The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-09-22
LITTER FROM SQUIRE TURNER.

LITTER FROM SQUIRE TURNER.
Ma. EDrIoR-l have just been shown a letter OF
e. NJ Clay 10 the editor of the "Natonal Era and
Iepaolished IN The Louisville Morning Courier"
dated 4ih August, 1s49.
The letter is in relation 10 the fatal "Foxtown
! Ailray,' in which my son Cgms Turner was kill.
| ed Oy Clay. must ask OF your kindness permis.
sion TO reply TO that letter through your columns,
and hope The National Era,' the "COurier,'
aud other papers which have published Clay's let.
te., viii do me the justice to insert my reply.
IL Is not necessary for ne 10 say TO you or 10 any
one who is father, that II is with pain and an.
snish that am constrained 10 speak and write
concerning this sad affair, nor that am conscious
OF one act OF word of mine connected with that
Transaction, which in the eye OF good morals was
wrong. The man does not live tina; can bring
home 10 me one censurable act connected with
that horrible tragedy, or any previous knowledge
or latimailon that such thing was in contempla.
ton. Had any such evidsRcs existed against me
or any OF my fsmIy OF fnends, there can be no
doubt it would have been sought out and used
against me IN my canvass for seat in the Conven-
ton 10 remodel the Constitution, then progressing
and ending seven weeks afterwards.
Had been forward TO publish much on the sub
lect OF the FOxtown ARRAY, should have been
charged with desire TO prejudice Mr.. Clay in the
event OF judicial inys stigation OF the matter.
Mr.. Clay seems not content TO rest upon his own
FIRST published, Incorrect, and highly cooIed state.
ment of his case, but conscious that Just pubic
opinion was clearly against hlm, and that he stood
guilty OF horrible crime in the eyes of mankind,
comes forward at the end Of month, in a second
letter, 10 mend his bold.
Not satisfied with the misery he has 10 afflicted on
the father, mother, brothers, sisters, and the or
phan child and friends of Cyrus Turner, he comes
forward with new version OF his case, and assaiIs
my character and the character Of my deceased
son and of others.
in his last letter, sensible that his reckless,
blood-thirsty character was well known, and that
there was a settled public opinion against him in
Kentucky and the Western country, he appeals TO
a particular portion eli the Northern people for
cOuntenance and sympathy.
will first quote and notice what Clay has said
about me-ihus "Aly friends here have thought
that II dill not become me TO Teplv To eIther-
speaking Of Maj. RuEy1n and mysell Tuner is
known Ia Kentucky 10 be capable OF any crime"
II In lite uu pleasant iOr man OF proper sensI-
billy o. De compelled 10 speak OF himself. think
am not mistaken, however, in believing that this
70 an occasion in which public opinion and good
tate wall tolerate me in doing so.
am now in my fifty seventh year, and native
Of Madison county Kentucky, in which | still re-
side. Ii is one OF the largest and most populous
counties in the Safe, and its citizens among the
most intelligent have been elected by the cit.
liens Of the county TO and have served seven SEES
sions Ia the State Legislature. | have recently
been elected the highest on the list 10 the State
in opposition TO a thousand copies Of Gays first
publication printed and circulated in the county 10
injure me. My misfortune in the assassination OF
nv son and the death o; two of my family OF chOl-
era on the first day ofthe election, aud the heavy
-ffiicton of Others, prevented me from canvassing
as usual or making much exertion during the cleo
ton.
Twas selected with our distinguished citizen,
Gov Metcal,, as a Senatorial Delegate 20 repre-
sent Kentucky in the Baltimore Nationsl Wing
Convention held in 1874. This selection was mad
~ large and enlightened State convention held
Al Louisville.
Twas rendered Circuit Judgship by the late
Gov. Clarke and declined accepting il; this tender
made known to me through Messrs. Sam Han
son and Col. s. Smith; the latter is the brother
il-law of C.. VI. CLAY So far as respects Ken
tuckians, these matters might well have been
omitted
In a note to Nj. Clsy's last letter the charge of
a conspiracy on the part of my sons and myseli and
others is again brought forward. This charge is
utterly destitute oftruth or even plausibiiity.
lie still comedies that Cyrus Turner WIS unarm-
ed and neither Clay or any other person has init.
mated that was armed, OF that ever carried on
nv persnn pistol, Bowie knife or dirk in my life,
or wss ever concerned in Eight with pistols, drks
or Bowie knives.
In Claws irst letter he GAYS: "Truih requires
ne 10 say that Cyrus Tuners life and character
ad inspired me with the same respect which is
Ielt by the citizens OF Madison county generally.
In the same letter speaking ofthe debate the day
preceding the "FOXtown tragedy" Clay says, "h
was concluded courteoLsly on all Sides and so
was every preceding debate.
With these admissions over his own signature
staring him in the face, he comes forward in his
second letter with small scraps, in the main unim-
portant, naked ur Com the kennel in part, and
mostly fabricated, top rore that Cyrus Turner and
!, with Others, had censpiTed to assassinate him,
unarmed and with nj motive. GAN having been
concluded courieousy the previous evening"
nothing new or offensive having transpired on that
day before made my speech al FoXtown, land
the fatal sffray took place before left the stand
Clay labous TO make the impression that Cyrus
Turner and did not wish him 10 speak in reply TO
me in my canvass. Nothing is further from the
truth. had no doubt that Clsy's opposition as
manifested in his speeches was Of great service
TO me, and an injury 10 the cause of emancipation
in the County and State, and on several occasions
prior 10 the "Foxtown tragedy told persons IN
conversation that such was nay opinion; indeed IL
is well known that he is an injury 10 any cause he
he espCusys n Kentucky
The note 20 Claws second letter contains this
sentence, speaking OF the day at FoKtovn and OF
me, he says: "On the same day he went 10 Rich
ard JefIfcs, man of great ersOnal strength, and
offered him 500 10 stand by him, which Jefffies
Indignantly refused
This statement is without the color Of truth
and has been so denounced by Mr.. Jefffies %
numbers OF persons of the first standing in Clay
own HeshboThood, where Jeffries lives, and as he
SAYS 10 Cav himself ! saw Jeffries nj Foxtown
in the early part of the fatal 18Th day OF June, and
eonyersed with him, but not word was said about
Clay or any difficulty with him or any one else,
nor about Sl00
IL true that my son Thomas Turner bad pis
tol at FoItown, bat he never attempted to use It.
except 10 save the life OF an unnamed brother;
did not know that he had pistol until after the
afftdy was nearly over, and am confident that ht
\ was in no conspiIacV against Clay.
| Neither Clay nor c. +. Burnam, the son OF the
candidate, ever intimated TO me a desire to speak
| on the day Of the muster al Foxtown, until Clal
stopped me- and said that he did not want to speal
but Bunam did, and alleged had been speaking
| much longer time than had wbereupon my
| son Thomas, who was in the crowd, pulled on
his watch and showed il, and said that Mr.. Cla'
| was mistaken as 10 the length of time had beer
speaking ''It was for this provocation of Thos
furner" as Clay states in his first letter, al wen
| into the room where my carpet bag was lodge
| and put on knife seven inches in length, and al
inch aud an eighth in breadth, Thieh usaaIi
earn for seJdefenes. Id
not DENY that / have other and more eficien
weapons of defence than the knife
Here there is an admission by Clay ataIthous
all had ended courteously the evening before, h
had in coming TO a muster, within half mile Q
his own house, brought not only the bowie knlf
that he usually carried NTH Aim, "brt other mon
Efficient weapons," carpet bag ofpistois, trave
| ing arsenal!
Did any body modest him when he came bac
until he by conduct toward me in various way
and several times repeated provoked liz Many G
our citizens and some who are not my persons
/ friends say they were astonshed that my sons su
fered Clay to persist 80 long ia his rudsness 10 m
on iha, Gay without resenting ii; am old enous
| 10 be Clay's father.
Itisminifest that Clay when he went and IKE
onrhis Bowie knife, and fastened loose cloa
4 owe his shoulders 10 hide his weapon, intended
\ proyoke QUARREL and 10 that end secretly coilec
ed some Of his desperate friends around him vii
sticks and clubs. | am told that he avowed, as