Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1858-10-06

EXECUTION OF AN Ex.MINIsrER-AFFEcrING SCENE
AT THE GALLows.-It has been briefly stated that
Preston S. Turley, formerly minister Of the Cos
pei, was executed al Charleston Kanawha county
Va on the l7th instant for the murder of his wife.
There about 900 persons present at the exc
cution The Star gives the following account Of the
execution
The prisoner very strenuous in the wish that
his aged father and mother and his own three little
girls who had come to town the evening before
should go 10 the gallows and witness his execution
although it their intention to return early in the
morning. This was so far overruled by friends,
that his two Oldest girls, who were old enough to
have the scene impressed upon them through life,
remained al Mr.. Kelley's. Having bid his fellow
prisoners farewell, precisely at 10 O'clock he was
led out Of his CELL when he kissed his children, and
took an affectionate farewell Of them, excaiming,
cit is hard to bear, that cannot have my last wish
gratitied" audng to his wish to have his children
go to the gallows
At five minutes past ten he ent cred the omnibus,
surrounded by a volunteer guard, Charleston being
without any regularly organized military company.
The prisoner, in passing from the Jail the Ferry,
bowed TO many of his former friends, and appeared
to be the calmest individual in the company.
At 80 minutes past TO- the prisoner ascended the
panied by the sheriff and the clergy. He addressed
the crowd in a short speech, in which he charged
his misfOrtunes the Of liquor and said many who
were there present had heard him preach and he
hoped they would take heed to this his last sermon.
He said he freely forgave all who had offended him,
and he hoped the same clemency would be extended
to him. He said he had made confession, in which
he had told all Of his sins he could recoect; some
he could not recolect so many had been commit.
ted under the influence of liquor. We do not pre-.
tend to give his precise words but only brief
nopss. He spoke about three fourths Of an hour.
After speaking, ne requested that Jerusalem my
happy home," might be sung; he said that many
present had sung it with him more happy coca.
s;ons. He started the tune himself While singing,
he called his aged father on the platform, threw
himself upon his neck, interrupted his singing only
long enough to say Farewell" and then continued
to take the lead. His mother, with his little 6augh
ter came forward at his request and he shook hands
with her. and he took his little in his arms kiss
ed it, and all without seeming to be interrupted
So, also, with brother They all left the ground
with some twenty others. Among them two of the
brothers Of his murdered wife, He had a smile on
his face most of the time. There were but few dry
eyes on the ground during this scene.
When they ceased singing, he turned about ano
said SHERIFF am ready to die" He then took his
station upon the platform, and when the fatal rope
fixed about his neck, the fortitude of his spirit
did not seem to falter, although his body quaied
slight shudder ran through his frame. He con
tnued to make appeals to the Almighty, in ferven
andexcited manner Just the Sheriff descended th
steps, he exclaimed, "Cut the rope quick, so that
may 60 to Jesus" He then said Lord Jesus re
ceve my spirt!" and repeated it as far as 4" Lort
Je-" when precisely at IL o'clock Sheriff Slacl
touched the spring. he dropped, and the spirit O
Preston S. Turey passed to the tribunal ofan often
ded but forgiving Deity. He died with scarcely
struggle.
The body was allowed to hang forty minutes
when it was taken down, put in a neat coffin, ant
conveyed to his father s residence. He was burie
| on Saturday. We understand there were abou
800 persons present at the funeral and that it wa
very affecting scene. Turley was 36 years Of age