to assault in the early part of last September, was begging from door to door in the neighborhood of Twenty-first and Green. A passer-by saw McBride approach her and he called Officer Foster of the Ninth Police District, who, after a sharp chase, captured McBride. Although he stoutly asserted his innocence, he was fully identified by the little girl and committed for trial. When Mary's father heard of the attempted out-rage he was with difficulty restrained from entering the Court-house and shooting McBride as he stood in the dock. Mr. Colligan said last night that he was glad to hear of McBride's death. "It don't make any difference," said he, "whether he was killed or killed himself. He was a villainous scoundrel, and the grave is the best place for him."

Source: Charlie Crowell. Capital Punishment Scrapbook, Philadelphia Newspaper Article, about March, 1881.