Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-08
sTARLING IURPINs HORRIBLE
FATE.
Evidence Before the COroner's Jury
HIS Wife q harged with the Terri.
BILE Crtme-Arrest Of the Murderess-
She COnfesses the Deed.

bnG CONGRESSES the Deeo.
Last evening Coroner Patterson held In
quest on remains OF Startling Turpin, the
colored man found In an ash pile at sic ID
street northwest, yesterday morning, the
following being sworn as jurors: Charles E.
Tanning, John Raab, E. T. Ecklof, James
Mckenna, John A. Perkins, James j. GAL
lagher. Charles A. Csho, l.. b. Dickinson,
John White, Thomas O'Brien, j. B. Leonard
and John Turton.
The testimony OF a number OF witnesses
was taken, g. ". Thompson who occupied
the upper story OF the horse) testifying to
FREQUENT QUARRELs
between deceased and his wife In the last six
weeks; that he saw Turpin Wednesday
morning; they had a row ABOUT 10 O'Clock,
which ceased for few minutes, and Turpin
went away and returned soon, and said TO
her that he intended TO have her carried to the
station house. About o'clock witness heard
great noise. as If Turpin had fallen over
something. Witness ran down to the dc Dr.
with Mr.. Rose and asked her what the mat
drunk and grooming IN his drunken fit; heard
her say afterwards to Geo;ge Sanders that
Turpin had gone to Petersburg.
MRS TURPIN DRUNK.
-Nettie Thompson testified that she came
home about 3 O'Clock on Wednesday; did not
see Turpin; saw his wife; Mrs. Tur pin was
drunk; was at home Thursday; she was
ness that TuIpin had gone to Virginia.
Fannie CdHadddy (colored) testified that she
was al Turpin's house, in Mr.. Roses room,
lthe front room down stairs on Wednesday;
heard the Turplns fighting and Quarreling a
good while; heard them pass one or two
blows, and afterwards a noise like some one
falllngi after that witness heard some one
g-Oan; heard the
GAMING FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES;
witness went TO the loom and asked Mrs.
Turpin II any one was sick. and she answered
that Mr.. Turpin was drunk and had fallen
down; witness talked to her through the
door; thought IT was about one o'clock in
the day; witness stood at the door for some
Time thinking that Mrs. Turpin would open
the door and let them In, but she did not LET
them in; at last she went back to the front
room; heard 10 more then till about four
O'Clock, when Mrs. Turpin came and said
that Turptn had gone down to the country;
Mrs. Turptu appeared TO be very drunk; wit
less asked her how long Turpin had been
gone, and she said not very long-he had
gone 10 petersburg TO see her children; she
seemed TO be very wild, and acted In an
unusual manner; abb six O'Clock she went
to Mrs. Turpin's room and she was white
washing the floor and walls; did not see
drop of blood; did not think that any one
except the Turpips were in the room: had
known Mr.. Turpin about two weeks; the floor
was whitewashed In spots.
THE DAUGHTERS STORY.
Charlotte Ellen ILrpin, thirteen years old,
was sworn, and testified that she was not al
home Wednesday; came home Wednesday
night about O'Clock; did not see her father
when she came home; when witness came
home her fathers hat was filled with blood;
did not say any thing about it to her mother;
witness mother said her father had gone into
the country; did not see any blCod on the
floor: the floor had been freshly white washed
In one spot; witness mother appeared nat
dral, and was goOd-natured to her and her
sister did not see her father Wednesday
morning; last saw him on Tuesday; her
mother did not seem excited that night; IL
was rot real dark when witness came home
Thursday night; did not know that her
father was dead until to-day yesterday
when the policeman came, and she saw the
body In the box; was sure that the body was
that OF her father; went to a picnic with her
George Sanders testified that Oh Wednes.
day morning he met Turpin corner of Atm
and washington streets; they took drink
together, and talked about work; Turpin
went 10 get his breakfast and told witness TO
walt until he came back; witness waited a
long time, and
TURPIN DIDN'T COME;
thought that Turpin was sick: went to his
house; did not speak to Turpin's wife; she
came running out OF the house, and cried
ION, George Sanders, have you seen any
thing OF Iurpin?" witness replied that he
not seen him since Wednesday morning
She then said that Turpin had dressed him.
self up and gone down TO Virginia. She did
Know whereabouts In Virginia; she said that
she knew he had gone, ne had plenty of
money and she did not care If is ne gone
While witness was speaking to her the land
lord came up and inquired II Mr.. Turpin
was there, and she said that he had gone TO
country, end asked MIN how much rurpin
owed him, and said "if Turpin owes you
anything he will never pay you; You will
never get H." On Thursday about 6 4 o'clock
went 10 Turpin s house and Mrs. Turpin said:
George am selling out" she had all things
out IN the yard; witness said she was crazy,
as the old man would be- back In q day or
Two; sne said that Turpin had gone TO his
other wife, and she was not goiag TO walt
ior him; she was drunk then; had not seen
The face OF the remains; knew that it was
Iufpin by the hand, which was cramped up
as II he was holding stick.
APPEARANCE OF THE REMlINR.
Dr. HoTtlgon testified that he was at the
mouse OF deceased yesterday morning, and
notleeo IN me yard barrel OF bloody water;
emrtied II and found bloody clothes In It,
On the vest witness noticed a large clot, and
Lear the barrel, and partially exposed, was
tne abdomen OF the man, the bowels pro-
trud1ng. Witness successfully removed both
arms, both legs and thighs and head; ex.
sm1ned the remains, and noticed that these
parts had been chopped. An attempt had
been made TO chop the arms of at the shout
Ter, and discovered a wound at the right
side OF the head, producing a fracture of the
skull. This wound is OF the same nature as
small axe. All the parts of the body were
IN state of decomposition, and almost be-
yond recognition. There was some I've mi xed
with the ashes covering the remains. The
have caused death.
Nm. Berry, the boy who discovered the
body, and the little girl, daughter OF Turpin,
who SAID that her mother told her thai she
had killed her father, were sworn.
THE VERDICT.
The jury returned verdict that the said
Starting Turpin came To his death on the
'th day OF July, at his house, No. GIG ID ST.,
about O'Clock, by reason OF wounds of the
head Inflicted by his wife, Johanna Turpin.
Arrest OF the Murderess.
Yesterday after the preparation of the
deed the detectives ard LIT. Kelly, with the
1fficers of the seventh precinct, made a thor
Dugn search OF every locality in which II
was supposed she would go visiting, espe-
cially the county. 1t was ascertsined that
she had friends In Bladensburg, but no
traces were found Of her. The search was,
however, kept up, and a carefully prepared
description OF her was sent around 10 the
stations. Officer r. s. Jones, of the third
precinct, some time during the night learned
that party answering her description had
been seen ON the Rockville road, and at an
early hour he proceeded TO Perry's farm,
near the Presbyterian church, about seven
miles out, and there found Der and took her
In custody.
SHE APPEARED TOTALLY INDIFFERENT,
and was disposed TO talk OF the murder as a
matter OF little consequence. She was i'm
mediately brought into Georgetown, ana
about nine O'Clock she was taken to police
where she was turned over t.
the detectives. She answers pretty well the
des cription given In THE STAR OF yeSter-
day, with the addition OF n Slight scar over
the LETT eye, made, as she states some
D. oFU hw-rr r. - ST.