The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-08-20
UNDER THE GALLONS.
SPARTANBURG'S HIDEOUS CRIMINAL
TO HANG IN OCTOBER.

SPARTANBURG'S HlDEOUS CRIMINAL
TO HANG IN OCTOBER.
Ger, Breaks Down When Comforte: by
His Solemn Fate-The Sad End of Mis-
spent Life.
SARTANBURG, S. c., Aug. 15.-The
scene at the announcement of the ver-
dict in the Turner case, which is one
of the most exciting and notorious
ever tried here, beggars description.
Turner is a bad man. He killed a poor
friendless German some years ago, but
on account of his wealth and influence
he escaped punishment. He then Sc
duced his sister-in-law young lady of
about eighteen years of age and said
to be quite handsome. This brought
er-in-law, Ed. Finger, whom Turner
deliberately shot down as Finger was
passing Turner'S store on his way home
from Spartanburg. and it is for this
crime that he has just been convicted
and sentenced to be hung.
The case during its progress excited
great interest both among the town
and country tpeople and when it was
earned about ten o'clock Monday night
that the jury had agreed on a verdict
the people began to assemble in the
Courthouse. At last when the for
NAL ceremony of the court had been re-
stored, the judge sat solemnly on the
bench, and the prisoner and his counsel
had been recalled, the building, which
had been jammed for three days, was
again filled to its utmost.
Then was one of the most critical
moments of the trial. No one knew
what the verdict would be, but serious
men knew that the crowd from the
country, the men who had been here
all day, and the men who had come in
after night, had come for purpose.
The excitement had much fuel to in
flame it. No observer expected a YER
dict of acquittal, but many thought the
finding might be manslaughter. Moth
ing but verdict of guilty would salts
fly the crowd. If the verdict had been
mot guilty it is certain that Turner
would never have left Spartanburg
alive. There were hundreds of pistols
in the crowd. They would not have
waited to hang him. They would have
riddled him with bullets before he
touched the ground. Whether the
same thing would not have happened
if the verdict had been manslaughter
was critical question.
And the killing would not have ended
with the prisoner. Unless the sudden
surge of the crowd had prevented any
opportunity for resistance it is certain
Sheriff Nichols would have defended
his charge to the utmost, and terri
BILE scene of bloodshed would have re-
suited. Judge Norton took occasion
to deliver timely remark to the audi
ence, requesting them to keep down
any exhibition Of feeling, Whatever the
verdict, and it had good effect. Tur-
ner came into the court without col
lar. Evidently he did not expect YER
dict against him.
When it was read. the spectators de-
scribe the effect on him as slckenlng,
his face usually tlorid, looked corpse
like, and his hands worked nervously.
It was dreadful night for the poor
convict. The court !adjourned until
| 10 o'clock this morning, and the poor
prisoner was carried back to the jail,
and the crowd dispursed, and there had
been no breach of the peace.
At the "Oyez, oyez" Of the court crler
this morning another large crowd was
present. 1t was a mixed assembly.
ToWnsmen and countrymen had come
to hear George Turner sentenced. The
prisoner was in the dock, Mr.. Shumpert
was in his place, and the clerk had be-
gun reading the recitals preliminary to
to the question whether the prisoner
had anything to say why sentence Of
death should not be passed upon him.,
when the solemn charge Of the clerk
was suddenly interrupted.
1t had dibeen discovered that not one OF
the prisoners counsel was IN court.
"You may sit down, Mr.. Turner. Call
the counsel" said the judge. When
the attorneys had hurried in, and the
recitals had been gone over and the
prisoner was asked if he had anything
to say, Mr.. Sanders rose and made a
motion for a new trial. No ruling OF
the judge was asked to be reviewed by
him, but heground Of the motion was
that the states counsel had been al
lowed comment on facts which the
judge had excluded from evidence.
The Solicitor and David Johnson both
made brief replies; Maj. Duncan closed
| for the defendant, and the court refused
the new trial.
Then George S. Turner was told to
stand up again IN his place in the dock.
He did so, and the Judge addressed
him very briefly. He said that he
would not add to his discomfort by
lecturing him, but he trusted that, as
had been testified by Turner and his
wife on the stand, that his experiences
had led him to see the evil of giving a
loose rein to passion, and he would, in
addition, only remind him OF the
Weighty words of Scripture: ''Be not de-
ceiyed; God is not Knocked. Whatsoever
a man soweth, that shall he also reap"
The judged then signed and read the
death warrant, sentencing the unfortu-
nate criminal to be hanged on the first
Friday in October, the third day of the
month, between the hours of II and 2
o'clock.
An immense change has taken place
in the appearance OF Turner since Sat
urday. The mans look is troubled. His
face is blotched His eyelids are in
famed. He is very different from the
Turner who is accustomed to rule his
neighborhood and to have unlimited
confidence in his success.-Augusta
Chronicle.
ADeadly Stroke of Lightning.
MACON, Ga, August PA story Of
death and obstruction by lightning comes
from Marion Church, Twiggs County,
some twenty miles from Macon Several