The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-02
OvERTURNER' DEATH.
Officials of Mexican Republic
Will Investigate Suit
FOR $4,000 DAMAGES
Has Created Considerable
Discussion Among Officers.

Much discussion has arisen in Mexican
official circles over the death Of Edward
Turner. the Wichita Missouri Pacific en-
gineer who died in prison at Orizaba,
where he was sent for being in wreck
and the suit of Mrs. Turner, his widow
for s25, 900 damages.
The attorney general Of Mexico, IN con-
cert with the departments Of foreign re-
lations and justice, has appointed Lie.
Alberto Lombardo to proceed to JaIapa
and Vera Cruz from Mexico City to inves-
tigate the circumstances attendant upon
the death Of Engineer Turner, to find out
whether his death was due to negligence
or lack Of proper care on the part or the
prison or hospital authorities and whether
any unnecessary delay occurred in the
investigation of the charge for criminal
carelessness in causing a railriad COLI
sion.
Official circles in Washington City have
become interested, and Senator Baker
will take a hand in seeing that the in
vestigation is just and thorough. dis
patch from washington says.
Senator Baker has just been advised
by the State department or the death In
prison at Vera Cruz, Mexico, on January
81 of Edward Turner, an American citi-
zen, who formerly resided at Ell Dorado>
Kan. While in Kansas Mr.. Turner was
an engineer in the employ of the Missouri
Pacific railway and left the state for the
purpose of accepting a more remunerative
position on the Mexican Central Railway.
Shortly after assuming the duties of his
new position collision occurred near the
station Of Eucinal, Mexico, between the
engine of which Mr.. Turner had charge
and the engine in charge of Engineer
McVey. The accident resulted in the
very serious injury of one Florencio Va
lez, who afterward died from the effects
Of the injuries received. Mr.. Turner was
also quite seriiusly hurt, and was sent to
the hospital for treatment. After his
discharge from the hospital he was ar
rested and held for homicide, as pro-
vided by the Mexican law, although in
no wise at fault Engineer McVey sue
ceeded in GLIDING the authorities Mr..
Turner was imprisoned in Vera Cruz, and
since his incarceration Senator Baker has
made strenuous efforts, through the State
department, TO bring about his speedy trial
and release from the prison at Vera Cruz,
as Mr.. Turner complained bitterly Of the
unsanitary and otherwise filthy condition
Of the penitentiary, but after investigation
the State department found itself power
less to act in the premises, as his con-
f1nement did not in any way overstep the
Mexican law governing such matters. His
trial was postponed. from time to time,
until finally, on the 2Sth of January, he
died. The immediate cause of his death
was doubtless due to long imprisonment
and his unhealthful environment.
While in Kansas Mr.. Turner was
a very popular and respected rail-
road engineer, and since the de-
plorable accident, which resulted in
his arrest and subsequent Imprisonment,
many prominent citizens of the state have
exerted themselves in his behalf through
Senator Baker and the State department,
and. although his case was given every
attention by the American ambassador to
Mexico and the consul at Vera Cruz no
satisfactory result was attained,