The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-03-20
SLAIN IN SpARTANBURG.
GEO. s. TURNER SHOOTS TO
DEATH E. II. FINGER THE
BROTHER OF HIS WIFE.

The Causes TINT Led to tho Perrible Deed
H-BhOrts to Lynch she Staycr---Triumph
ofthe Law Ovor tho Nab.
Another bloody tragedy stains the
record of our county, On Friday af-
ternoon Geo. s. Turner slew his broth
In law, E. Fl. Finger, in the public
road at Valley Falls. Tho decd was
deno with a pistol, and Finger died in
a few minutes after receiving his
death wound. He never spoke after
ward.
| TURNER'S ACCOUNT OF THE TRAGEDY.
! Geo. s Turper has furnished the fol-
lowing statement to the reporter OF
the Columbia Register:
| "Finger WAS walking and u negro was
| driving the wagon | did not meet
| Finger on the road. but walked out Of
| the house and waS going to my gin house.
The woman (Sparks) came to get pay
for somc washing, and did not say any
! thing about lbe matter between her aud
Finger. w. J. Fl.ger, q brother Of L.
b Finger, tn" slain mar, and the latter
were cursing the woman as she came
up to the door where | was standing, as
given In his own words below
Finger became abusive, but was car
ried off by Dan Williams, negro man,
towards home. He came back, how
ever.
'Finger tolu the negro to turn HIM
lo>Ge, as l had dared him to holler
there in the road, which l denied to
Finger aad told him to 20 of and leave
me alone Then he tore loose from the
negro, and after he tore loose he had his
pistol out aud shot.
"M hen he drew his pistol the colorcd
man had turned him loose.
did not say Let him come, III fix
him., aS stated in the paper, or threaten
to kill the negro if he didn't turn him
leose. That 10 all wrong.
"After he drew his pistol.
FINGER sHOT TWICE.
"Onc ball struck pretty near me in
| the ground, and the other struck nv
store house. think the first ball struck
the ground near me, as the smoke rose all
around me.
ONLY FIRED ONE SHOT,
and after he quit shooting 1 quit ALSO
81 pulled my pistol when Finger start
ed to pull his-when the negro caught
him and he then couldn't get his pistol
out. held my pistol in my hand then,
and when he came back he had his pistol
pointed at me. he fired twice and
fred once after he had fred his two
ahots, Immediately after his seco.d
| shot"
| ACTING THE TRAGEDY.
| That tho reporter might make no mis-
take and should understand exactly his
account Of the matter, Turner in the
Jail corridor gave a sort of pantomimic
representation Of the affray.
Stepping of six PAGES from the report
or, and coolly counting az he stepped,
he said that was about the distance be-
tween him and Finger.
Raising his hand as though levelling
| pistol, ho said that was the way Finger
fronted him while he (Turner) held
his pistol in his hands. He thought
Finger was watching the smoke rising
up from around the discharge of his
pistol, but that he (Turner) had his eye
en- the barrel Of his own pistol.
He said that after Finger was shot
he walked to the bridge over the creek
near by, and half across it, before he
fell. 1t was mistake that he was killed
instantly.
| WHAT BROUGHT ON TEE TRAGEDY.
| In relation to the causes which were
alleged to have brought about the trag.
edy, and ~ to the published accounts
in reference to the same, Mr. Turner
! msdo the following statement:
81 was not particularly mad with E.
H. Finger, the man now dead, but had
heard Of his having threatened my life
| on two or RsOrN OCCASIONS
ut was suit for $4,000 damages
and not 500 as stated IN the news
papers, brought in the case for the te-
duction Of Clara Finger. the slain mans
sister and my sistern- law.
"The day | received tho summons
went to Mrs. Fingers house, where Il.
II. Finger lived, for the purpose Of stop
ping this suit. gave notice to Clara
of my coming to the gate. Finger came
out on the piazza
WITH HIS DoUBLE-BARRELLED GUN,
cooked it, and took deliberate aim at
me. jumped behind tree and tried
to draw my pistol. Finger then took
the gun down from his face, AID the
matter ceased.
AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE.
"OHce after that, across the creek
from my store, he cursed ME very loudly
and dared nc across the creek. | die
not go. This WAS the second case.
"pll state that l think that this man
E. II. Finger, did not want to kill mo OF
account Of the seduction of his sister
but that he was persuaded or actuSted
by my enemies"
, HE SPEAKS OF HIS sIsTER-IE-LAw.
After few moments reflection, O,
being asked If he had anything NOR
that no wished to say, Mr. Turne
) said:
= 81 have not Bpoken Of this Bcductio
matter before to any one but Sheril
Nichols, but without saying that die
0 it, / will say this:
D ~ have ons great reason why shoul
alWsyG like my sister, Clara Finger
q and that is shc made pleading reques
4 of me to quit stronR drink, which hav
: gait for nearly twelve months.
d 81 will also say that believe that
y Clara will lay aside all the lies, persu,
siOns and inducements that have bee
offered snd told to her since that sed "