Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-11-17
The Execusisn Of J w. Thornton NJ q
- Louis.

Our readers will remember an account of the
murder, last summer, Of Mr. Joseph Charless
one Of the principal citizens of st. Louis, By J.
w. Thornton, an ex-bank clerk, who had been
several years before tried and acquitted, on q
charge Of robbing the bank in which be was
employed, and on whose trial Mr.. Charles had
testified against him. As announced BY tele
graph, the execution Of Thornton took place on
Friday last. On that day, the prisoner arose
from his couch early, and ut once began his
preparations to meet the fate that awaited him
He seemed more cheerfal and batter dispesed
than on the previous evening, and announced
that he had given up pevery yestige OF his desire
70 live. He did not even inquire If anything
had been heard from the Governor, and when
he was told that . dispatch had been received
from Jefferson City stating that no Executive
interference with the sentence need be expect
ed, he manifested no astonishment, disappoint-
menf, nor grief. He had been much comIorted
and sustained BY . letter from one of his sisters
in New fork, the perusal Of which appeared to
AFFORD him infinite satisfaction and delight
AT o'clock, the prisoner, who was in the act
Of smoking cigar to quiet his nerves, was
summoned at his cell by the officers, and re-
sponding with slacrity to the call. proceeded
With fatlei Sau o's I'd Feehm down stairs.
SIme little time was required in making D
p ;ssage to the scsffold By driving back tkose
s,ectato:s whose clIiosity MAS Greater than
their breeding. At eight inmates after three,
Thoi on, who was dressed In o dark sack coat,
buttoned up to the throat, and dark pants,
N tde b . appearai ce at the bottom of the stairs
lesding to the gallows. Here he disengaged
himself from the priests, and sprang nimbly mp
the steps, never faltering or showing the least
tremor. The two clsrgymen whom we have
named also ascended to the platform, accom-
panied by the officers. When Thornton was
seated, be spoke few words with cheerful
expression OF countensnce TO Father Reehan,
and ~ or11 ard ~.kI y>-a -
the crowd below him. He was not pale, but
rather seemed flushed. A vigorous movement
WIS observed in the muscles Of his jaws, OF cs
or twice, which appeared to say or mean ftNow
will be frm, and this was about all that
could be seen in his face as in any way inter
preting what Was going on in his bosom. Thorn
ton had previously stated that he would not
adninistcr to any morbid curiosity of the crowd
by making any speech to them, and had ex-
pressed desire that the execution should be
made as brief as possible. In accordance with
this wish there were no rites performed on the
gsllows, such ~ prayer or song, but almost
Immediately after the Marshals had ascendsd,
looked towards the olRcers, As if to notify then
Of his readiness. Thereupou officer Cunning
ham took from his pocket the death warrant,
which was lied with black ribbon aud seal d
with black wafer, and read It, 4
During the reading Of this document, Thorn.
ton stood srsct with his hands In his side coat
pockets, rocking gently 10 and fro on his feet.
AZ the couclusion, which was eleven minutes
aftsr three, he Was placed On small box over
the trap door, whore he stood apparently with
out the movsmsnt of . muscle or nerve, Until
the white cap was put over his head and face,
his arms pinlonsd toesthsr 1t the elbows With
csrd, spd the hangman's loop adjustsd about
his neck. During this time the priests were
engaged in silent prayer. At three o'clock
and lourteen minutes the spfjne Wns touchedI
the door fell heavily against the post6 support.
ing the scaGold, and Thornton desoondsd Ave-
feet with . sudden plunge, which broke he
neck. Kot nearly three minutes his body I'M.
dsrwent eonvulsions and contortfons hofrihle
TO look upon, In which one Of his hsndselutchsd
the platform. By which he seemed to raise him
sslf up moment and then drop.