The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-12
TWO POINTS ARE RAISED
IN THE TURNER MURDER CASE ON
TRIAL IN THE CRIMINAL COURT.
Special Judge Healing Takes Them
Under Advisement-A Trial of
Interest to Lawyers.
Attorney John w. Healing, who is acting

Attorney John w. Healing, who is acting
as special judge in the case against John
Turner, the young colored man who is on
trial in the Criminal Court for the murder
of his wife, Laura Turner, went home last
night with two important legal problems in
his head which he must solve. On of these
points was raised by the attorneys who are
defending Turner and who are making a
hard fight for their client
Yesterday morning the States attorneys
called DIR. Karchner to the witness stand
to ask him about Mrs. Turner's wounds.
DR.. Karchner went with the ambulance
which was sent to remove Mrs. Turner to
the hospital after her husband had as
saulted her with razor. At the request of
Prosecutor Pugh the physician described
Mrs. Turner's wounds. He said that three
of the jugular veins were severed, but the
carotid, the main artery, had not been
touched. On cross-examination Attorney
McCray asked the physician if he did not
know that had three jugulars been severed
/ Mrs. Turner would have bled to death be-
fore the ambulance reached her. The State
vigorously objected TO this question. con-
tending that it asking for an expert
ner was not put on the stand to give tes-
timony Of an expert character, but was
merely there to report Mrs. Turner's condi-
ton as he had observed it. The defense in
sisted that they had right to ask the ply
stefan this question. They held that they
were entitled to show by the witness him
self that Mrs. Turner could have lived but
a short time with three jugular veins sew
cred. Judge Healing would not allow the
witness to answer the question and took
the matter under advisement.
THE OTHER POINT.
The other point, which may cause Judge
Healing to lose some sleep in his effort to
decide it justly, was raised by the defense
during the testimony Of Mrs. Eliza Ward,
sister of Mrs. Turner. 1t was at Mrs
Wards house that Mrs. Turner was as
saulted. Mrs. Ward testified that she was
awakened in the night by hearing her sis
ter scream. She arose and rushed into Mrs.
Turner'S room. AS she entered the cham
Der Turner left it. The prosecuting at
torney asked Mrs. Ward what her sister
said when she screamed. Turner's lawyers
objected to this question. They held that
IL would not be competent testimony for
the witness to tell what her sister said I'M
less it was known that Turner was pres
ent when she said 1t. Mrs. Ward, being
in another room, could not know whether
Turner was in his wife's room at the time
she screamed. 1t is presumed, of course,
that he was, but the attorney held that
the witness could not testify to this fact,
and consequently she ought not to be per-
mitted TO answer the question of the State.
This question Judge Healing also took I'M
der advisement.
Among the witnesses yesterday was
James Moore. who, since the tragedy, has
married a sister of Mrs. Turner. Moore
testified that the night before Mrs. Turner
was assaulted by her husband he (Moore)
was at Mrs. Jackson's, where Turner
boarded. Moore was sitting on the porch
when Turner came home that night. He
testified that Turner said to him: II feel
kind of funny tonight. 1 feel just like
did the night l cut that niger in Louis
Vile" The witness said that Turner then
made a threat against his wife.