The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-06-22

! - WCAS AVS teItaul III lily COnSClcl1CS VI
England's interference in the war wouit
bring incalculable calamity on this, you,
free and happy country, without any pos
sible present profit or future compensation
st. Louis Cor respondenec.
SAINT LOUIS, June 7th, 1869.
Editor Times Within the past ten
days the people Of this good city hare been
more than usually agitated by events Of 4
local character which have absorbed the
public mind nearly to the exclusion Of I'll
things else. The first Of these, was . trial
before the court of Common Pleas Of this
county, in which the prominent parties
were an interesting young lady, slightly
past the age Of girlhood, but retaining the
bloom and beauty of youth, and bachelor
Of between fifty and sixty, who has the
merit or dcmerit of having possessions in
gold and silver-in Bank notes and stocks
in houses and lands with the etceteras
pertaining thereto, variously estimated in
amount, from one to three millions Of dol
lars. The action was brought against the
defendant for breach of marriage contract
and damages laid at 100000. OF courss
suit in which so much was involved pecu.
niarily, and the character Of which was ID
almost every respect so novel, could not BE-
passed over lightly or hurriedly. Eminent
council, in number, were employed on both
sides, and week was consumed in the ex-
animation Of witnesses, arguments involving
technicalities in law, contesting every inch
Of ground which in the slightest degree
seemed untenable, and at last occupying
two days or more, with the closing argu.
ments Of the lawyers. The lady proved
fully and conclusively the engagement, not
only by numerous implied acts of the de.
linquent swain, but by his own admissions
and assertions. The gentleman on the con.
trary, made the most strenuous efforts to
befog the jury and the public with mass
Of testimony designed to place stigma for
all time, upon the fame and character of the
lady, thereby endeavoring to justify his act
of desertion His unjust and ungenerous
efforts in this direction however, only recoil-
ed upon his own head, and the jury after no
very lengthy deliberation, returned into
court with verdict for the full amount Of
damages claimed, 100000.
As to the justice of this large verdict.
there are many opinions; that the lady was
entitled to large damages, seems to have
been quite generally conceded, but the
amount awarded her by the jury, is regard
cd by many rs excessive--and the opinion
is not uncommon that obstructions and de-
lays will intervene so that she will probably
never realize dollar of it, whereas if the
award had been one third or even one half
the present amount, the gentleman would
have paid over and considered himself for
tunate in thus closing up vexatious and
troublesome affair.
Scarcely had the news Of the virdict Of
the jury in the case of Carstang rs. Shaw.
s--..a..=s .--i a.--4--- s.AA.y
morning last, until the news Of another
event Of far more fearful character, be-
came rife in our streets. There is no sound
perhaps, which is so startling and appalling
to the human ear, as that of murder! This
cry was sounded in our ears from corner to
corner and from street to street on last
Friday, and as the news spread and became
general, and as the people became aware
that one Of the oldest and best of our citi.
zens had been ruthlessly and harbarously
shot down in cold blood and without provo
cation, while walking on public street from
his residence to his place Of business, the
excitement became intense, until from
mouth to mouth and from ear to ear, rang
the fearful cry of vengeance upon the foul
murderer! The murdered man was Josepis
Charless, Esq, than whom no man can be
found in st. Louis, commanding u more
universal respect and admiration for all the
qualities public and social, which constitute
the valuable and public-spirited citizen, the
kind and hospitable nsighbor and friend.
the affectionate and indulgent husband and
father and above all, the generous, benevo-
lent, warm-hearted and consistent christian
gentleman. The assassin was man by the
name of Joseph w. Thornton, who was
some few years ago, Secretary and principal
book keeper in the Boatmen's Savings In
stitution. About three years ago this Insti.
tuition was mysteriously robbed Of some
$4,000. Some circumstances which cams
to the knowledge of the officers of the In
stitution, tended to create suspicion in
their minds that the funds were abstracted
by Thornton, but there was not sufficient
proof to warrant his arrest, though he was
soon discharged from his post. Something
like year after the abstraction Of the money
from the Boatmen's Institution, Mr. Thorn.
ton caused to be presented at the counter Of
the Bank of the State Of Missouri, for re-
dcmption, some $1,000 in notes Of that
Bank which were much nutilatcd and de-
faced Mr.. Charless who was at that time
President of the Bank, had his attention
called to these notes, and as they seemed to
have the appearance Of having been buried
in the ground, he communicated the fact to
the officers Of the Institution which had
been robbed. Renewed suspicion rested
upon Thornton, and he was arrested and
tried for the embezzlement MIR. Chayless
appeared in court and gave testimony a.
was of course his duty to do, The evidences
was, however, not sufficient to convict and
the man was acquitted, though the suspi-
zion xv.s pover akated cipra than hA han