The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-11-18
Execution af ST. Louis.

James W. Thornton, convicted short
time ago of the murder OF Joseph Charles,
IT. St. Louis, was executed in the jail-yard
there on Friday. The life of the murderer
was varied one, he had been, 10 turn, a
lawyer, clerk, U Marine, Deputy Register
of st. Louis, and, finally, Secretary of the
Boatmen's Savings Institution, the robbery
of which of several thousand dollars, in
1854, led to Thornton's being suspected as
the thief. He was arrested and tried, but
acquitted. MIR. Charles was the principal
witness against him. For this, Thornton
swors to have revenge, and for months
threatened the life of MIR. C. On the 18th of
June last, Thornton met him in the street
and fred two balls into his body, from
the effect of which be died. The following
account of the execution is from the Repub-
licau;
At eight minutes after three, Thornton,
who was dressed in dark sack-coat, but.
toned up to the throat, and dark pants, made
his appearance at the foot of the stairs lead
ing the gallows. Here he disengaged him
sell from the priests, and sprang nimbly up
the steps, never faltering or showing the
least tremor. The two clergymen also as
cended to the platform, accompanied by
Deputy Marshals Cunningham, Ives and
Linn. When Thornton was seated be spoke
few words, with cheerful expression of
countenance, to Father Feehan, and then
cast cold and rather restless look upon the
crowd below him.
He was not pale, but rather seemed flush.
ed. A vigorous movement was observed in
the muscles of his jaws, once or twice, which
appeared 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
minister to any morbidcuriosity of the crowd
by making any speech to them, and had ex.
pressed desire thar the execution should be
as brief as possible. In accordance with
this wish, there were no rights performed
on the gallows, such as prayer or song, but
almost Immediately after the Marshal had
assembled, Thornton arose to his feet, advan.
ced step and looked towards the officers
rs if to notify them Of his readiness. There
upon othcer Cunningham took from his peck
ct the dea tn warrant, which was tied with
black ribbon and sealed with black wa
fer and read it.
DarluS the teduluE oi Tie 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
eleven minutes after three, he was placed ON
small box over the trap-door, where he
stood apparently without the movement of
a muscle OF nerve, until the white cap was
put over his head and face, his arms pinioned
together at the elbow with cord, and the
hangman's loop adjusted about his neck
During this time the priests were engaged in
silent prayer.
At three o'clock and fourteen minutes, the
spring was touched, the door fell heavily
against the posts supporting the scaffold, and
Thornton descended five feet with sudden
plunge, which broke his neck. For nearly
three minutes his body underwent convul-
sions and contortions horrible to look upon,
in which one OF his hands clutched the plat
form,by which he seemed to raise himself up
moment and then drop. Every muscle in
bis body quivered with tremer, and occasion
ally the limbs would writhe as though stir
red with the most tumultuous agitation.
These spasms REQUIRED at intervals Of thirty
or forty seconds, became less and less severe,
until twenty minutes after three, when they
ceased altogether.