Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-06-09
tVroo the 81 Louis Republican, June 8
The Market Street Tsssedv.


Death of Mr.. Caariess-Description of his
Wounds
After nearly twenty.four hours Of the in
tensest, and most excruciating agony ,Mr. Jo-
seph Charles expired at his residence at %
minutes to o'clock, Saturday morning, in
the presence Of bis family aud several near
friends. He had preserved his conscious
ness through the severe trial. until within .
short time previous to his demise, and an
nounced himself ready to 60 on the Oft
Travelled, but painless journey to which he
had been so abruptly called. Before he
died he freely forgave the unhappy man by
whose hands he fell, at the came time sta
ting that his conduct towards Thornton had
never been actuated by the least feeling Of
malice and that he was entirely conscien-
tious in whatever he had said or thought
about him.
The news Of the death Of Mr.. Charles
produced very different effect upon the
community than did the intelligence Of his
assassination on the previous day. The ex
traordinarv passion which seemed to pre-
vail every wi here Friday, had subsided into
feeling more Of gloom and melancholy
than of wildness and Indignation and al
though many regretful expressions were
still heard that expeditions justice had not
been visited upon the murderer, there could
hardly be said to exist any disposition 10
re enact the occurrences Of the day before
Shortly after Mr. C.s death, DR.. Boislin.
ierre. County Coroner, was apprised of the
fact, and Constable McVicker was notified
to summon jury Of inquest. The follow
ing panel, embracing six intelligent jurors
was obtained: Joseph C. Barlow, Oliver
Quinette, Abram Meyer, w. w. Greene,
Thomas d. Ford and David Nicholson.
The examination of witnesses was conduct
ed in the front psrlor OF the residenc of de-
ceased, the body lying in the rear parlor.
At the request Of DIR. BoIsLINIERE, post
norton examination of the body was made
by DR.. b. J. ALLEN and Prof. Jos. n. Nc
lowell. This investigation revealed that
the deceased had suffere d seven mortal
wounds from two pestol balls four perforgat
ing wounds Of the small intestines, causing
extravasationiof the contents and inflamma-
ton necessarily fatal these were from the
ball entering the left side-and three NOR
tai wounds from the second ball, penetrat-
iug,the liver, stomarch and lungs. The first
ball entered the abdomen three inches to
the left and one inch and half below the
navel, A hole in the flap Of the panta-
looms correspondent to this wound. This
ball passed downward and inward, perforat-
ing the omentum and small intestines in
four places. After penetrating the small
intestines it passed through the sigmoid
iexure of the colon and penetrated the
fleshy portion of the body. The second
wound examined was nine inches to the
right and four inches above the horizonta
line of the navel. A hole in the vest and
also in the coat corresponded with this
wound. The ball passed in between the
eighth and ninth ribs on the right side, and
traversing the right lobe of the liver, gall
bladder, stomach and diaphragm, passing
through the lower lobe of the left lung and
passing out of the cavity of the chest
between the eighth and ninth ibis, was
found EMBEDDED in the muscular substance Of
the left side. The heart and lungs were
found to be in healthy condition, except
the above mentioned wound of ,he left
lung. Both holes In the clothing were round
as if the balls had entered there Both
wounds we're exactly alike and both round.
that on the right side being little larger
than the other. probably owing to thdgrea-
ter density Of clothing forced into the
wound.