Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-06-23

The KANAwMA MURDER- C0mciction OF Pres
ton S. Ttnley, Of Ctarleston, for the Murder et
his Wffs.-The Kanawha Republican,, by yes
terdays nails gives US the result of the trial of
Turley for the murder of his wife. He was con-
victed of murder in the first degree. The Re
publican says:
The prisoner heard the verdict with little APP
parent e,notion--though we thought there were
depicted in every lineament of his cOuntenance
the unmiStaknble evidences of the awful weight
of guilt and despair that rested upon his mind.
We saw him when he was first brought into
Court for arrangement. Faithful delineations of
his features before and after the trial, would be
pretty fair representations of Hope and Des'
pair.
The murder of which the prisoner has been
convicted was loathsome and unnatural one.
He had, without prOvocation, murdered wo-
man. and that woman his wife. and te mother
IF his children. She was of highls 1cspecta-
BILE family, and had sustained an ~ lemiShed
character up to the time of her deaf In all
the relations Oflile she was dutiful She had
the reputation of a consistent profess of reli-
pion. The husband has confessed that for nine
years she had not spoken an unkihd word to
him.
But the husband abandoned the path of rccti.
tude--hc lost his good character-he plunged
into the vices of dissipation, gambling, and as
sociated with had women. To all the aniable
and tender appeals, prompted by the undying
love of the devoted wife to reclaim nm, ne re.
turned unkindness, cruelty and partial deser-
ton. He sought to eutrap her in some indis-
erection, or departure from he conjugal fidelity,
that he might have cause for divorce. Her
virtues and integrity were proof against all the
arts of her wicked and abandoned husband. -
His virtuous wife was in the way OF the full in-
diligence OF the depraved desires and the ca
reer of vice and degradation, into which as a
whirlpool he lind entered. His wife must be TO-
moved out of the way at all huzards He re-
solved to ii by murder. In the silence and still
ness Of night lie entered her bed room -stran-
gled her while IN bed with their own children
and attempted to conceal the horrid deed, by
putting the body, with n large rock attached to
il, into a deep place in the river closely.
In the morning the cries of the children for
their mother gave notice to the neighbOrs of her
absence-and from his conduct to her, the SuS.
picion of murder was fastened upon her husband
by every one. The whole settlement WAS
aroused Turley was watched. The most dill
gent and persevering search for the body was
made 1t was found, where he had depositedii.
His partial confessions, aud his presentations
all attested by unimpeaehable witnesses, com
plete the history Of his awful crime.
When the bOdy was taken from the river, and
exposed with the heavy rock tied TO it, with all
the evidence of the murder to the crowd attend-
ing the inquest-the fact that the murderer
then in their possession, was not executed sum
inarily, shows the deep, law abiding spirit of
our people. They quietly handed him over to
the law, to be disposed Of by an impartial jury
Of his Deers Their decision has heer given.
The prisoner had fair trial He was de-
Tended by experienced, able, learned and adroit
counsel.