Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-09-29
From the Republican of the 22nd.
Trial of Thornton for the Murder of Char
less Its Close--Verdict of Guilty.

This case was terminated yesterday in
the Criminal Court, Our readers will re-
member the shock it created upon the pub
lie mind, when, from mouth TO mouth, the
mopent after the occurrence had takep
place, it was announced that JosEPH CHAR
LESS, one of cur Oldest and mos. esteemed
citizens, had fallen BY the hand of violence.
1t ran like q thrill through the heart of the
whole community, and its pulsations were
manifest in the gathering together Of indig-
nant and excited citizens who would have
executed summary vengeance upon the man
who had thus recklessly assassinated well
known and inoTensiye citizen. 1t is not
our purpose now TO refer to the history OF
that period, A few months only have pass
ed and the reCollections are fresh TO the
memory Of every one; the wild passion Of
the hour, born at the moment and truly
baptised in blood, passed away, and the
majesty of the law has been vindicated in
the verdict of the jury yesterday, which
found Thornton guilty Of murder and moth
ing remains now but the execution of that
law whose violation is marked by the pen
atty of death. So far, then, when We take
retrospect OF the past, it is well that the
turbulent passions Of an outraged conmu.
nifty subsided as they did, for, while our
city has not suffered by apy act which at
taches to scenes of public violence, in dis.
regard Of law, the law itself mas been vim
dicated, and thai, too, in calm manner,
without excitement, before one of the judic-
ial tribunals of the country, the ends of JUS
tice have been met, in the conviction Of the
accused, and the execution of the judgment
Of the law is sure TO follow.
We have given the proceedings Of the
Court as they tIanspirsd during the two
first days Of the trial. The proceedings
yesterday were altogether unimportant. 1t
is enough TO say that the Counsel for the
defense, Mr.. w. H. Lakeland and Col Da.
Wis, who were called suddenly into the case
without preparation, discharged their duty
earnestly and ably. The prosecution was
entirely divested of any malignant feeling
while firm, it was tempered with modera-
ton. The speeches were short, but cover
ed all the law and the facts elected in the
case.
AT the conclusion of tho arguments, the
Court gave to the jury the following in
structions:
The defendant is indicted for murder in
the first degree. in the wilful, deliberate,
premeditsted and malicious killing of Jo-
seph Charless.
by "wiful' is meant intentional, not ac-
cidsntal killing. BY deliberate" i, meant
not done in heat Of blood, caused by law
full provocation; and the Court instructs the
jury that there is no evidence of lawful
provooa,ion in the case, which can effect
the quality Of the act of homicide.
"By ''premedi,ated" is meant thought Of
belore-habd, any length of time, however
short; and by malicious" is mean, that
quality of act which indicates a heart re-
gardess Of social duty, and fatally ben. on
mischief.
II the jury believe, from the evidence,
that that the defendant, in ST. Louis county,
and previous 10 the finding Of this indict-
men', did 'oil'aly, deliberately, premeditately
and n'alic'oGsiy shoot and kill Joseph Char
less, as charged in the Indictment, you will
find him guilty of murder in the first de.
gree.
Ii you find the defendant guilty Of mur-
der in the first degree, you will simply SO
state in your verdict.
The law presulnes every man sane and
in the enjoyment and exercise Of the Ordi-
nary reasoning faculties and intellect, un.
til The contrary is established"
With these instructions, the jury retired
oha aOout AIoiI AIOut IttuTneu WIFI o
verdict of "murder in the first degree"
The prisoner exhibited no particular emo
tion on the rendition of this verdict. His
demeanor and appearance were marked by
the same imperturbable manner tha, has
him not lony during the whole
trial. but ever since the commission of the
dreadful act. There were no manifestations
Of applause in the crowd, and, We might
say TO some extent, excited, auditory; but
it seemed as if relief wa, gwen by the YER
iict, and men turned their steps from the
Court House, convinced that, however it
nay have failed in other cases, to this ex-
snt, at least; justice had been satisfied.
Nothing now remains to be done but 10
pronounce the death penalty, which the
Court will do, it is presumed, in reasena-
Die time.
REmARKABLE LoNcEvIrY.-A horse