The southern press., 1851-11-01
From the Boston Daily Times.
Tho Late Murder In Boston.


From the Boston Daily Times.
Tho Late Murder In Boston.
| 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 DIR. Parkman. 1t is the murder of u
sister-a young and beautiful married woman
by her own brother who returned from Callfor-
MIA in May last. The dreadful act as we learn,
Is attended by the most nhuman atrocities; but
we sincerely trust that the reports are much ex-
aggerated. We give them as we were enabled TO
ascertain them at a 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 his
sister, Mrs. 4. A. Van Wagner, wife OF Mr..
James ID. l.. Van Wagner, of Poughkeepsie,
New York, who is at present engaged on board
the towboat Lion. On his return from Califor-
mia, Davis was employed as a rigger 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 meal.
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. Que 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 perceiving at once the
nature of the bloody deed, Immediately procured
the services of officer Tapleton 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 into the circum.
stances MS 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.
nocence of the act, asked why he should murder
his sister, who had been SO kind to his children
The coroner then summoned jury, and after q
short consultation, the prisoner was ordered to
be committed, and a further examination was
postponed until Wednesday afternoon next, al
2 o'clock. Last evening, we went TO the scene OF
the tragedy and never did we behold n more
easily spectacle The victim, a 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 bel
body, and the wound presenting an appearance
as if the iend her murderer, had actually en-
deavored to pull the windpipe from her throat
There was also slight cut upon her chin. DIR
Aver was in the act of sewing up the wound
when we entered. II is stated that the accused
has been in the habit of abusing the unfortunate
woman, and, on one occasion, knocked her dowr
in the presence Of her husband, towards whom
he has occasionally manifested no little hostility
He objected to his sister marrying him, and it il
presumed the i'll feeling was occasioned from
this cause On the shirt wristband of the pris
oner one OF two spots of blood were found. af
ter his arrest. On the stairs leading from thu
scene ofsthe murder to the place where h'
washed his hands, spots of blood were also de
tected, and the wall in one place presented tn,
appearance Of having been touched by blood,
, fingers. A bloody razor was found near thu
body The deceased had been married but
few months, and her husband is represented a
a worthy and industrious young man. There !
the greatest excitement pervadng that part o
= the city where the tragedy occurred. From al
the particulars we have learned, and we trust, fo
the prisoners sake, they are exaggerated, thi
seems to have been the bloodiest and most cold
. hearted murder that has occurred in Boston 70
a number Of years.