The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-11-17
PRICE ONE CENT.
LOCAL MATTERS.

| ing OF WIN. ID. TOTTY, and, as usual on sucn
| them colored, assembled about the city jail to
get a glimpse of the prisoner, as he passed
from his cell to the place of execution. Totty
was apparently about twenty-five years OF
age, quite handsome in appearance, and very
| amlaoe in disposition, never having been
known to engage in an alteration of any kind
until about the time Of the murder. About
| four years ago, he married one Of the daugh-
ters Of VIM. THoM an old citizen, and soon
after became coauected with the Night Watch
OF Richmond, which position he filled with
entire satisfaction until October, 1852 when
| ne became addicted TO intemperance, and re-
| signed his place From that period until about
the lst of July last, Totty kept a small groce-
ry at the corner OF Grace and Monroe streets.
| III Henrico county, where his wife, her father
and her sister resided, and where he commit
ted the deed which cost him his life. s @as
THE MURDER. I'll F=syze-.
On the morning of the 18th Of July, Torty
| visited the residence of his fathsr-in- law, and
| repairing to the kitchen, found Catherine j.
Thom, Mrs. Adams, ara a young man in the
| act OF eating breakfast. He drew up chair
near to where Miss Thorn was sitting, and
| was asked 10 participate in the meal but de-
clined. He then asked her whether she would
go away with him. She declined to do so.--
With this, he drew two pistols, placed them
on the table, and again demanded to know if
| she would leave with him. On her again de-
| Ginning, he told her to take one of the pistols
| and shoot him, and that he would shoot her
| with the other. Sapposing him to be joking,
|
| on seeing him pick up the weapons and aim
| one at her, she attempted TO seize It, Just at
| that instant the pistol exploded, the ball ell
| terIng her stomach about three inches above
| the navel, and passing eDt tlrely through her
| body, lodged in the muscles of her back near
the spinal column, producing death that
| night.
ESCAPE OF ToTTY
| Immediately after The shooting Totty fled
the scene OF blood, and retiring To an old field
a short distance west Of the city, remained
| there several hours. During that evening a nd
night, and the entire OF next day, the police of
1 the city were in search Of him. and telegraphic
messages were dispatched along the wires, to
| ensure his capture. The Executive, too, Of
tered reward for his apprehension, and ahxi-
ETY. was felt that ne would escape.
| ARREST OF ToTTY,
On the morning of the 20th, officer Morris
| was informed that Totty was at the Mount
| vernon Hotel, and fading him there in con-
! versation with a brother, took him into Gus
| tody, and deprived him of the weapons In his
possession. Totty reques ted that ne IN ght bs
| taken 10 the grave of his victim, and the
quest being grant ted he shed tears over the las .
| resting place of the unfortunate Woman-
| When taken to his cell, he begged the officers
| To XIII him. declaring that be could never sur
| vive trial. That day he was examined be-
| fore the Mayor. and remaaded for further ex-
| animation. TRIAL
AT the August term OF udge Lyons Court
| the prisoner was put upon his trial, aud after
hearing The witnesses and argument OF coun-
| sci, he was found guilty of murder in the first
| degree. During the trial the unfortunate man
| preserved entire caimness, and when the ver-
| oict was rendered seemed 10 be in no wise af
1 fcted. NEW TRIAL REFUSED
On the Sth OF Septembe Il new trial was
| asked for aud argued before ] Jndge Lyons and
| refused. He vast hen sentenced to be hung on
The 3D. of November. From this decision, an
| appeal was taken to lhe Court of Appeals,
praying sup-rcedeas to judgment or the
| Hastings Court. On the i6tn OF October the
| Court unanimously refused 10 in terfere with
| the judgment OF the Court below.
| RKsPITRs.
| On the 3lst of October, three days before
| the appointed time of execution, Gov Letch-
| er, at the solicitation OF Rev. L. j Boggs the
| spiritual adviser OF Totty, granted reprieye,
| extending the day of execution TO the 9lh OF
| November. From about this lime, Totty be
| came earnestly engaged on the subject of re.
| ligion, and devoted the greater portion of his
| time to singing and praying, and readiug the
Bible. As the appointed day approached, he
| professed q resignation TO his fate, and de-
| clared himself ready to meet the great Judge
| above.
| respited the condemned MAN until the 10Th
| inst, giving assurance tat he could contin ue
4 his clemency no longer.
From the Sth inst, to the very hour OF exc
| cution yesterday, Gov. Letcher was petitioled
| and lmplored - pardon the doomed man, and
| TO commute his punishment 10 i'm prisonmeGt
for lIfei but seeing 10 good reason for interior
| ing with the Judgmen: OF the Jury, and beliey-
| ing that ii w,.s important To De Just as we'll
| as merciful, he refused to stay any longer the
execution OF the judgment of the Court
| THE PRISONER.
| at an early hour yesterday morning the
/ doomed man was visited in mis- cell by has
/ STEP mot ther, brothers and friends, with all Of
| whom he conversed freely and kindly. He
expressed himself en- iireiy resigned to his fate,
| believed that the hand OF God was in it, and
thought that he had thus beeu situated lnat he
| might be brought 10 knowledge OF the tru tn
| as 1t was in Jesus. To his minister he con .
fessed the crime and the business of his SEN
| tence. He sald he remembered committing the
deed, but every thing connect ted with il ap-
| peared as dream TO him. He had no distinct
| recoliec ion of the emotions of his heart at the
| time OF the murder, and could not say whal
| prompted him to the crime. He exhorted his
| brothers 10 turn from the error of their ways
| to seek the Lord while he might be found and
to meet him in Heaven. To the use of arden
| spirits he attributed all his trou bies, and
| begged those around him 10 touch ii 10 more
forever. After conversing for some time, he
| asked his mother and brothers TO join HIM N
| prayer, and all kneeiing, he offered up a mos
| fervent and heart-touching appeal to The
| Throne of Grace in their b-half He begged
| that they should not grieve for him. and tho gh
his eyes were ubd ued with Tears at the thought
| OF final parting, he assured them that he
| should soon be at res in the bosom of his God
About 10 O'Clock the mother and brothers
| took leave of the condemned man, and the
scene that ensued was heart-rending Indeed
| the screams OF the mother at parting, and the
| tears and sobs OF the brothers were enough to
have unneryed any other man than William
| ID. ToLty.
| SACRAMENT AND BAPTISM
| Rev. I. j. Boggs, attended by Rev % S
| Doggett, administered the sacrament TO the
prisoner, and baptized him. They remained
| with him III religious devotion unt Ill IL o'clock
| when, AZ his request, he was left alcne 10
| mediate and write.
GRATITUDE OF THE PRISONER.
| Among the letters which the condemned
| man penned, We have been allowed TO COPY
fhA T,lIg& ttaN 80 -
geant OF the city, and the last TO the Jailor and
Li, assistants. They are as follows:
"NR. THos U. U.rUDLEY- Dear Sir am aware
| that have but O few hours t. live, but | cannot
forbesr TO take this method of returning 10, warm
thanks TO you Tor your uniform Kindness To me
done. consistent wIta prison regulalions. for the
comfort OF o"tn ms oods ana mad. you have gen
& and sGa I
~ "WM. DASIIL forrY."
"To MEssR.. F. w. HALL. A. ]. HALL AMI
Jso. Il. Baooks-Dsar Sirs feel 1t TO Oe a duty
well as pie tsure, % express to you my thanss
for the Kindness anu atte you have bestowed
upon me. hops 0od will reward You Bat al
Jour hearts to COD. Doa't Put it on. God wi
oess yea II ,oa cal uson hun Msy you ali os
| Yours, sincerely, WM. DANIEL rorrY."
| PREPARATIONS
| For TWO weeks past The prisoner has beer
allowed private room in The upper part u
the jal, during the day time resumfns hi.
cell at night. Sinee his profession OF religion
he has talked with aud pray ed for his fellow
| prisoners. on all occasions, and some OF then
have been SO affected by his feryenI appeals IL
| their behalf. that they have frequently knei
| in prayer with him, and prom sed To reform
their lives. Between the hours OF Ii aud 1,
O'Clock yesterday, the newspaper reporters
| as well as the physicians who were ~ exam
inc the body after the exec cution, were invites
into the prison, to await the hour Of execu.
| uon.