The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-28
SHOOTS TRUE AND WON'T RUN
THAT'S WHY TURNER ~ CALLED
THE MEDICINE MAN.
A Deputy sher,H's Power Over La"'ess
Negro Miners In Missouri Camp
Test Applied to New Arrivals--Hov .
Lonely Prisoner secured Company.

-Test Applied 10 New ATrNas--hoS
Lonely Prisoner secured Company.
MACON. Mo. June 2o-The Missouri
Medicine Man IL what the negro miners
at Camp al call Deputy Sheriff Edward
Turner. II they knew combination OF
words to express greater power they would
Use 1t when referring to him. 1t neAns
that he can shoot straight and won't rum
1t IL the highest compliment that could be
given to any one by the desperate negroes
from Alabama. the EIkhorn Valley, Vir-
gina and Indian Territory. oongregated
at 81
When the riots OF 1893 we're on, Turner
went into camp alone The negroes were
armed with repeating rifles and six-shooters
They had been shooting at the white miners
Of other collieries and refused to sur
render their guns TO the officers OF the
law
The Medicine Man had not yet won his
spurs He slipped past the sentry and
went to the residence Of the company's
physician, DR.. Smith.
Doc" he said, II wish you would get
your tools and things and 20 long with
me-"
Some one hurt?" inquired the physician
Not yet"
There was light In the barracks. The
negroes were gambling The officer had
a warrant for two men supposed to be in
the crowd He flung the door open and
pulled out his pistols.
On the tables we're dice, cards, chips.
money and revolvers--one to each player.
The gamesters reached for their weapons.
"Sit still, boys" said the deputy. IF
you touch gun III have to shoot"
Some one blew out the lights. The
deputy put one Of his pistols back in his
pocket and touched of match, Every
man had picked up his pistol. The deputy
lighted the lamp on the first table
Put them guns back on the table, he
said.
A negro from the Territory with rings
in his ears jumped up and swore that no
man should take him alive. He rushed
up to the deputy, brandishing his weapon.
Turner was small man with shifty.
blue eyes. His mouth wears a chronic grin
and his chin is twice the size Of an ordinary
mans. The doctor who stood outside
opened his case. and took out his lint and
bandages.
But his apprehension was ungrounded
The negro stopped before he reached the
deputy and his little nickel-plated pistol
"Put your gun with the others said
Turner.
The half-breed obeyed and skunk back in
the crowd,
II want just two niegers out Of this
bunch, remarked the deputy, Aaron Beck
man and Jim Brooks"
The others instinctively glanced at the
men whose names were called, ard that
was enough for the deputy.
"Come here, you two, he said, indicating
them.
They came forward and submitted TO ar
rest without asking what the charge was
The others resumed their game. The
thing was all over in five minutes and not
shot had been fired.
Some Of the men were from Pana, III.
and had been through the riots there. Others
were from the convict mines at Birming-
ham, Ala. with price upon their heads 3
The Elkhorn Valley and Indian Territory
we're also well represented By fugitives
from Justice. Two out of every three had
records.
The superintendent Of the mines told
the detective it was the nerviest thing he
had ever heard Of
II don't know about that. said Turner.
1T would have taken twice as much nerve
to run. They'd a shot then, sure"
Since that day the county's business in
collieries where the negroes work has been
entrusted to Turner. He has never had his
pistol out down there since. Every man
and woman has acquired a personal &C.
quaintance with him. They 60 on dr. ink
ing, gaming and shooting one another the
same as usual, but they have new er resisted
the officer since. To them he is a friend in
misfortune. an advocate in court and a
kindly custodian in Jail. m &c veral oc-
cssions he has nnelt at tho cot Of negro
miner who was a second or two backward
about pulling a trigger, and prayed for
him,
The cause OF the negroes respect for
Turner Is summed up in one sentence:
"He amt skeered to die Two years ago
a Missouri negro, Dan Crews, went out to
81 to tend bar for a saloon man. Crews
was five foot ten. weighed 200 pounds and
was as strong as a mule.
When the playwright roundup came
the black miners. as a matter Of course,
started in to test the nerve Of the new
citizen. About midnight they blew up ole
end OF the saloon with chunk OF dynamite
and then went around to the front door
to see what the new bartender was going
to do about it.
"Gem 'mens Gem mems! Fer de Lords
sake em'me out OBJ dis he pleaded.
That settled It. He wasn't At to tend
bar at 81. The big guns came out and
Crews started for the woods. They didn't
trv TO kill him. but 1t kept two doctors busy
all the next day taking the bullets out Of
his legs and arms.
When Crews got well there was talk Of
sending him back to the saloon. A com
mittee waited on the proprietor.
What's the matter with DAMP Amt he
a good barkeeper3" he asked.
SNaw!' responded the leader with con-
tempt. "Hc am 'fraid to die"
Crews was disgrace to the race because
he wouldn't stand up and shoot back when
an opportunity was made for him. They
live up to their creed. Indifference to
death Is the passport to social recognition.
One day last April Barney Smith was
approached by his sweetheart, Lavlna
Lewis. She carried revolver, and ar he
had been paying attentions to another
woman. he knew she was going to shoot and
that he deserved it. Barney was unarmed.
All he said was
Is yer gwine ter shoot me. honey"
.Honey's" answer was bullet that tore
a hole through his breast. He fell to the
ground. Then. she became sorry. ran for