The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-09
THE MURDER IN ST LOTTIS

The murder of Joseph Charles, of st. Lolis, ap.
pears to be one of the most atrocious ever perpe-
trated in this country. The deceased was a gem
tleman of estimable character, who had given NOR
tai offence to Joseph w. Thornton, his assassin by
testifying to his prejudice when trial for rob-
bing the Boatman's Savings Institution, of which
he was book-keeper at one time, of $40, 600 The
nature of Mr.. Charess testimony is thus given in
the Democrat:
On the night of the 5th April, 1855, over four
years ago, the safe of the Boatman's Savings In
stituon was robbed of between SIS 900 and 81 900
in paper money and gold. Joseph W. Thornton
kept the books of the Institution. In the safe in
which his books nightly placed. were also de.
posted the keys of the money safe. The robber had
regularly opened the locks by proper kew Thorn
ton was then salaried at 81 500 per annum Soon
afterwards, his connection with the bank termina-
ted
He was subsequently accused arrested held to
bail! and indicted for the robbery. A long period
OF time was, however, permitted to elapse, before
his arrest was resolved upon. Suspicion had early
attached to him, but matters were shrewdly kent
quiet ana evidence was sought for. On the DIST of
May, 1888, he was put upon trial in the Circuit
Court for the larceny from the safe. The case con-
tinued through Saturday, when a verdict of ac-
quttal was, after brief deliberation, returned by
the jury.
The evidence in defence consisted Of testimony TO
the good character of the accused. That for the
State showed circumstances rather strongly suggest
ing the suspicion of his guilt but which alone would
scarcely have justified his conviction. After Thorn
ton left the Institution he commenced making de-
posts in the State Bank of Missouri of from Sl20
to $40 EACH and in all amounting to about nine
teen thousand dollars. To these deposits Joseph
Charless President of the Bank was a witness His
testimony for the prosecution was to the purport
that in each deposit was much stained dirty and
dilapdatGd bill of $50 800, appearing as if it
had been buried in the EARTH On one occasion
Thornton presented a bunch of bills very much
stained very dirty and stuck together so that some
could not be separated-n all worth some 81 O7O.
He said he had them from boatman who had acci-
dentally found them under stump of a tree at
which be was trying to make fast cable These
bills were declined at the Bank, for the assigned
reason that they ought to be advertised in order
that the loser might recover them. 1t is supposed
that because Mr.. Charles gave the testimony he did
in the above case, Thornton took this method of
revenge.
Mr.. Charles had just left his residence which is
situated on the corner of Fifth street and Walnut
and was proceeding down Market, towards his store
| on Main street, when he was met by Mr.. Thornton
on the south side OF the street. between Third and
Fourth. Thornton, it is said was accompanied by
another man, who has escaped. Stepping up to
Mr.. Charles, Thornton addressed him in these
words:
against my character"
Simultaneous with the utterance of the above
Thornton drew pistol and fired the contents of
one barrel into Mr. Charless' abdomen which felled
him to the ground. As he attempted to rise,
| Thornton discharged another barrel, the ball of
which took effect in the left side, passing through
| the body and out on the right side posteriory.-
Mr. Charles again fell, but sprang up and reeled
| into the store Immediately in front of which the
murder was committed, and which is occupied by
Mr.. j. :. Thompson lace and trimming estab-
lishment.
Having thus consummated his murderous pur-
pose, the assassin cOov replaced the revolver in his
pocket, and began deliberately to resume his morn
ing stroll! Several gentlemen, among them were
Mr.. Thomas Andrews, Capt. Morrison, of steamer)
| and Mr.. BenOit, keeper of the Leviathan Saloon,
ran to the spot, seized Thornton and demanded his
| pistol. lie struggled against them, and continued
his resistance until the speedy arrival Of A. Mesner
superintendent of the Market street bus line, to
whom he at once yielded himself. and surrendered
the pistol, and promised to 90 with him to the po-
lice office. crowd was then rapidly gathering,
from whom the surrender was evidently the only
| course OF safety. The prisoner placed bis arm in
Mesner's, and the two preceded the crowd up Mar
ket and Fourth streets, the east side of the lat
| ter. Policeman Bohannan was at that time passing
up Fourth street on the west side.
Perceiviug the crowd he crossed over and nqulr-
| ed of Mesner and Thornton what was the NATTER
Thornton noticed the ''star," asked If he were
officer and when apprised that he was said 81 have
| lust shot a man. | give myself up to you; only
| keep the crowd off" Bohannan then took him in
custody, and the three proceeded down Chesnut
! street to the Police office The crowd formidably
increased, and so eagerly rushed forward that the
| prisoner became alarmed, and suggested his fears
|
shaPs office, and detained until the crowd had re-
! tired when he was taken, in charge of Captain
Kick and others, along Chestnut, Second and Wal
nut streets, to the office of Justice Herckenrath-
He repeated that he had shot a man, and added
that he did not know If he was dead. The reoui-
site affidavit was made by Capt. Kick and the pris
0ner was then conducted through the alley into
Spruce street, and thence TO Sixth street and the
Jail. This circuitOus course enabled the officers to
elude the embarrassing presence of the increasing
crowds.
1t was with the utmost difficulty that the citizens
could be restrained from lynching the murderer on
the spot The military were called out by the au-
thorlhes, and somewhat reluctantly obeyed, and all
danger Of an outbreak is at an end
! The Democrat observes that the system of ndis
criminate reprieve and pardon which the Executive
of this State has adopted may be held accountable
IN no remote degree for the shocking deed OF yes,
terday. The death penalty is virtually abolished
in this State Sentence of death is invariably com
muted into Imprisonment; and for wlIiul muIueI !tI
| there is adequate punishment except capisal ZAP s
punishment. We forbear commenting luTtuer loE
the present on this gloomytopc, but we wiz LeihaIh
that the general cry yesterday was, that the laws
as they are administered fail to protect me-
Fanny Fern SAYS she once had a narrow escape
from being a minister's wife, and tells how she
wonld have acted in such a case. An exchange, in
commenting on the matter, says that If she had a
narrower escape than the minister, then it was fear
full to contemplate, indeed!