Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-10-09
Devotion and COur.

u
to strength and muscle. 1t serves to
show, too, that swift avenging justice
sometimes oVertakes the offender in a
way least expected.
Previous to the outbreak in 1861,
young man of fine promise and moral
worth located in q rural neighborhood
in one of the upper counties, for the pur-
pose of pursuing the practice Of medi-
cine, the study of which he had Just
completed. And when the war came
on he was among the faithful few
whose honest heart was set upon the
flag of his country. But such was the
force Of the tide Of secession and rebel
lion which swept over the county as to
make submission virtue; and he con-
tented himself by quietly pursuing
his calling, in attending the bedside of
the sick, awaiting with patience the
day when the turbid stream should
pass away, and the flag of the Union
should again float in the mountain
breeze.
That day came at length, and the
Union army passed through the coun-
try, and every man was required to
swear allegiance to the the Govern
ment. The young doctor was among
the first TO take the oath, and this at
onee made him mark for rebel bullets
Nor was it long ere his life paid the
penalty. Three young men of the neigh
borhood were selected as the willing
agents to make him an example to all
who should dare thus to welcome the
old flag. They went to his boarding
house, and finding him seated at the
dinner table, rushed in and ordered
him to surrender, at the same time
opening fire upon him in his defence
less condition. Several balls took ef-
feet as he rose and attempted to escape
as resistance was worse than vain. He
got out of the door, but finding himself
mortally wounded and about to bleed
to death, he was carried in, where he
was again set upon by his murderer
He begged them to leave him, as he
was then dying. But one of them pla-
cling revolver to his. head, blew his
brains out, when they retired to report
their hellish success.
The news of this murderous deed fell
like damper upon every loyal heart.
But there was one that felt the weight
of it more keenly than Others Miss
| Livernia w, the daughter of wellto-
do farmer IN the neighborhood, was en-
gagged to the young doctor. She was
young, scarcely grown up to woman
hOod-intelligent, modest and amiable
and withal delicately formed, wearing
a shoe that fits children, of the No. l3.
The sad news fell upon her like the
crushing weight Of mountain. And
she resolved in her mind to aYenge the
death of her fallen lover. And with
due caution she waited and sought an |
opportunity, communicating with no
one, that she might the better accom-
plish her object.
Thus time passed on; but justice,
like the revenge for the dead, slumber-
ed not. One of the young men who
was present at the time the awful deed
was committed, not long after was kill
ed by accident. Then another one was
captured by the Federal forces passing
through, and when it become known |
that he was one of the murderers of J
young doctor he was shot by order of
the commanding officer. But Turner
still lived, regular guerrilla, the da-
ring, bloody guerrilla, who styled him
/ self a louisiana tige." And so little /
remorse had he for the murderous deed |
he not only remained in the country
but had married and lived in the
neighborhood.
1t was IN the beautiful month of May,
when one Sabbath morning the young
lady, with the heart of Spartan sol
der, determined to accomplish the OBJ
ject Of aYenging the death of him who,
having won her heart was dearer than
life itself. She was a young lady of
exemplary morals, q church member,
but sought the accomplishment of the
long cherished object on that day, be-
cause it was likely to afford her better
opportunities than q business day
would. And when breakfast was over
she dressed herself and left without
saying q word 70 any one Of the family
as to where or for what purpose she
was absent. She left note, however,
in her room, stating the object of her
errand, and in case she should be killed
in the undertaking she gave directions
in regard to her burial This note was
not found, however, until about the
time she returned, late in the after
noon.
On leaving in the forenoon she went
directly to his house, intending to
beard the lion in his den and make
an example of murdered innocence
But she found no one there, the fami-
ly having gone to spend the day with
a near neighbor. She waited awhile,
and then set out for the place, rightly
judging as to where they were gone
Arriving, she passed the time IN her
usual social manner. Turner and his
young wife were there; but no suspi-
oions of her intent crossed the mind of
any one But it would seem from an
expression that fell from his bps, that
Turner either feared or felt some fore
bodings of evil, Femarking, as he did,
to the man of the house during the
day, that he wished LiVernia would
leave, as he did not wish to be where
she was.
In the afternoon, as the day began
to wear away, Mrs. Turner remarked
to her husbaed that, feeling somewhat
indisposed, sne would return. and he
could come when he got ready, and
let. Liyernia still remained, watching
for suitable opportunity to accom-
plish her object. At length Turner
went out and was missing. She inquir-
ed of the lady of the house where he
was. She informed her that he had
started home, whereupon she went out,
and seeing him going of, called to him
to stop, that she had word to speak
to him. He stopped, while she sd-
Vaneed to within some thirty steps,
when she fred, the ball passing through
the skirt of his coat, upon which he
broke to run. Not to be foiled in her
attempt, she pursued, firing asshe ran,
and the second fire brought him to the
ground. She then walked up leisure
ly, firing until she lad put three or four
leaden balls in him, which made sure
work.
On returning to the house, the lady
astonished at so unexpected an event,
and coming from such an unexpected
source, said to her: 80, LiVernia, why
did you do so? 2" She calmly replied,
s'He killed one who was as dear to me
as life, and l had to do it." She then
drew out another revolver and went
skipping along the path homeward,
feeling that she had accomplished a
long cherished object in aVenging the
death of q loved one.
Thus within five months from the
day the young man fell, his three as
sassins had all met their merited fate,