Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-11-19

VIM. ID. Totty was executed in a valley short
distance west Of Richmond, Va last FRIDAY, for
the murder Of his sster-in-ldw, Catharine J
Thorn, on the 18th Of July last The subjoined
particulars Of the murder and execution we make
up from the Richmond Dispatch and Enquirer:
Totty was apparently about twenty-five years Of
age, quite handsome In appearance. and verv
amiabie in disposition, never having been known
10 engage In an alteration ofany kind until about
the time Of the murder. About four years ago he
married one Of the daughters Of VIM. Thorn, an
old citizen, and soon after became connected with
the night watch Of Richmond, which position he
filed with entire satisfact on until October 1859
when he became addicted to intemperance and
resigned his place. From that period until about
the LIST Of July last, Totty kept small grocery at
the corner OF Grace and Monroe streets In Henri.
CO county, where his wife, her father and sister
resided.
On the morning Of the 18th Of July, Totty Wis.
tied the residence of his father-in-law, and re-
pairing to the kitchen, found Catharine J. Thorn,
Mrs Adams, and young man In the act Of eat
Ing breakfast. He drew up chair near to where
Miss Thorn was sitting, and was asked TO partici-
pate In the meal, but declined. He then asked
her whether she would go away with him. Sns
declined to do so With this he drew two pistols.
placed them on the table, and again demanded to
know II she would leave with him. On her
again declining, he told her to take one Of the
pistols and shoot him, and that be would shoot
her with the other. Supposing him to be joking.
Miss Thorn told him not to act SO foolish and on
seeing him pick up the weapon and aim one at
her she attempted to seize IT, Just at that instant
II
about three inches above the navel, and passing
entirely through her body, lodged In the muscIes
Of her back near the spinal column, producfne
death that night.
when the wagon reached the gallow, on Fri.
day, the unhappy Dan turned his face towards IL,
and clenching his left hand close and compress.
Ing his lips, he muttered something to himself
s Sna .ssmsd 70 Be in bitter agony for moment
OF the wagon and walked up the steps with q
quick step. :.
On reaching, the platform he took OF bis hat,
held II In both hands behind his back, and stood
firmly and unflnchingly with his head lightly
bowed. Mr.. Boggs then proceeded to deliver an
eloquent and most affecting prayer, and Totty
fns. ION. On bus right knee Leaning his forehead on
When the prayer was concluded, Totfy came
close to Mr. Boggs and spoke to him, and then
Mr. b announced that Totty requested him to reed
a moment or two Afterwards Totty spoke to Mr..
b again, and then that gentleman, addressing
the assembled multitude, said be had been re-
quested TO speak some words Of advice to those
around him and TO such Of bis friends az were
present. he hoped that they would all turn from
vice and lead good lives; that they would avoid
liquor, az II was source to him and all who in
eulgso In OF terrible misfortune, and that he
hoped to meet them in Heaven.
And now the last terrible moment came and
the omcers OF the law proceeded to pinion the
wretched man; he submitted gently, still retain.
Ing his nrmness. This being done. Mr Dudley
and his assistants fred The rope % the cross M
Toity stiIl sanding firmly and listening with
bent head TO Mr. Boggs, who WINS read ng 70 MIN
fof moment or two he turned away from the
steps on which Mr.. Boggs was sitting and looked
down on the crowd and away over the valley
toward the southeast. He then turned 10 nh,
Clergyman sgain, and was led beneath the rope.
which was soon adjusted around his neck. the
uneaPpy man submitting a. gently Is a child
sna showing no change, except flush, for the
nrst time, on his cheek -
Fl The S..et cap was then placed on his bead,
ana Mnen u was arranged, his legs trembled
y,out In q moment after the drop fell there
was nei.ner culver or motion of limb, except
dead-he died instantly The drop fell AT An
minutes past II. AT minutes to his puIse wss
feis, and ne was otherwise examined by Dr.
to be entirely extinct.