The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-06
Ed TURNER IS DEAD
Missouri acific Engineer Ex-
pires in Mexican Hospital.
CONFINED IN A DUNGEON
For Eight Months Without
TriaI--Wife'S Great Grief

Edward Turner, former Missouri Pa
ciac engineer. who has been confined in
q Mexican prison at orizaiba, Mexico,
since last June. is dead. The report was
confirmed by letter received by Assist
ant Postmaster Jewett from United
States consul Canada at Vera Cruz, but
the manner Of Turner'S death IS not
stated. The letter is as follows:
"vera Cruz, Mex, Jan. 30, 1900.
ITO the Postmaster, Wichita, Kan.
Dear Sir: One Edward Turner, rail-
road engineer, who has a family in your
city, died on the 2Sth instant IN the hos
pital in this city.
"a few days ago he read a letter to
me from his wife, and 1 am sure she
lives in your city, but I DO not know her
name or address. VIII you be so kind as
20 convey the news to her in as mild a
manner as possible; for tnasmuch as sne
expected him home soon, am sure 1t
will be a terrible shock to her, and you
being on the ground can best judge as to
the manner.
Thanking you in advance for the favor
asked, I am, very respectfully yours,
''WAI. H. CANADA,
CT. S. Consul"
Judge Jewett sent the letter TO MI.
Turner who works at the little round
house Of the Missouri Pacific on First
street, who afterwards took 1t to the I'M
suspecting widow. Mr.. Turner was ac-
cornpanied 10y a lady friend, for he knew
- -o1n
in the grief that would follow the read
ing Of the letter. Mrs. Turner lVes Win
her three little children at Sl3 North
Wichita street. The news was a great
shock to her and her grief was great. she
dad been expecting her husband nome
as at last, she said, the Mexican authorl-
les had decided TO give him hearing
and he was satisfied he would come clear
In his last letter he had written in very
cheerful manner. 81 hope 1 will have
good news to tell you next time" he
said at the close OF his letter, but that
news never came. Instead there came a
cold message Of death. 1t is supposed he
vas buried in the American cemetery at
Vera Cruz beside the grave of his brother
zho died at Vera Cruz last summer.
Turner was arrested and aput in prison
"A Orizaba, Mexico, June G. last, for be
ing in a wreck on the Mexican Central
railroad. His train ran into another train,
end three persons were killed in the
collision. The engineer of the other train
leaned and made his way out Of the
,ountry. but Turner was injured in one
ar-n and could not escape. if he had so
7~ red. He was at once taken to prison
wit a
--,5er Of Mexican greasers and for a
a.le he thought he could not live in the
&c Tine and again he appealed to the
narities for a hearing, but it was de-
him The Knights of Pythias of this
itv interested themselves in his behalf,
.acured the assistance Of Governor
aicy. but nothing was accomplished
.-.ij Attorney David DIlts and his sis
se~ Of Leon. Kansas, took the matter
D. They had relatives at Vera Cruz and
through them the American consul Sc
cured a lawyer to defend Turner. Tur-
- ana another engineer named Mckay
we've transferred from the Mexican prison
ct OriZaba to a prison at Vera Cruz,
where they were to Zoe tried. The change
of climate and water had a bad effect
n the prisoners and they We're i'll the
last time Mrs. Turner heard from her
husband. but it was thought the Illness
was only temporary and slight. Turner's
arm which was injured in the wreck had
been so badly treated by the prison ply
sicans that it had never got well, and he
wrote his wife that he would have moth
ing more done with it until he reached
Wichita. The day he wrote the last let
ter to his wife he was removed from the
prison to the Casa de Tencion to be
treated for illness, and there, it is sup
posed. he died of a fever.
The deceased left no insurance for his
family. He had been member Of the
Order of Locomotive Engineers at Ell o.
rado, but he had allowed his dues to
elapse and has not been in. good standing
for several months. The Knights Of
Pythias and Rathbone Sisters have been
very attentive and kind to Mrs Turner
during the husbands confinement in pris-
on. and SO far the family have been wea
cared for. Mrs. Turner is a hard working
woman.
\ reporter for the Eagle called TO see