The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-12-02
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
The Melancholy Tale of John Turner'S
Unaoing by a Bergia.

MADISON, Wis, Nov. 26.-The city
was startled this afternoon by the at
tempted suicide of John Turner, editor
OF the Mansion star, and a prominent
attorney and citizen OF juneau County,
well known throughout the State. The
cause and circumstances were rs follows:
He was counsel for Mrs. Sarsi, A. niger
soil. OF Sparta, charged with poisoning
her husband, whose case he undertook
when she was almost unfricnded, and,
obtaing q change of venue, worked up a
fine of defense which, aided by the able
efforts Of Villas and Bryant, CT this city,
secured her acpuittal after exciting trial,
a year ago, when the Scotch verdict of
''not proven better expressed the popular
opinoin away from her old home, where
the belief of her guilt was very strong.
She had an Insurance OF $1,000 on her
husbands life, which Mr.. Turner, last
January, acting in her behalf, as he
claims, compromised with an agent IN
Milwaukee for $500. Afterwards, how
ever, size repudiated the settlement and
sued for the whole amount, and the suit
was III progress in the Circuit Court
here. Mr.. Turner testified that he was
duly authorized to act as her agent; that
she assigned the policy while here in
he sent her q receipt to sign, and receiv-
edit back from her by mail land forwarded
It to the Company. This morning she
was put on the witness-stand, and denied
having signed either the assignment or
the receipt, and alleged that they must
have been fOrgeries. This startling
testimony, accompanied by equiyocal
letters OF his produced much excite
men5, especially Oh Mr.. Turner. He.
came to the hotel and sat down to din
ner very nervous, but could not eat and
after slipping some tea, speaking to two
or three persons, and smoking q short
time, went out, looking for revolver,
and finally purchasing one of Mr.. Bel
den. which he was assured would shoot
well. He then returned TO the hotel, and
shortly before 2 o'clock, went into his
room, locked The door, wrote q letter to
his wife and one TO Mrs. Ingerson, and
then, aiming the revolver to his heart,
fred The bail, however, struck the
sixth rib, breaking it, and passing down
ward into the cavity OF the chest, but, it
is hoped, not penetrating any vital or
gan. It buried itself il the abdominal
muscles above the hip. MIR. Gregory
had an appointment to see him, which
Mr.. Turner did not fill, and going to his
room was hidden to come in, bnt found
the door locked and heard some one
grooming within. Getting help, the
door was broken open, and Mr.. Turner
was found lying bleeding on the bed,
his shirt stained with blood and powder.
DR.. Ward, who was called, regards the
wound dangerous, but hopes it will not
be fatal. Reporters and friends were
soon 1T hand. Mr.. Turner conversed
freely, and was severe i'll denunciations
Of Mrs Ingersoil, whom, he said, he had
not known till to-day, though her coun-
sci so long, and expressed q wish to die
| and not live On the same planet with one
SO false. Following is the letter he had
written
TO GL5-s E57gersoU:- With the same
pen [ have just used TO address my wife
I write this. It seems like profanity,
| but [ must write to you. Murderess,
add me to your other victinsl You know
why | wrote as / did about the insurance
money, what [ paid you, and all the rea-
sons. Yet, hoping to get few more
| dollars from the Company, you deiiber-
ately blast my reputation and make me
appear criminal. IF it does you good,
so be it. But, if there be virtue III
widows tears and the cries of my orph-
| ans. take it. IT'S the only virtue you
ever had.
{Signed) JOHN TURNER.
When the case came up i'll the Circuit
| Court this afternoon, it was postponed
| til next term.