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


murder of Robert Turner. was begun yes
terday. The first witness called by the
Government was Bertha Crown, fifteen
year-old girl, the only eyewitness to the
tragedy. Despite her years and inexperi-
ence, Miss Crown 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 jury
having been selected. Justice Clabaugh,
who presided at the trial, ordered forty
extra talesmen summoned to report Tor
duty Wednesday morning, and these, too.
were examined without 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 Cla-
baugh then instructed Marshal Palmer
to summon forty more talesmen to report
for duty at $3.50 p. 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 W. Thomas. John A. Bigh, John
Mcdonald, John NJ. Browner, Thornton
Lewis Rudolph Barthe. jT., and Francis
J. Heberger, jr
is ranrpCpptpI hV Tracy
L. Jeffords and Representative James d.
Richardson. of Tennessee. and the Govern
ment by United States District Attor-
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 little more than
a month over fifteen years. She said that
she had known the deceased, Turner. for
a few months before he was killed, and
that she had known the defendant, whom
she referred TO as Mr.. McUin. for about
a year and half She admitted that ste
and the defendant were at one time good
friends; that McUin had proposed mar
riage 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 &C
quainted with the deceased.
1t 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. MoUin did not leave the city, but
bought out cigar stand at 2 Eleventh
street northeast. While the defendant wes
engaged in the cigar business her step
mother continued to serve him with meals,
and she carried them to him at the cigar
store. At this time, she stated, however
that she had given Mcuin plainly to I'M
derstand that she was done with him. so
far as considering his proposal of marriage
was concerned and told him to leave Ter
alone and not to speak to her about it
again.
In the mean time. Miss Crown had be-
come friendly with Turner. and on the
evening be was killed she met him at the
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 at that time was to carry
dinners to two of the employees Of the
railroad. II was not quite time for Tur-
ner to go TO work. and he stood talking
to her. AS they conversed, Miss Crown
saidrl McUin, VINO had often followed Ler,
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 McUin was
standing in the doorway Turner remained
On the pavement while she went in to get
the baskets. As she passed out with the
baskets, one in each hand. McUin knocked
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 Grown alleged, McUin rushed down
from the porch. and, taking hold OF Turner
with his left hand. dealt him a blow on
the chest with his right. McUin followed
this up with blow on the left side of
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 few minutes after his assault upon
Turner and locked him up at the Ninth
police station, was called and testified to
this fact