The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-12
BEAI,FED STEPFATHER.
Citizen of Warrenville, Meets Cruel
Death at Hands of his Stepson,
- Ben Turner, 19 Years Old.


Aiken. July 9.-Last night about
g o'clock Riley L. Johnson. highly
respected citizen of Warrenville. met
horrible death at the hands OF his
,stepson. Ben Turner, a lad Of nine
teen. The dead mans body lay on
the ground at his home. about one
mile from Warrenville, last night:
and this morning the coroner went
down to the scene of the tragedy and
aeld the inquest. The body was found
in the yard just as it had fallen when
he was struck on the head and BRAIN
ed with an axe. Early this morning
Turner came to Aiken and surrender
ed to the scheriff. and he is now in
Jail to await trial on the charge OF
numbering his stepfather.
The News and Courier correspond
ent went to the scene Of the sad ira
sedy this morning. In the front yard
Shere was great pool Of blood, with
particles of the dead mans brains
scattered on the ground and spatter-
ed on the edge Of the porch. On a
stretcher under a tree lay the body.
tOn the head were the imprints of four
fearful blows, either of which would
have caused death, as the skull was
broken each time.
At me inquest the following facts
were brought out: For some time
there ha.> not been goo1 feeling be-
tween the boy and his stepfather.
Last Friday they had quarrel, and
on Sunday afternoon Mr.. John Muir
reil testified that johnson told him
shat if he had to whip Ben he would
do it or kill him.
Monday night as the family were
about to retire johnson was seated
On the front porch, Turner went into
the house to retire and it was then
shat johnson asked him about the
ploushing of some land, and a quar-
rel arose in which johnson told Tur-
ner that he must leave at once. Tur-
ner replied that he would leave as
soon as he finished his crop, Or some
thing similar to that. Mrs. Johnson,
wife of: the deceased and mother OF
Turner. testified that Johnson drew
his pistol on Turner, whereupon
Turner picked up an axe that was IN
the room and struck him on the
head. johnson fell under the piazza
ealing anl on to the ground. At this
stage Mrs. johnson turned from the
scene and did not see what happened
afted that. As his head bore four ter
z7fe blows it is supposed that Turner
went out when johnson fell and dealt
She other blows, and there is no doubt
but that it was the intention to kill
she man. From two Of the wounds the
brains we're knocked out, and IN The
Others !.,e skull was broken. On the
ground about two feet from his lay
ahe pistol. and in his pocket this.
morning were found pair Of knucks.
\ The jury found that death had re-
suited from blows from all axe III the
bands Of Ben Turner.
johnson is prominently connected,
being tie sou Of Mr.. and Mrs. Dave
Z. Johnson. Of this city. He is surv1v-
eI by five brothers-Wells, Fitzhugh,
Malcolm. Wilbur and Olin johnson.
Fitzhueh johnson is prominent
young man Of Augusta, while all OF
the family stand we'll. Ben Turner
IS young man. who has always been
looked upon as an exceptionally good
boy. He is a nephew Of ES-SherlH
Turner. and nephew Of Mr.. James
L. Quinby, Of Graniteville. The at
fair is greatly deplored by the friends
Of the deceased and the Turner'S. Un-
I'll recently Johnson resided IN Au-
.2usta, but is an Aiken man.