Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-12-21
Trial for Murder.

II
HENRY TURNER, of Mantua, in this County 4
was examined before Justice CLARK, on Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday last, charged with the
murder of Christopher Simonson. In order that
the facts may be correctly represented, we give
below the testimony of all the witnesses in the
case: ----.---
= Merritt Collins:-I went into Mr.. Griswo1d's
bar-room just after Mr. Simonson came in. MIR.
Turner was tending bar for Mr.. Griswold. This
was yesterday morning It was after breakfast.
Theyswere talking. MIR. 7. said he didn't want
any fuss. Mr.. T. said something more, and Mr..
s. told him he was a liar. Can't recollect what
T. had said to s. s. had his feet on the stove
sat in the chair. When 8. called T. a liar, he
came out of the bar and struck him. He looked
round at T. as T. came out of the bar. T. struck
S. on the head with stick three feet long, inch
thick at one end, and J inch at the other. He
struch him one blow. After he was struck, he
sat in his chair little while, and then fell out of
it. After T. struck him, he took hold of him and
threw him out of doors. He fell out sideways
He bled when he struck. He moved some-rais-
ed up his head. After he was thrown out, he sat
on the bench about five minutes; after that he got
up and went off home. don't know who took
him home. He did not say great deal after he
was struck. They had some trouble Monday eve
ming I did not hear T. say anything about the
difficulty. After he called him liar, he took the
stick out of the bar and struck the blow i"o
Jas. Price:-I was present when the blow was
struck-S or 9 o clock in the morning Mr.. s.
came in; sat down; told Mr.. T. he wanted some
thing to drink. Mr.. T. told him he couldn't have
any Mr.. s. wanted to know the reason. Mr..
7. said, you abused me the other night, and you
can't have any. They talked some time about
the former difficulty. l don't know what was said.
Finally Mr. T. said don't want any fuss with
you; you abused me enough the other night, and
if he did not stop his noise he would put hm out.
Mr.. S. said there wasn't any man in Mantua could
put him out. Mr. S. said if he laid his hands on
him he would pay for it. Mr.. T. said he should
go out or stop his noise. He said to Mr.. T., eff
you lay your hands on me, will rip our CUTS
out; for carry the tools to defend myself wth.''
Other conversation passed. Mr. s. called 7. a
liar. Mr.. T. came and laid his hand on the bar,
then stopped and picked up the cane turned
my back and walked towards the door. Heard
the blow-did not see it. After he was struck,
his head was bleeding. He leaned it over. Some
one said, sTake him out of dools." Turner
caught him, took him out of the chair, and put him
out of DOORS The cane was about as thick as the
candlestick. 1t might have been q minute after
he called him liar, before he picked up the cane.
After he was put out of the house, he said he had
boys enough to whip all Mantua. He walked from
the porch to the pump, and washed himself.
ChaS. w. Hale:-I was present when Mr.. S.
came to Mantua and when the blow was struck.
He went to the bar and wanted something to drink.
Mr.. T. told him he could not have any more liquor
of him. Said he (Sl had abused him the night
before that He went back then and sat down by
the stove, and was talking with Mr. T. Mr.. L.
told him he didn't want any words with him, nor
no fuss. S. said he would say what he pleased.
Mr.. T. told him he must go out doors or keep still
of his abuse. s. said he shouldn't do it, and that
there WASH men enough there to put him out
Finally, Mr. T. said if he did not stop his noise he
would put him out doors. Mr.. S. said if he put
his hands ON him he would rip his CUTS out-said
L. lol 81 fo do ,,ifh Tho,y
kept on talking. Mr.. S. called T. a liar. Mr..
r. stepped back into the bar and took stick and
struck him. Don't know whether with one or
both hands. The blow was struck as soon as he
could get the stick. He did not stand there any
time at all. He struck him once. He was sitting
with his back mostly to him. He sat in the chair
until Mr.. T. pulled him out Mr.. T. took him by
the coat collar and drew him out on the platform.
He went from there to the pump; from there to
the steps; from there to the buggy, and they help
ed him in. 1t was half an hour after he came
there he was struck. Remained there twenty
minutes or after the blow. Commenced con-
versation by asking MIR. Edison what he was going
to do for his country. Said he was on earth now,
and ready for anything. Tried to provoke quar-
rel. Mr.. T. was civil, attending to his own busi-
ness.
j. III. Gris1ooH:-I was in the dining-room
when the blow was struck. Saw him very short
time after he was struck. He was sitting up
have his face washed. He replied very crabbedly,
to 90 away and let him alone, he could take care
of himself. On the night previous, S. was making
great deal of noise-cursing and damning Mr..
T. Mr.. T. did not appear to be excited. Iwent
up to the old gentleman and told him he must stop
that noise in. the house. Asked if was lahdlord.
said yes. Replied was d-d sight meaner
man than Mr.. T. / told him would put him out
of doors if he did not stop his cursing, Mr.. T. is
timorous-would bear insults.
Mr. Babcock Am the Coroner. Held an in
quest ON the body of deceased. found the skull
fractured. We had DIR. Burlingar and DR.. Willis.
Mr.. Root was present at Mantua when Mr..
T. struck Mr.. S. / happened in just about the
time. The old gentlemen saying some
thing, have been round the country some and
mean to use folks well. Mr.. T. said to him you
are liar and a thief. Mr.. S. said, "you are a
id liar" or, sthat is id lie," don't
know which. Then the next knew, Mr. T.
was striking him. Mr.. T. sat on the corner of
the bar, S. sat warming himself at the stove, his
back toward Mr.. 7. T. on being called q liar,
jumped down off the bar, reached behind the bar,
caught the stick and struck with both hands
struck one blow. When he called T. liar, he
partly turned his head. should think he did not
| see T. when the blow was struck, but don't
know, after he was struck he Topped over to the
left. T. then caught him and pulled him out
doors, the striking and seizing him, appeared to
| be one instantaneous move. The blow was
struck with hickory walking cane, about an
inch thick at the butt. He sat in common
chair. He caught the stick by the small end.
He was pulled out of the north door and left on
| the platform. He remained on the platform
| few minutes. He sat holding his head in his
hand short time, then raised up and said this
would not be the last of it. Some one remarked
not know where to go. Mr.. Eggleston, went
| with him After he washed himself, he came