St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-07
TURLINGTON'S turn.
Execution of One of the Most
Desperate Criminals in
the West.
His Many Wonderful Escapes
Rival the Plots of Ro-
maneePS.
The Deed for Which He Died
the Murder of Sheriff
CPanmer.
Shakespeare Reeves Hanged
in Delaware for FeloniOus
Assault.

BONNEVILLE, Mo-, March 6.-JOhn
Oscar burlington was hanged here at 10
O'Clock a. N. for tue murder of Sheriff
Cranmer, of Cooper county. His neck
was broken. Crowds had gathered
early. though only few were admitted
to witness the execution. At o'clock
this morning. at Turlington's request,
he was awakened, ate breakfast and
dOnned his funeral attire. As the hour
of execution approached he voluntarily
announced himself ready. burlington
placed himself beneath the moose, and
Immediately the rome and cap were adj
justed, followed closely by a signal
which launched burlington into eter-
nifty. At 1925 the body was cut down,
after life had been pronounced extinct,
and will be buried in the county'S bury
ing ground. Turlington's relatives have
evinced no desire to gain possession of
the body.
John Oscar burlington was q desperate of
the worst kind. His life was one series of
crime. In appearance he was more like
farmer than Il criminal. He was born in the
backwoOds of Kentucky and although but a
little over twentysiX years of age, he mad a
record that few criminals equaled. When
young he went West. and there began his
career of Wrongdoing. After numerous ex-
PLOTS in the Indian territory and Indiana
he went to kentucky. Getting into trouble
III the latter state he started for the West A
year ago this MONTH while going through
Missouri he was ordered from a freight train.
While jumping off the car he fired at the
brakeman and then ran away. He was ar
rested and locked up in the Boonville Jail to
await trial for assault. Owing to his quiet
behavior, which was assumed, TurlingIOn's
0pSnpr1tp
he was allowed considerable liberty in the
Jali. When the time came to lock up the
prisoners i'll their cells burlington drew a
revolver just as Cranmer inserted the kew in
the lock OF his cell door. The sheriff quickly
drew his pistol and the men EXCHANGED shots
Cranmer being wounded, and dying the next
day, burlington escaping. burlington was
captured by posse a few miles from Boom
vile. AT the trial it was shown that simple
minded lad confined i'll the Jail for minor
otfense who had been released secre tly passed
revolver to burlington through the window
OF his cell burlington was convicted
of murder in the first degree and
sentenced TO be hanged on Sept II.
The case was taken Oh appeal to the supreme
court Rendered impatient by the delay in
cldent TO the appeal the citizens of Cooper
county began 10 talk of lynching and this
coming 10 Turlington's knowledge he de-
termlned TO escape rather Than become vic
tim of the advocates of lynch law. Finding
that circumstances favored him in his de-
sign, he, on the night of Nov. /, made his
escape from the Jail. AS soon as it was
known that he was at large Il posse was or
ganized and started after the fugitive For
a week a strict search was continued, but
burlington could not be found. On Nov H.
the welcome tidings was received at Boon
vile that the murderer had been caught in
Kentucky. 1t was known that the murderer
had many relatives and friends in that state
ana officers of every small town had
been notified to be on the watch. The re-
wards amounting 10 over 81, 3U5 were enough
to put every man on his guard. and Turing
ton was placed behind the bars at Ceseyville.
Ky. The Boonyille authorities could hardly
believe their good fortune when first apprised
of the arrest. little later, however, came
a telegram as follows:
"A. Hornbeck. sheriff, Boonyille, Mo
am captured. Please have your deputy sher-
Ills ana officers to have me protected from
the men. John Oscar burlington
Sheriff Hornbeck at once went to Jefferson
City and obtained the proper requisition
papers. He then went TO Frankfort KY. to
have the papers honored. His deputy, W L.
S,paLer, started direct to Caseyville to hold
the prisoner until HOrnbecks arrival. 1t ap-
pears, however, that Turlington's captors be-
came alarmed that they would lose the re-
ward If they let their prisoner off their
hands, and having obtained Turlington's
consent, started with the man TO BOonYilIe
AT Evansville, Ind, they encountereh Spaher,
who demanded the prisoner. He had no
papers, however. and was refused. Spaher
then came on with the Kentucky men to this
state. After being raturned to jail Turling-
ton once more escaped, but was captured
when he got TO Otterville, only thirly-five
miles from BoOnville. On Jan 81 last the
supreme court rendered its decision, sustain
ing the decision OF the trial court and fixing
the date of the execution for to-day