The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-11-17
Rif!llmnnn Qispatrh.
THURSDAY MORNING. NOV 1,'Ils.s, r. ,rs,
Execution nj 81. Loui,,

Jas. w. Thornton, convicted a short time
ago Of the murder Of Joseph Charles. In
ST, Louis, was executed in the iaii-yard
there on Friday. The life of the mur.
derer was varied one, he having been, in
turn. lawyer, clerk, u. S. Marine. Deputy
Register of st, Louis. and, finally, Secretary
OF the Boatmen's Savings Institution, the rob.
berry OF which of several Thousand dollars. in
1884, led TO Thornton's being suspected as the
thief He was arrested and tried, but acq uit-
ted. Mr.. Charless was the principal witness
against him. For this Thorntoa swore TO
have revenge, and for months threatened tie
life of Mr.. Q. On the eth Of June last, Thorn
ton met him in the street, aud fired two balls
into his body, from the effects of which he
died. The following account of the execution
is from the Republican,
At eight minutes after three Thornton. who
was dressed in a dark saek-coa buttoned up
10 the throat, and dark pants made his ap-
pearance at the bottom of the stairs leading to
the gallows. Here he disensaged himself from
the priests, and sprang nimbiy up the steps,
never fatering or showing the least tremor
The two clergy men also ascended to the plat
| form, accompanied by Deputy Marshals Cum
ningham, Ewes and Linn. When Thornton
was seated he spoke few words, with cheer.
fui expression of countenance, to Father Fee
han, and then cast a cold and rather restless
lock AT the crowd below him.
lie was not pale but rather seemed flushed
A vigorous movement was observed in the
muscles OF his jaws, once or twice, which ap-
peared TO say or mean. Now will be firm ,,
and this was about all that could be seen in
his face as in any way interpreting what was
going on in his bosom. Thornton had pre-
viously stated that he would not administer to
any morbid curiosity of the crowd by making
any speech 10 them, and had expressed a de-
sire that the execution should be as brief as
| possible. In accordance with this wish, there
were no rites performed on the gallows, such
| rs prayer or song but almost Immediately at
| ter the Marshal had assembled, Thornton arose
| to his feet, advanced a step and looked towards
the officers il 10 notify the. of his readiness
| Thereupon officer Cunningham took from his
| pocket the death-warrant, which was tied with
| black ribbon and sealed with 4 black wafer,
| and read it.
| During the reading of the indictment,
| Thornton stood erect, with his hands in his
! side coat pockets, rocking gently TO and fro on
| his feet. At the conclusion, which was eiey-
| en- minutes after three, he was placed on a
| small box over the rapdoor, where he stood
| apparently without the movement of \ mus
! Gle or a nerve until the white cap was put
over his head and face, his arms pinioned
| togsther at the elbows with cord, and the
hangman's loop adjusted about his neck
| During this time The priests Were engaged in
silent prayer. -
AT three o'clnend fourteen minutes the
spring was ed, the door fell heavily
against the possssupporting the scafold, and
Thornton descended five feet with sudden
| plunge, which broke his neck. For nearly
three minutes his body underwent convul-
sions and dcontortions horrible to look upon,
| in which one OF his hands cluiched the plat
| form, by which he seemed to raise himself up
| a moment and then drop. Every muscle in
| his body quvered with tremor, and occasion =
| ally the limbs would writhe as though stirred
| with the most 1umuituous agitation. These
! spasms required al intervals of thirty or forty
! seconds became less and less severe, until
twenty minutes after three, when they ceased
| altogether.