The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-20
THE KILLING OF TURNER.
An Eyewitness Relates. the Details
of The Tragedy

After three DAYS spent in obtaining a
jury. the taking of testimony in the case
Of Charles L. McUin. charged with the
murder Of Robert Turner. was begun yes
terday The first witness called by the
Government was Bertha Crown. a fifteen
year-old girl, the only eyewitness to the
tragedy. Despite her years and inexperi-
ence. Miss Grown made an excellent wit
ness and told a remarkably clear and con-
else story Of the killing Of Turner. A
lengthy. searching cross examination by
counsel for the defence failed to shake
the witness testimony in relation to any
material fact or circumstance connected
with the affair.
The trial OF McUin commenced on Tues
day, and by noon on that day the panel
Of regular jurors summoned for the month
Of April was exhausted without a jury
having been selected. Justice Cisbaugh,
who presided at the trial, ordered forty
extra talesmen summoned to report lot
duty Wednesday morning. and these, too
were examined without a jury having been
chosen. The court then ordered twenty
FIVE more talesmen TO be summoned and
TO report for jury duty Wednesday morn
ing. These, too. were exhausted at noon
without completing the jury. Justice ca
baugh then instructed Marshal Palmer
10 summon forty more talesmen to report
for duty at $3.50 ?. NJ Out of the last lot
the jury was completed. The panel is
composed as follows. Wallace Murdoch.
Adolphus F. Lipphardt, George Z Long.
James c. Carroll. Samuel W. Stewart
George ". Thomas. John A. Bligh. John
Mcdonald. John NJ. Browner, Thornton
Lewis Rudolph Barthe, jT., and Francis
J. Heiherger. jr.
The defendant is represented by Tracy
L. Jenords and Representative James d.
Richardson, Of Tennessee, and the Govern
ment by United States District Atto7-
ney Anderson and Assistant District
Attorney Ashley NJ Gould. Mr.. Richard
son, however. was not present yesterday
during the proceedings.
Miss Crown. when called to the witness
stand fixed her age as a little more than
a month over fifteen years. She said that
she had known the deceased, Turner, for
q few months before he was killed, and
that she had known the defendant, whom
she referred to as Mr.. McUiu. for about
a year and a half She admitted that sic
and the defendant were at one time good
friends: that MCUin had proposed mar
rage to her. She. however, rejected his
suit about four months before Turner was
. Killed. At the time the defendant proposed
marriage Miss Crown was living in her
stepmothers house. at 101 Eleventh Street
northeast. At that time McUin, the wit
ness stated, was employed as a conductor
on the Metropolitan Railroad.
Many OF the employees OF the Metropoli-
tan Railroad. Miss Crown said. boarded
with her stepmother, Mrs Sarah Crown,
and it was part Of her duty to take the
boarders' lunch and dinner TO them on the
trains. For this purpose she made two
trips each day to the corner of East Capitol
and Eleventh Streets. Often. in the sum-
mer, Miss Crown said, she would get on
one OF the cars and go to the barn. at the
east terminus Of the line, TO get and bring
back home the dinner baskets. 1t was on
one OF these trips that she became ac-
quainted with the deceased.
Il was while McUin was living at her
stepmother's house Miss Crown stated,
that he lost his position on the railroad,
and she was so interested in him that she
advised him not to leave the city but to
get something else to do. Whether it was
in accordance with Miss Crowns wishes CT
not. MeUin did not leave the city, but
bought out a cigar stand at Eleventh
street northeast. While the defendant IVES
engaged in the cigar business her step
.
and she carried them to him at the cigar
store. At this time. she stated. however.
that she had given MCUin plainly to IN
derstand that she was done with him, 20
far as considering his proposal OF marriage
was concerned. and told him to leave Ter
alone and not 10 speak to her about t
again.
IN the mean time. Miss Crown had be-
come friendly with Turner. and on the
-rHrra n-r HarnH
corner Of East Capitol and Eleventh
Streets. where he was waiting to take a
car to go TO mis- work Her business at the
place mentioned al that time was to carry
dinners TO two Of the employees Of the
railroad. Il was not quite time for Tur-
ner TO 90 10 work, and he stood talking
10 her. AS they conyersed. Miss Crown
saidr NeUin. VINO had often followed Ter
passed by and muttered something which
neither she nor Turner understood she
was obliged to make another trip to the
house for two more dinner baskets and
Turner accompanied her. When they ar
rived at the house she said McUln was
standing IN the doorway Turner remained
On the pavement while she went in to get
the baskets. As she passed out with the
I baskets. enc in each hand McUin knocked
I them from her grasp. She did not say
anything TO him but picked up the baskets
and started on her way.
As she Joined Turner on the pavement
Miss Crown alleged. McUin rushed down
I from the porch. and. taking hold OF Turner
! with his left hand. dealt him a blow on
! the chest with his right. McUin followed
I this up with a blow on the left side Of
I Turner'S head, which knocked him down
McUin then. the witness said, knelt down
over Turner and struck him several more
blows. She did not think that Turner was
seriously hurt. and went on to the rail-
road and delivered the baskets to the men
10 whom they belonged. II was when she
returned TO the house that she was told
that Turner was stabbed in the head and
was in an unconscious condition.
During the early part OF the day. Miss
Crown averred, McUin was at her step
mothers house. and that he was very
much under the influence Of liquor. He
went TO sleep on a sofa. and after about
four hours awake. He was then sober. the
witness thought.
Policeman Arthur Stahl who arrested
McUin a few minutes after his assault upon
! Turner and locked him up at the Ninth
! police station, was called and testified to