The southern press., 1851-10-30
From Tie Boston Daily Times.
Tho Late Murder In BOstOn.


Tho Late Murder In Bsstsn.
We are panied to record one of the most bar.
barous deeds--from Information at present at
hand--that has occurred in this city since the
killing of DR.. Parkman. Ii is the murder of a
sster-a young and beautiful married woman
by her own brother, who returned from Califor-
MIA in May last. The dreadful act, as We learn,
is attended by the most inhuman atrocities but
we sincerely trust that the reports are much ex-
aggerated. We give them as we were enabled TO
ascertain them at late hour last evening -
The prisoners name was Thomas Davis. During
his stay in California, his children, three boys,
the eldest fourteen years old, boarded with hi :
sister, Mrs. Il. A. Van Wagner, wife of MIR.
James ID. l.. Van Wagner, of Poughkeepsie,
New York, who is at present engaged on board
the towboat Lion. Oo his return from Califor-
mia, Davis was employed as rgger at the
Charleston Navy Yard, from which situation he
was discharged few days since. The horrid
tragedy we are about to relate, occurred in a
wooden tenement in the rear of No. Al, Charles
street. The house was occupied by Van Wag-
ner, his wife, the prisoner and his three children.
The entrance is through narrow alley leading
from Charter street
Yesterday, at noon, the whole family dined to-
gether. Nothing unusual occurred at the IN H..
After it was through, Davis left the house and
shortly after returned, and went up stairs to the
chamber usually occupied by Mrs, Van Wagner
and her husband. One Of Davis's children says
he heard his aunt exclaim, "Thomas, will you
hear me!" Soon afterwards the prisoner came
down stairs, washed his hands, and went to the
clubhouse While he was absent another of his
children went into Mrs. Van Wagner's apart
ment and found her lying on the floor, weltering
in her blood, and her throat cut from ear to
ear. The child screamed and ran out of the
house to alarm the neighbors. Mr.. Barker, who
resides in the vicinity, led by the cries of the boy,
entered the house, and perceving at once O.
nature of the bloody deed, Immediately procured
the services of officer Tapeton and Coroner
Pratt, with whom he returned. While they were
examining the body, Davis entered the room be-
low, smoking cigar and appearing perfectly
composed After examining Tito the crcum-
stances as far as he was able, the coroner deemed
it his duty to cause the arrest of Davis, and he
was accordingly conveyed to the lookup. He
made no resistance, and, declaring his entire in
noceDce of the act, asked why he should murder
his sister, who had been 80 kind to his children :!
The coroner then summC led jury, and after a
short consultation, the pr oner was ordered to
be committed, and further examination was
postponed until Wednesday afternoon next, at
2 o'clock. Last evening, We went TO the scene of
the tragedy, and never did we behold more
gastly spectacle. The victim, young woman,
scarcely twenty -four years old her features pre-
senting no little appearance Of personal beauty,
lay there, with her head nearly severed from her
body, and the wound presenting an appearance
as if the fend, her murderer, had actually en-
deavored to pull the windpipe from her throat.
There was also a slight cut upon her chin. DR..
Aver was in the act of sewing up the wouaG:
when we entered 1t is stated that the accused
has been in the habit of abusing the unfortunate
woman, and, on one occasion, knocked her down
in the presence of her husband, towards whom
he has occasionally manifested no little hostility.
He objected to his sister marrying him, and it is
presumed the i'll feeling was accasoned from
this cause. On the shirt wrstbqnd of the pris-
oner one or two spots of blood were found, af
ter his arrest. On the stairs leading from the
scene of the murder to the place where he
washed his hands, spots of blood were also de-
tected, and the wall in one place presented the
appearance of having been touched by bloody
fingers. A bloody razor was found near the
body. The deceased had been married but p
few months, and her husband is relf7nented a
worthy and industrious young man. There y
the greatest excitement pervading that part o
the city where the tragedy occurred. From a.
the particulars have learned, and we trust, for
the prisoners sake, they are exaggerated, this
seems to have been the bloodiest and most cold
hearted murder that has occurred in Boston for
a number of years.