Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-19
MURDERED His DAUGHTER
A Former Rock Island Citizens
Crime in the West.
John Thornton Convicted at Fort
smith, ark.-St0ry Of The DE.
fendaDrs Life and
Crime

Ark, has been made in THE ARGUS from
time to time, was found guilty by the
jury on Tuesday afternoon. The trial
had been in progress several days and
Thornton was defended by some of the
best legOl talent in that section, the plea
being insanity. The jury wss out only
about 80 minutes when it returned its
verdict. Thornton received his sentence
apparently unmoved, and is said to act
the insanity dodge TO perfection-so well
it is said in fact hat several witnesses
who went from Rapids City to testify as
to his character, were inclined to believe
him really insane.
The first known Of Thornton in this
section was in 1874, when he was liy-
ing with his family in apparent
| happiness. His business was that of
| peddler selling jewelry about the country
and very little OF his previous life was
known to his associates here. While in
Rapids City young Frenchman named
Simon Moynier made his appearance
there, and as Thornton claimed 10 tie
French the two became fast friends. In
1880 MoYnier. ,who was a young man
about 25 years OF age. left Rapids City
and went to NcAlister, 1T. and worked
in the mines at that place. In the mean
time, however. Thornton left Rapids City
under rather peculiar circumstances.
One day his house was discov
cred to be on fire and Mrs. Thornton,
! who was asleep at the time. was res
cued from the flames barely in time to
save her life. Suspicion pointed strongly
| to Thornton, and his wife and he parted.
! She afterward
SECURED DIVORCE.
/ also obtaining the custody of their daugh-
ter Laura, then little child. Thornton
then moved to this city where he led a
, wild life; he began drinking heavily, and
from here went west, drifted about tt e
country and finally in 1881 turne
up at McAiister. !. T.. and began work
at his trade, that Of matchmaker and
goldsmith. His wife sfter securing q
divorce marri6d man by the name of
Wilson and the fsmily moved to Kansas.
Thornton worked 1t his trade in Nc.
Alister until the country became more
populous, and then began peddling
jewelry as he had previously done in this
county. While II US engaged he one day
ran across Moynier and the old friendship
that had existed il Illinois was renewed.
| Thornton had continued his dissipation
and when not able to secure anything
else, drank any kind of patent medicine
that contained alcohol. Early in 1891
Th ornton received a letter from his
daughter Laura. who was then in Salins,
Kas. She had in some way learned her
fathers address and wrote him A cor
!respondence wss kept up for some time
which ended in Thornton furnishing the
money which
BROUGHT THE GIRL TO NJ 'ALIsTER.
She was no longer the child Laura, as
he he'd known her, but had grown to be
q large handsome woman. She kept
houseEfor her father, who. when sober.
treated her very well. but while on
his sprees, which were then very
frequent he abused her shamefully. His
abuse was so aggravated that it was
whispered about that she was not his
daughter, that if sue had been he would
not have subjected her to so many indig-
mites.
One of the first acquaintance
made by Laura on her arrival at Meals.
ter waslthat Of the Frenchmsn. Movnier,
who was hard working, honest. sober
miner. A mutual love sprsng up between
the two and she WIS
| MARRIED TO MoYNIER
in November, 1891 The couple went TO
live at Krebs, mining town about -four
miles distant, where the husband worked
in the mines. The marriage occurred on
Thursday, and the Sunday following the
couple spent the day at McAlis.er with
| the father, aid he returned 10 hreDs
with them that evening. He spent Sun.
day night there and returned to McAlis-
ter on Monday. When Eoynier came
home on Tuesday evening he found
Thornton again at the house and they ate
supper together and chatted very pleas
sntly. The next day, Wednesday,
Thornton spent about the house and that
evening after supper MoYRier left for the
store to make some purchases. he was
gone less than half an hour and on return
ing to the house and receiving no reply
from his wife in answer to his call, he
went to the door of lheir bed room where
A SHOCKING SIGHT MET HIS GAZE.
| On the floor in a pool of blood was the