Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-11-22
EXECUTION OF WIN. d. TorTY,

William ID. Totty WIS executed in /. valley .
short distance west Of Richmond. for The mur-
der Of has sister-in-law. Catharia- J. TAon. ON
the 18th Of July last lie went 10 the hou.s Of
her father aud shot her while sitting a, dinner.
becsuse she refused. after repeated solis;,..,cn.
70 eloYe with him The DisPafcA gives the FOL
lowing account Of the closing scene Of the ,x.
ecuhon:
The gallows was situated in the valley =
short distance northwest of viotor's old mill
and was constructec IN the most approved nan
ner Of trap and fall" When the procession
reached The place Of execution. hundreds Of per-
sons OF all rclor- had assembled Around the
spot, while the ball -sides 10 the west and north
weTc literally crowd with spectators anxious
10 witaess the launching Of a human soul from
time into eternity.
W ben the wagon halted within thirty Eset Of
the fatal drop. and Sergeant BRAY announced
his readiness TO proceed with his duty, The prs.
oner' looking pleasantly around him. jumped out
OF the vehicle, and passway having been clear
ed by the soldiers. walked hIrriediy 10 the gal
lows ran lightly up the steps, and taking stand
upon the platform, quietly surveyed the crowd
the familiar old hills. and che Inviting .ceoe.
Wheh 10 him were SOON % Be forever shut frum
view. Once OF twice We thoaghi We sAw a shssle
ni sadness pass over has face As he looked una,
the eross beam, the ROPE. mud the trap that weru
10 end be existence. but they we're sa-sa dspelI-
sd' and tbs same eoRfdRAi sniie wAs restored
Tho detail Of thu Public Guard th.n Eyrp,ed
around the sallows 90 keep back tho crowd
Sergcant Dudley, ~ -ooa as Circumstance,
S"uid allow, assembled the platform 90 where
the prisoner was standing. aud after reading
" Nun tt sentence 81 the Court for his execu.
uon' told hun ;he duty he had To perform was
Ner{ painful one and shaking him by the hand
said TO him. May the Lord have mercy on vour
soul Toiiy at once grs-ped the hand OF tb,
Sergeant aud giving i, cordial shake. ,hani,-l
h:m Tor has kindness, and begged him 70 meet
him in Heaven.
The condemned man made no remarks upon
the soAao!d, but at his request the Rev. Mr..
Beggs admonished all his friends 20 beware Of
toe vice Of drunkenness lie was himself un.
der the influence Of liquor when he committed
the murder.
Az % minutes to l o'clock Tailor Hall pro
eeeded TO pinIon the prisoners hands behind
nun ana To tie h'p feet together, he being on the
drop lhe rope was then adjusted 20 the cross,
hsan' and while il was beinf, fixed around AZ.
hscA oil The condemned man. Mr.. Boags read
aloud TO hun from the Bible and he r,.snopd,-l
saying ms trust was in the Lord-be believed i,
Jesus. lie then said TO the crowd sIet trs all
meet IN Heaven He requested Mr. Hall 70 kx
the rope tight, that he might die easy.
All being ready. the black cap was pulled
over The face OF the prisoner. Afer he had bid
nd'ee 10 those around him. and while waiting for
uI I iali' nis last words were, God b!ess yc:,
aii-Ineet me in Heaven"
AT precisely 20 minutes 10 one O'Clock IN.
drop fell. and VIM. d. Totty was launched into
eternity. The fall" OF three and a half e., IN.
stSntly dislocated his neck, and with the exeep.
aoa OF three or four slight muscular eonvuliions
he died without struggle.
Totty was young man of twen,y-six. He
served A. police officer for some time. but rn,
discharged for some offence -drunkenneS. per.
hAPs- He was perfectly resigned 70 bis fA,e