The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-04-01

in> some states. into preferment- And
20 he announced for the Legislature
from Tallapo0sa County. II 10 said
here that his slogan was mostly vindi-
cation. He attacked his prosecutors"
and canvassed as one who had suffered
for the sake Of q system. that had for
decades been an unhidden feature Of
southern business life. Then, too.
Turner had not lived here these many
years without making friends. He had
them In large numbers. These and
the Indifferent, whom he aroused. put
him In once. Therefore, he sat In the
hall Of the House Of Representatives
during the main and extra sessions Of
1907.
Surrounded By Friends.
Nor IL Turner without friends In his
present trouble. He was far more
influential man In his community than
mis- victim, Jack Henderson. He 10 the
owner of large plantation about six
miles from the city. He was q great
mixer and known personally 20 . big
majority OF Tailapoosa County people.
To guard his fate in this trial he has
secured about all the lawyers Of whom
padeviiie boasts. There are ON his
side the well known State Executive
Committeeman w. M Lackey. round
and emphatic; the vigorous nghter of
B. Rylances and b. B. Bridges, and J !.
Percy Oliver.
IT IL said that the defense will strive
to show that the dead man was the
aggressor In thet meeting last October
ON the city square. that resulted In the
staying Of Jack Henderson. A few
witnesses were introduced during the
preliminary trial. who seemed to be
Of the opinion that the defendant was
tai H. ~ ~
rumored that the defense will produce
= pistol, which by some witness may
be proven to have been the property Of
the deceased. This. Notwithstanding
there was no weapon save q pocket
knife found on the victim, 80 far as
the general public knew.
Eliminating the theories Of both
sides. the story OF the killing was
about as follows:
story % the Knlins.
About two years ago, before either
Of the CONTESTANTS met, Jack Hender-
son Is said to have been purchasing q
suit OF clothes In local store. Fletch-
or Turner walked In. There was re-
mark to which Henderson took excep-
tion. A hot passage of words followed
but trouble was averted by peacemak-
ers. But the olive branch lost it's in
fiuence and shortly after the incident
Of the clothes the two enemies met in
the shadow Of the courthouse where the
quarrel was renewed. There was q Sc
rious clash and shot or two was fred
but no one hit. They were separated
without much Injury to either, though
II - said Henderson was battered with
something, probably the butt Of Turn
er's pistol. But the blame for this en-
counter did not seem to attach to
Turner FOR he was never indicted and
It remained almost forgotten until the
terrible reminder of the feud came to
shock the community last October.
Henderson then was walking along
the sidewalks In the heart Of the town.
A few eye witnesses OF the shooting
saw him approach the center of the
block facing the court house. Sud
denly pistol shots rang out. 1t was
about dusk. but IL was easy to recog-
nize the parties. Henderson was be-
ing attacked by Turner. who had been
standing in front of a store. Whether
Henderson attacked first 1t will be for
the trial to develop. Turner during
the preliminary examination testified
that Henderson passed him and as he
had heard threats of the latter he ac-
costed him. Turner said Henderson
then turned and with an oath started
towards him with his hand on his hip
pocket Witnesses for the State do
not relate 1t that way. They were I'M
able to see Henderson facing Turner
at any time. The wounds, the State
will try to prove, all came from the
rear. At least, according to Solicitor
w. b Bowling. the bullets seemed to
have entered from behind. There were
I'VE or six wounds. The State Will try
to prove that Henderson never knew
what killed him. The deceased fell and
expired about ten feet from whore he
stood when the shooting began.
AS the result OF the preliminary trial
Turner was allowed bail in the sum of
$4,000 That was about a week after
the shooting. This was looked on as
quite favorable to his case until the
community was surprised last week
with the indictment OF the grand jury
charging him with murder In the first
degree. He was then arrested and
taken to jail.