Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-05-17
From the Cincinnati Times. 1871


The Turner'S Assault upon O6fcers-Fall
Particulars Prior and Subsequent to the A.
tray.-Again we are called upon to record a
scene or scenes of riot and bloodshed, occur
ring in our neghboriDg cities of Covington and
Newport. Yesterday afternoon the Turner's
of this city went over to Covington for the
purpose of joining the Turner's of that city and
Newport, and proceeded about a mile back of
the city, where flag was presented to the
Association Of Covington.
Origin Of the Di6tcuLty.-It appears that
rather late in the afternoon young lad by the
name of HAYS was standing by the bar, where
lager beer was sold, and snatched the glass
which one of the Turner's had called for out of
his hand. The Turner took it again from the
boy, when difficulty ensued, and the lad, al
ter being beaten pretty severely, was driven
off the ground.
Renc0ntre at CoringtOn.-Oficers Butts,
Harvey and others, when the Turner'S had
reached the corner of Scott and Fourth streets,
attempted to arrest the men pointed out, but
were resisted by the Turners-one of the off,
GERS of which gave the command to fire, which
was Immediately obeyed, and a number of ri
fes were discharged at the officers; the con-
tents of one entering the right breast of Mar
shall Butts little below the shoulder, the bull
let passing through and coming out at the
back below the shoulder blade.
After the firing, a number of the Turner's sell
zed their rifles by the barrels and commenced
fighting with the butts; several drew their
short swords, which they fourished over the
heads of the officers. In the melee, officer Har-
vey had about three inches of his skull in length
and an inch and half in breadth cut away,
leaving the brain, we are told, entirely unin-
jured.
There were but few of the citizens on the
ground at this time, and but little resistance
was offered to the departure of the Turner's,
who proceeded across the Licking bridge TO
Newport, in company with the society from
that place-the Covington association having
left before the difficulty in town commenced.
They proceeded as far as the ferry landing in
Newport, and were about TO 60 on the boat,
when information reached the officers of the
boat of what had occurred, when they were
refused passage across, and they drew mp on
the landing. Here they permitted the author
titles to arrest two of their men, who were
identified as having been concerned in the
firing.
A drunken man at this juncture, with some
half dozen around him, swore that all should
be taken, and seized hold of the rife Of one OF
the Turner's. The word was again given to
FIRE, and volley was sent into the crowd, but
as far as We can learn no damage acorued-A
boy who was standing in the crowd had his
coat nearly torn off by bullet. The crowd
of citizens now began 10 be immense-hun.
dreds coming over IRON Coyington. The ex-
element began TO increase, and threats Of VEN
geance could be heard on every haEd.
The Turner'S, finding they could not succeed
In getting scross the river from Newport, re-
solved TO repair 70 their hall, about mile back
from the landing, near York street, whittier
they proceeded, followed by al excited Popu-
lace.
1T The Han.-We visited their hAll abOat
o'clock. The citizens had placed guard OF
is or 20 men around the ball 10 watch all night
for the purpose Of preventing the escape Of
any ofthe Turner's. We went inside and found
about 20 or so men armed with their short
swords and rifles, drinking lager beer and eat
ing crackers aud cheese. They did not appear
TO be aware Of the injusy they bad perpetra-
ted, and declared their intention to die before
they would give up their arms, and be, As they
said, ''at the merry Of the mob" They bad
seat for Judge Stallo, who was 10 consultation
with them, and pledged his word that they
would remain In the ball all night, and Ia the
morning submit 10 the legal authorities.
Excitement IN the Sfyssts--The excitement
In the streets Of both Oosing.on and Newport
about . O'Clock VAS intense. A great many
were IN favor OF AZ once proceeding 20 the hall
and innlctipg summary vengeance on al them