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

BROTHER OF HIS WIFE.
| The Causes that LSd to tho Terrible Deed
| 2-Hhortsts Lynch tho Stnycr---TriumpIl
efthe lr1w Over tho Nlsb.
Another bloody tragedy stains the
record of our county, On Friday af-
ternoon Geo. s. Turner slow his broth
In law, E. Fl. Finger, in tne public
road at Valley Falls. Tho deed was
demo with 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 a 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 some washing, and did not say any
thing about the matter between her and
Finger. w. J. Fi.gsr, a brother of f.
Il. Finger, the slain mar, and the latter
were cureing the woman as she camo
up to the door where l was standing, as
given In his own words below.
"Flnscr became abusive, but was car
rled of by Dan Williams, a negro man,
towards home. He came back, how
ever.
'Finger told the negro to turn him
looae, as | had darod him to holler
there In the road, which I denied to
Finger asd told him to 90 off and leave
me alone. Then he tore loose from the
Esgr", and after ho tore loose he had his
pistol out and shot.
"When he drew his pistol the colorcd
man had turned him loose.
did not say 'Let him come, I'll fix
him, az stated in the paper, or threaten
to kill the negro if he didn't turn him
leoss. That is all wrong.
"After he drew his pistol.
FINGER SHOT TwICn.
Zone ball struck pretty near me in
the ground, and the other struck my
store houae. think the frat ball struck
the ground near me, as the smoke rose all
around me.
ONLY FIRED ONE SHOT,
and after he quit shooting l quit also.
'1puiled nay 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 pis,ol
pointed at me. He fired twice and I
fired once after he. had fred his two
ahots, immediately after his secor d
shot..H
ACTING THE TRAGEDY.
That the reporter might make no mis-
take and should understand exactly his
account Of tho matter, Turner in the
Jail corridor gave sort of pantomimic
representation Of the affray.
Stepping off six PAGES from the report
or, and coolly counting As he stepped,
be said that was about the distance be-
tween him and Finger.
Raising his hand as though levelling a
pistol, he 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 eve
on 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
| edy, and ss to the published accounts
in reference to the same, Mr. Turner
| made the following statement:
| 81 was not particularly mad with T..
81. Finger, the man now dead, but had
heard Of his having threatened my life
on tive or more occasions.
! ''1t was 4 suit for $25, 900 damages
and not $40, 900 as stated in the news
papers, brought in the case for the Sc
duction of Clara Finger the elain mans
sister and my sister-n. law.
| "The day received tho summons I
went to Mrs. Fingers house, where f..
II. Finger lived, for the pur pose of stop
ping this suit. gave notice u Clara
Of my coming to tbc gate. Finger came
out On the piazza
| WITH HIS DoUBLE-BAKRELLED 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, and tho
matter ceased.
| AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE.
"Once after that, across the creek
from my store, he cursed me very loudly
and dared mc across the creek. / did
not go. This was the second case.
'Fll state that think that this man,
e. II. Finger, did not want to kill me or
account Of the seduction of his sister
but that he was persuaded or actuated
by my enemies"
HE SPEAKS OF Els sIsTER-IN-LAw.
After few moments reflection, or
being asked if he had anything NOR,
that ne wished TO say, Mr.. Turner
said:
81 have not spoken OF this seduction
matter before to any one but Sheriff
Nichols, but without saying that did
it. will say this:
II have one great reason why shoulC
always like my sister, Clara FINGER