The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-07-03
A TALK WITH TURLEY,
A Former Sedalian, Now in
California, Who Left His
Wife in This City.
He Will Return Some Of These
Days and Settle Several
Old Scores.

The pioneers of Sedalia all remember
Jim Turley, who left several years ago
and went To the far west, leaving his wife
and children here. Jim was what might
be called a tough citizen i'm those days, and
many were the fracases In which he became
involved.
When Gen. Bacon Montgomery was
mayor OF the city. he appointed Turley po-
liceman, and during the time he sp"rted a
star and club he was known to every man,
woman and child in the city. AS stated,
he went west, and after a time was heard of
in Colorado. where he was leading
A MISERABLE AND RECKLESS LIFE.
He became involved in q difficulty there,
and drawing his pistol, shot his man. for
which crime he was arrested. knowing
his danger of stretching hemp. he
wrote one of his characteristic letters to
Col. John F. Philips, as follows 81 am
in trouble. have killed a Dutchman.
Send me some money"
Bv some means he was cleared of the
charge of murder, and for q / ng time
nothing was heard of the notorious Jim.
After the lapse OF a year or two, word
reached Sedalia that Jim was dead, and
there are many who still think mis- toes
were long ago
TURNED UP TO THE DAISIES.
But not so, though, as a BAzOo reporter
learned yesterday from Mr.. j. L. Walls, a
Cincinnati saddlery drummer, who was
raised in Warsaw and knew Jim when he
was a resident of Sedalia.
In February last business took Mr.. Walls
to Southern California, and one evening
found him at Mohave City. While sit
ting out in front Of the hotel he heard q
by-stsnder call out the name
of Jim Turley, when it
brought to mind the man he
had known:in the Queen City of the Prairies.
Approaching him, be asked il he had
EVER LIVED IN sEDALIA,
to which he replied in the affirmative. Mr..
Walls questioned him and found that it
was Sedalia Jim, and he was employed by
the Western Development company, for
whom he was driving a six-horse team at a
salary of S65 per month. He was about
half drunk at the time, and subsequent in
quiry developed the fact that he was q total
wreck from whisky.
Turley told Mr.. Walls that in 1875 he
was possessed Of something over $1,000,
which be had saved up with the intention
of returning to Sedalia. At that time,
however, his brother, Dave Turley,
KILLED A MAN,
and he (Jim) spent every dollar in trying
to save Dave from the gallows.
When asked If he ever expected to re-
turn to S.dalia, Jim said he did, as he had
several old scores to settle with citizens
who had imposed on him when he made
this city his home.
Mr.. Walls said Jim used TO Be consid-
cred Q bad man in that section of country,
but whisky had got 50 much the better of
him that even the boys of the town whip
ped him now.
HE WAS sHABBILY DRESSED,
and his face was covered with scars, the re-
suit of many brawls in which he had been
engaged. Before taking his leave, Turley
asked Mr.. Walls to sst 'em up, and his re-
quest Vas complied with, to Jim's great de-
light.
Mrs. Turley, it will be remembered, was
married few weeks ago to E. NJ. Gear
heart, the laundry man, and the BAzoo
would advise the brevet husband to make
himself scarce in case Turley ever returns
to Sedalia.