It’s a story that’s almost commonplace in today’s 21^st Century society. Murdering your spouse in order to live with someone else barely gets a glance in today’s media, unless it involves high profile personalities.

   But one hundred and sixty-six years ago, the poisoning of a man and woman by their marriage partners certainly must have drawn the attention of most residents of Montour County, and the surrounding area. The subsequent trials in 1857 resulted in guilty verdicts for William J. Clark, and Mary Twiggs. Both were sentenced to die after separate juries agreed with the evidence of prosecutors. Clark and Twiggs had used arsenic to poison their spouses in 1857. William Clark worked side by side with David Twiggs, Mary’s husband, at the Montour Iron Works in Danville. He was found guilty of the crime in February of 1858. Mary Twiggs was convicted in May of that year. On September 24^th, 1858, Clark met his maker at the end of a rope on the gallows constructed behind twenty-foot-high stone walls in the old Montour County prison.

    The Danville Democrat newspaper had an “extra” edition on Friday, October 22nd, 1858, providing readers with a look at the final hours in the life of Mrs. Twiggs, as well as the details of her execution. This is how the newspaper described those final hours:

    “This wretched woman was executed between 10 and 11 o’clock this morning in the jail yard at this place without making any confession of her crime and protesting her innocence up to the last moment. 

    Early in the morning, our streets began to present quite a lively appearance, indicating something unusual was about to take place. Many people were seen wending their way

to the jail, and numbers of both sexes were admitted to see the gallows which was the same that had been used for the execution of Clark, four weeks ago.

    For two nights several kindhearted and sympathizing ladies remained with the unfortunate woman in her lonely cell, comforting her bodily and spiritually in the last hours of her earthly trials. Mrs. Ware, Mrs. Unger, and Mrs. Ephlin spent the last night with her, and from them we learn that she slept between 11 and 12 o’clock, up to 3 this morning, apparently calmly and without showing any signs of restlessness. In the early part of the evening, she rose from her bed and voluntarily knelt in prayer with apparent fervor and true sincerity—audibly calling Jesus to save her mortal soul: and when Mrs. Ware engaged in loud prayer, she joined with earnestness in her petitions to the throne of God.

    Her two children---one a little boy, about seven years old, the other a girl of about ten years, were resting in her arms during the whole night. The sight was affecting in the extreme, as she pressed her little ones to her palpitating heart, kissing them lovingly and caressing them tenderly. Copious tears flowed from her eyes and her feelings can be more easily imagined than described. Her daughter particularly seemed much affected, yet, when her mother at times, sobbed and cried aloud, the little girl braced herself up and begged, in tender accents, to be composed and not cry so much. On arising in the morning, Mrs. Twiggs dressed the children carefully and fondled them with great emotion. And when shortly afterwards Mrs. Young, the sheriff’s lady, entered her cell with a new and neat black dress, that had been made expressly for the occasion, she patiently suffered herself to be dressed with apparent composure.

    During the night, Mrs. Ephlin questioned her at one time pointedly as to her innocence or guilt of the crime for which she was soon to suffer upon on the scaffold, when she answered, in rather a stern and sharp tone of voice, that she was innocent, quoting at the same time, the words of the gospel, “judge not lest ye be judged.”

    At about nine o’clock, her only brother, Samuel McClintock, visited her for the last time. She sat upon her bed when he entered and they both fell into each other’s arms, crying and sobbing loud and long. The sight was touching in the extreme and brought the sympathetic tear to the eyes of the stoutest. At first, none of them spoke, but occasionally the words of “dear, dear, sister” --- dear, dear, brother” --- were heard from their lips. After a minute or two, Mrs. Twiggs uttered in broken sentences, ---I know, dear brother, it is hard to part --- my love shall remain with you, in the other world --- it is hard to part, we have been raised together and always loved each other --- My Saviour died for us --- Don’t fret about me, dear brother --- I am happy --- I am going to suffer death for others, so did my Saviour --- go and love Jesus --- Don’t believe I have ever done such a thing --- I am innocent --- my God knows it --- He is the judge of all things and knows all things --- there will be no injustice in Heaven --- there will be all love and joy --- we all must die --- I might have died some other way and you would have lost me --- now I am prepared --- don’t mourn, don’t fret, dear brother --- I hope God will watch over you, and defend you --- don’t grieve --- I am well, well prepared for Heaven.”

    During all this time, they were sitting on her bed, tightly locked into each other’s arms, and rest their heads on each other’s shoulders. It was a most affecting and heart–rending sight to behold, such as we hope we will never have occasion to see again.

    The Rev. A. F. Shanafelt, Bbaptist minister, and the Rev. Mr. Bacon, of the Methodist church, also made a very fervent prayer in the cell. 

    During all this time, Mrs. Twiggs and her brother were still sitting on the med in the same posture, crying audibly.

    After the singing of the hymn, the Rev. Mr. Harden approached the prisoner, and asked in an affectionate but earnest manner, whether she was guilty or innocent, warning her at the same time of the consequences of deceit and lying in this her last moment. She disengaged herself from her brother’s arms and said: “I did not tell an untruth during the whole time, and I never contradicted anything I have said (appealing to Mr. Harden): I am ready to abide by the law and I believe all my sins are forgiven.” The Rev. Mr. Crampton then told her, that if she spoke the truth now, she would be rewarded for it hereafter, and, in short prayer, commended her soul to God.

    The Sheriff then told her brother to leave the room as he was about to perform his last duty, but the unfortunate man cried aloud, “save my sister,” clinging to her and refusing to go. He had finally to be taken away from her by force.

    At 10 minutes past 10 o’clock, the prisoner was taken from her cell and linking arms with the Rev. Harden, accompanied by the Sheriff and her spiritual adviser, they all proceeded in procession to the scaffold. She ascended the steps slowly but steadily, crying aloud, and on reaching the platform, was seated on a chair. The Rev. Mr. Stover then read the 15^th Chapter of Luke, Mrs. Twiggs still greatly affected and crying. The Sheriff told her to speak now if she had something to say, when she answered loudly and firmly, “This is a hard death, and the Saviour has died for me, and I fear not death. I never seen or knew anything about the poisoning of Catharine Ann Clark, or my husband. I fear not death. I have nothing to regret, only the leaving of my orphan children --- “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.” Mr. Harden then made a solemn and fervent prayer on her behalf, whereupon the ministers bade her farewell. She thanked them for their kindness and burst again into tears when shaking hands at parting.

    The Sheriff, then having pulled the cap over her face, pinioned her arms and adjusted the rope around her neck. During the operation she cried aloud and repeated several times: I die innocent, I am not guilty.”

    The sheriff then left the platform, and standing upon the steps, with the lever, which removed the slides, in his hands, asked her, “Mary Twiggs, are you still alive? She answered, yes sir, I am,” and the same moment the drop fell, and her soul was ushered into the presence of her God. This was precisely at half past 10 o’clock, and after hanging for 38 minutes, she was pronounced dead by the physician and the jury, and lowered into a neat coffin. The doors of the jail yard were then thrown open and the large and promiscuous crowd, who had been standing outside all morning, eagerly pressed in to get a glimpse of her body.

    The curiosity of the multitudes having been satisfied, the coffin was closed, placed upon a wagon, and taken at the instance of her brother, to a farm near Little Roaring Creek, where he resides, to be buried by him.

    The following gentlemen constituted the Sheriff’s jury, to pronounce upon the death of the criminal:

    Christ. Laubach, Wm. G Miller, North Ward, Danville; W. Hancock, South Ward, Danville; John Leighow, Mahoning: Cornelius Snyder, Valley; Jacob Sheep, West Hemlock; John Moore, Liberty; John Moyer, Derry; Thos. Flack, Limestone; Westley Holdren, Anthony; E.H. Vought, Mayberry; Jesse C. Ammerman, Cooper.

    The “Columbia Guards” and “Montour Rifles” kept order without the jail, and a number of deputies inside the jail yard among the spectators.

    Both Clark and Mrs. Twiggs have suffered the penalty of the law for their crimes, and may God have mercy on their souls!”

    The story of the poisoning, arrests, trials, and hangings is described in my book,