The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-06-20

Uaunton, missouri, u. >. A., at the
age of seventy-four, Mr.. bud"
Turner, who was popularity known as
"America's champion man-killer.
During his lifetime this remarkable
individual accounted for the lives of
no fewer than forty-two men, each of
whom he slew single-handed, "for the
good of the community" Lest such
sanguinary record should lead the
reader to think Turner was some
Quarrelsome desperate, hasten to
add that for twenty years he was
FIRST deputy and then sheriff of what
was significantly styled "the toughest
county on earth"
Turner's exploits will live forever
in the checkered annals of Western
history, and his name is held in posi-
tive veneration by many people in the
Far West, for a braver man never
lived. In 1864, after the great gold
fields of California had in a measure
become worked out, many of the min
ers struck camp and headed for the
States of Colorado and Dakota, gold
and copper having been found there
in large quantities. All the gamblers,
"blacklegs," and crooks" in the
States had migrated to the goldfields,
and every outlaw and desperate
wanted by the police was living in
comparative safety somewhere In the
Far West Saloons, dance halls and
gambling dens all did a lourishing
business, and law and order were
minor quantities, for the appointed
officers usually LASTED" about one
day, and then either gave up their
Jobs in despair or were buried in a
plain wooden box. Every man car
ried brace of six-shooters, and used
them, too, on the slightest provoca-
tion--or none at all. Cold-blooded
murders were matters of hourly oc-
currence, and might was right every
where.
One day there sauntered into the
mining camp of Gold City. Colorado,
q young fellow heavily laden with
miners equipment. He was
stranger, and spoke to no one in pass
ing. Walking up the main street Of
the little town, he stopped before the
Palace Saloon, and, depositing his
pack on the sidewalk, went inside and
asked for a bottle of something
soft" soft" drinks, l should ex-
plain, was the term given by the
miners to soda-water and other nom
intoxicants.
There was loud laugh among the
habitues of the place at this unusual
request, and a brawny six-footer
called out, mockingly, Better drink
milk, sonny; then your ma won't
scold ye." Without needing the in-
terruptions, the young stranger again
asked quietly for some soda. There
upon the bartender, disgusted az his
pertinacity, struck him in the face
with a sponge saturated with water.
SIS that soft enough for ye?" he
asked, derisively.
The stranger slowly wiped his face;
then he walked round behind the bar,
picked the astonished bartender up
bodily, and threw him heavily against
the wall Next, holding him at arms
length, and ignoring the fellows
frantic struggles, he administered a
thrashing the man never forgot.
Dropping ! = victim in a corner, he
coolly and deliberately helped him
self to bottle of soda-water, threw
the money on the counter. and
walked quietly out of the place, leav-
ing the assembled miners struck
Il dumb with amazement at his nerve.
q This was Bud" Turner's first intro
duction to Gold City.
After some days prospecting the
young fellow staked out claim and
busied himself about his own camp,
never seeming to care for the COM
pany of the other miners. One night,
after lucky day, Bud" went into
the "town," which consisted of some
dozen wooden shanties that existed
under the courtesy titles of "hotels,
"bars" and dancing pavilions.
Just as he reached the first of these
he was grasped from behind, thrown
violently to the ground, and brutally
kicked about the body by the bar.
tender whom he had thrashed some
time before. The man had lain in
wait for him with several compan.
ions, and now meant to have his re-
yenge.
Half dazed, Turner struggled tc
MS leSli anu DciuB uudrme0, IOuBn
his assailants with bare fists. With
smashing blows the young minel
turned upon them, taking care Il
keep the men in front of him. Pay
ing particular attention to his ole
enemy the bartender, Bud dropped
him with Htinglng blow on the chin
Two of the others, in sheer admira
tion at Turner's pluck, ranged them
selves on his side, and the trio sooI
routed the others, who fed discom
fited. After this little fracas, thu
particulars OF which soon got noise'
abroad, Turner was spoken of, In tn
expressive slang Of the West. asN
"nervy kid" and was consequently
left alone, 1t. being seen he was n
easy customer to interfere with
Tot long afterwards the sheriff 0
Belknap County was shot aud kiile
in brawi at one of the dance halls
Turner, who had gone to his assist
ance, was also badly wounded, bu
not until he had dropped" his as
sailant and put an end to the tight b
shooting the lamps from their sock
ets When "Bud" recovered he wa
unanimously elected deputy sheriff