The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-09-04
HANGNfAN'S DAY.
The Sheriffs Engaged I'm a Needfui
Work-ExecutiOn OF Criminals
under Sanction of the Inv

The Shertffs Engaged I'm a Needfll
Work-Execution of Criminals
under Sanction of the Law.
The execution of four criminals on
Friday, Sept. lst, under sentence of
the courts of this State, is a refreshing
return to law and order, especially
when 1T is conceded that the courts
had dealt justly with the accused.
Murder and arson are the crimes ex-
plated on the gallows, and in each
instance there was the clearest
evidence of guilt on the part of the
condemned.
George S. Turner, a white man, and
prosperous citizen of Spartanburg
County, was hanged in the Jail yard at
Spartanburg for the murder of his
borther-in-law, Edward III. Finger,
which occurred on the 7th of March, 1890,
Valley Falls, at the home of Turner.
Ihiscase has excited more than usual in
terest, because of the relations existing
between the parties, the financial
standing of the accused, the family
influences and reputation, and the
successful manner in which the defen-
dants lawyers had stayed the righteous
sentence Of the court.
Only few years before the murder
OF Finger, a young foreigner named
julius MetzlSia, working on the farm,
was Killed by Turner, and after two
trials for this crime ho was acquitted
IN 1883, largely upon the evidence of
Ed. Finger and his sister, tho girl who
was afterwards betrayed by Turner,
and who lived in the house with him
This betrayal led to the difficulty in
which Ed. Finger lost his life, and for
Friday last.
Ed. Finger was the natural protector
OF the frail girl, and he made fire.
quent threats of his purpose to kill
Turner, who only laughed at tho youths
rawlings. Several times q collision
seemed imminent, but not un-
TIL Finger came along one day in an in
toxicated condition did the uuarrels
result seriously. Finger was on his
way home from Spartanburg, and he
was armed for the fray. He challeng-
ed Turner to mortal combat, and the
result of the encounter was that Finger
received fatal wound, from which he
died in few minutes.
Turner surrendered to tho authOri-
ties, and employed able lawyers to con-
duct his defence, which was justifiable
homicide. Judge Wallace refused to
grant bail, as it was a case of delib.
crate murder, and the accused was
convicted in few months before
Judge Norton, who sentenced him to
legal fight then began, and for three
years the prisoner has been vacillating
between hope and fear, as his case was
passed 5Gil;2n ii; by Ge Sabceme Court at
different tiiHeSs: His lawyers left no
stone unturned to save his necF, d!8a
the final decision was reached when
Judge Wallace sentenced him to be
hanged on Friday, Sept. 1st, 1898.
There were rumois in the early part
OF the week that an attempt would be
made to rescue Turner from the
clutches OF the law, but there was no
foundation for the rumors. Tho con-
demned man was attended by spiritual
advisers, and said he was prepared to
meet his God His family visited the
cell on the morning Of the execution,
when he babe farewell to his wife and
three children. The wife was greatly
overcome, but Turner remained stoical
and unmoved, except that he urged
upon the companion whom he had SO
cruelty wronged that she would care
fully train his children and with them
meet him on the other shore.
Sheriff George B. Dear conducted the
execution, and his preparations were
complete and successful. The doomed
man remained q ..lectly calm while the
plen.sinarios were being arranged,
and at the conclusion Of fervent
prayer by Rev. w. II. Derieux, he
stepped firmly upon the death-trap,
which in few minutes launched him
into eternity, and the tragedy was
ended.
Governor Tillman refused to inter-
fere in the case of Turner. although
strenuous efforts were made to secure
executive clemency.
John Ferguson, colored, was hanged
at Laurens for the brutal murder of
his wife in March last, in which there
were no DISCRIMINATING circumstances
Upon the same gallows Wade Cannon
and George Bowers, also colored, met
their fate for the burning of the house
occupied by j. D. Hairston, near Gold
vile, JIaurens County. Both confessed
the crime, which was committed to
conceal the knowledge of petty theft.