Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-06
By w. D. WALLACE.
EXECUTION VIRGINIA.


Preston s. Turley, who murdered his wife in
January last, IN Ksnawhs county, Va, by at
taching large stone to her body by a rome and
throwing her from n boat into a deep pool in
Coal river, was executed on the 9th ultime,
In accordance with the sentence pronounced by
Judge Summers on the 18th of June last. The
Republican gives full account of the event,
from which It appears that great interest in
the sonvtcts spiritual welfare was manifested
by the ministers and laymen of the several de-
nominations in Charleston 80 7'
At an early hour on Friday morning Sept
"a, Puriey arose, having apparently slept well
washed, shaved himself and moved about "a
though he was anxious for his time to arrive.
When his irons were taken off he bounded
nimbly up stairs to bid farewell to his fellow
prisoners. In the Jail yard be took leave Of
bis aged father and mother, and his three chill.
dren. He WAS then placed in a carriage drawn
by four horsss.--In- toe carriage were the sew
eral ministers, JailOr Kelly aud james Mills,
who has acted as guard at the jail for sew
ersl months. The carriage was surrounded
by guard Of forty-hVe men composed of some
OF the most respectable citizens Of the county,
who were summoned for that purpose Pre-
eeded by Sheriff Slack and Deputy III. Fry,
T., on horseback. the procession started for
the place OF execution. A bridge of boats had
been placed across the river, and a stream of
human beings poured over 1.-THE carriage and
The scaffold was erected in the rayine known
as "Perry Branch" and within few hundred
feet Of the public road. The situation of the
ground was a kind Of amphitheatre, and one
hundred thousand people might have witnessed
the scene -
The carriage arrived at the the place of
execution At thirty five minutes past ten
After various religious exercises, Turley adj
yaneed to the front of the scaffold, and ad-
dressed the assembled multitude for about an
hour with frmness and elOquence tsays the
Republiean) we have never seen surpassed, if
equalled-, The scene was a solemn one, and
quiet reigned throughout the vast assemblage,
only oroken oy the sobs of strong hearted men,
and the weeping Of kind women His
only confession on the galows was that he was
guilty OF the crime for which be was in a few
moments TO be executed, and that he deserved
his punishment. He said he did not fear death
his hardened heart had become softened-his
prayers had availed through the atonement-
he was prepared for the death that awaited
hlm. he was once a minister of religion. but
dissipation led him from the path Of duty
The love Of that damnsbls stuff strychnine
Whlskey, and the love of gain that ii produced
has brought me to this. He addressed some
Of his friends, whom he recognised in the
crowd, and urged upon them, in an eloquent
appeal, to hold fast to their religion He did
not know what hardened heart he had until
be pitched poor Susan, the companion of his
bosom, over the skiif into the river aud God only
knew the agony OF my soul at that moment"
be had no fear Of death-spdke calmly of it
said that death cures all diseases. Again urged
all to repentance, and earnestly appealed to
the ministers to work faithfully for the saliva
ton of man, and asked all Z" not to forget
Preston Turley, and what he says" He then
asked all 70 join him in singing two verses of
hymn. While singing these verses which be
dld In clear and distinct voice, a number Of
his friends came up to bid him farewell
Turley then knelt down and prayed for ssme
minutes in most feryent and eloquent man
ner-in fact, We believe no one who was there
ever heard a more impressive prayer than was
then made. His voice never fsItered, only
when be spoke Of his "gray headed father"
and when be said, sob, Lord, have mercy on
my three little children, who are more than
orphans"
At the conclusion of the prayer he asked all
10 unite with him in singing Jerusalem, my
happy home"
While singing this hymn his friends crowded
to the scafold and bade him farewell. His
tsther went up the steps 10 the top Of the plat
form and embraced him. His mother handed
him up his youngest child, which be tenderly
kissed, and bid his mother farewell also some
OF his nearest relatives Then turning to Sher-
i'll Slack, he said: "Mr. Slack, I am now
ready to die" He then placed himself under
the rope, which was placed around his neck.
While this was being done he remarked: "Mr,
Slack, draw it little tighter" He exclaimed
In impassioned tones, "Cut the rope, quick 1
want TO go to Jesus. Oh, Lord Jesus, receive
my spirit Oh, Lord Js-.' At this moment
the time being ten minutes Of twelve-the
Sheriff pulled the lever and Preston 5. Turley
was in eternity.
After hanging forty minutes the physicians
pronounced him dead, though he evidently
died a few minutes after he fell. The body
was taken down, placed in q neat coffin and
delivered to bis parents, who took it to their
residence on Coal river. The funeral services
services and burial took place on Saturday, at
tended by large number of his aequ aintances
and relatives. His age was thirty-six