Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-18
Larrabee Indicted.
lowa's Governor in New Sor'
of Role.
A VICTIM OF THE TURNEY CASE

What Came If the Movement to Get Q
Maynard Young Man Pardon-Ths
Governor Could Not See Its Justice and
Explained His Views in Way That the
w. v. MS Mother Takes Exceptions To
Young Turncy's Record.
DIES MONIES, Ia, Feb Ex-Governor Lar
rabee was indicted Saturday for crimina
libel by the Polk county grand jury. Three
years ago Chester Turney, boy, was ar
rested at Preston, Jackson county, CHARGE
with the theft of several small articles from
residences and stores in the village, mostly ir
the nature of food, wearing apparel, or ma
teriM to keep him warm, which was carried
to a cave in the woods where he made hi.
abode. His stepfather was worthless mar
and his mother was ILL., so that when he was
placed upon trial on the fourteen indict
ments pending against him he had none but
the lawyer appointed by the court to counse
and advise him. He was convicted on four
teen counts and sentenced to seventeen years
in the penitentiary.
When Mrs. Turney recovered from her i'll
ness she began the task Of getting pardon
for her boy Governor Larrabee was urged
with good deal Of persistence to take thu
case.up, but he refused Mrs. Turney, still
undaunted, decided to appeal to the public
She laid the case before the ministerial asso
citation of Des Moines, which resulted in the
appointment of special committee to in
vestigate the case. They looked up the rec
ords and the documents on file in the gov
ernor's office, obtained the views of reliabI,
persons who were familiar with the case, ant
decided unanimously that an unconditional
pardon was the only means that would right
the wrong of Turney's Imprisonment. Blu
the governor was obdUate and would Dc
nothing.
Mrs. Turney continued the agitation, gohle
from town to town III the state speaking t.
the people and relying upon charitable con
tributions to defray the expenses Finally
the press took the matter up. This drove the
governor to make defense, which came ir
the shape of pamphlet giving his view Of
the case and containing an extract from d
local paper in jackson county charging thai
Mrs Turney had two husbands living.
This pamphlet was sent to almost every
prominent man in Iowa. 1t is this publica
ton that laid the foundation for the indict
ment When the pamphlet appeared witt
this attack upon her honor Mrs Turney anC
her friends felt that nothing was left for hei
to do but to appeal to the grand jury, and the
case was laid before that body about twt
weeks ago. The governor was one of the wit
nesses summoned An Indictment was re
turned Saturday morning The governor
has demanded speedy trial.
Young Turney has been charged witt
many robberies, and in fact was considered g
terror, nobody feeling safe. His robberie
were in some cases most daring, and at las,
the excitement reached a climax and tn,
citizens getting a clue to where Turney could
be found proceeded to invest the place anC
twenty-five armed men made it their business
one day to smoke him out" He was in
terrupted in an attempt to commit
burglary and received part of loac
of shot in his leg, but managed to get ava,
and to his hiding place in a cave on the bank
Of the Mississippi river near Preston Thi.
place was surrounded by armed men ana
when Turney went down to the river to get
some water his hunters got the drop on him
and captured him, one of the hunters, A.
Matthews, having him covered with a re-
volver, and soon Chester Turney was in the
hands of twenty five men who had been want
ing him for a long time. They found -four
loaded revolvers on him, two In each hip
pocket
Now, Chef" said Al Matthews. show u.
where You keep Your plumber.
The youth was silent, and his captur., who
were terribly excited, grew threatening
Turney weakened and led the party up the
bank piece and into sort OF cave with a
huge shelving rock for roof On the floor
of the cave was Charles Prustas wolf robe
and clothing belonging TO half dozen mem
bers Of the party, while leaning against the
| walls were grain sacks from whose
open ends bulged revolvers, accord,
| cons, violins and dressing cases from
| the store of jenkins & Co, cut
lery and plated ware from the store of D. NJ
| Essick, clothing from the house of Ben VA
Steinburg, and quantities of goods easil,
| identified 10y the youths captors In a cor
ner was five gallon jar of molasses an
some butter and cheese from the cellar O
| Mrs Osburn A double team and wago
| were sent for and little before noon the cav
| alcade entered Preston in triumph
The proof was conclusive and Turney wa
| convicted and sentenced.