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

BROTHER OF HIS WIFE.
The Causes Tint Lsa to the Terrible Dee
H-Bhsrtsto Lynch tho Stuycr.-- Triump pl
ofthe Law Over tho NIab.
Another bloody tragedy stains tn,
record of our county, On Friday af
ternoon Geo. S. Turner slow his broth
In law, E. II. Finger, in tRe public
road at Valley Falls. Tho deed was
demo with a pistol, and Finger died in
few mihutos after receiving his
death wound. He never spoke after.
ward.
TURNER'S ACCOUNT OF THE TRAGEDY.
Geo. Turper has furnished the fol-
lowing abatement TO the reporter OF
the Columbia Register:
'Fiu%er WAS walking and negro was
uilVihg the wagon | did not meet
Finger 90 the road. but walked out of
anc mouse and wao going to my gin house.
Inc woman (SpaIks) came TO get pay
Tor some washing, and did not say nuy
| thinS about !bv matter between her and
ringer. w. }. Fl'ger, u brother of T..
III ringer, tn" slain mar, and the latter
| were cufs'rS the woman as she came
up 10 the door whcIo | was standing, as
gwen lu his own words bolow.
Kruger became abusive, but was car
rled OH by Dan Williams, \ negro man.
towards home. He came back, how
| ever.
tlngei told the negro to turn HIM
l"1tc, as | had dared him to hollcr
lhcte IN the road, which | denied to
Finger and told him to go of and leave
nc alone Then he tore loose from the
nsGr", and after he tore loose he had his
pistol out aud shot.
"M hen he drew his pistol the colorcd
man had turnod him loose.
l did not say Let him come, I'll fix
him, az stated in the paper, or threaten
10 Kill the negro if he didn't turn him
ieose. 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 INV
store house. think the first ball struck
the ground near me, as the smoke rose nll
around me.
ONLY FIRED ONE SHOT,
and after he quit shooting | quit also.
~ pulled my pistol when Finger start
ca 10 pull hls-whcn the negro caught
him and he then couldn't get his pistol
out. held my pistol in my hand then,
ana when he came back he had his pislol
pointed at me. He fired twice and I
hred onco after he had fred his two
shots, Immediately after his scco.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 sort of pantomimic
representation Of the affray.
Stepping off six PAGES from the rcport-
or, and coolly counting ss he stepped,
he said that was about the distance be-
tween him and Finger.
Raising his kand as though levellinp a
pistol, he said that was the way Finger
fronted him while he CTurner) 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 eyc
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 a mistake that he was killed
instantly.
WHAT BROUGHT ON THE TRAGEDY.
In relation to the causes which were
alleged to have brought about the trag.
ody, and as to the published accounts
in reference to the same, Mr. Turner
mAdo the following statement:
81 was not particularly mad with Il.
II. Finger, the man now dead, but had
heard Of his having threatened my life
on tive or more occasions.
ut was suit for $500 damages
and not $1,000 az stated in the news
paoers, brought in the case for the &C.
duction Of Clara Finger. the slain VANS
sister and my sister-in law.
''Ihe day received the summons
went to Mrs. Fingers house, where L.
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 nIs DOUBLE -BARRELLED GIjN.
cooked it, and took deliberate aim al
nc. jumped behind tree and tried
to draw my pistol. Finger then took
the gun down from his face, aad the
nhllcT CSaSeu.
AN VNACCErTED CHALLENGE.
"Once after that, acress the creek
from my store, he curaed me very loudly
and dared nc across the creek | did
not 90. This WAS the second case
"rll state that l think that this man,
E. II. Finger, did not want to kill me on
account OF the seduction OF his sietcr,
but that he was persuaded or actusted
by my enemies"
HE SPEAKS OF MIS- SISTER RIE-LAw.
After few moments reflection. on
nsng asked if he had anything more
that ne wished to say, MIR. Turner
said:
81 have not spoken Of this deduction
matter before to any one but Sheriff
Nichols, but without saying that I did
it. will say this:
II have one great reason why should
always like my sister, Clara Finger,
and that is she made pleading request
Of me to quit strong drink, which have
gait for nearly twelve months.
81 will also say that believe that ii
Clara will lay aside ali the lies, persua.
sions and inducements that have been
offered and told to her since that scduc-
tiDn anit