The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-08-09

@ something of him. He
~ was editor of the Sen
tinel, printed in Raleigh.
H His newspaper was feared
by the Republicans some OF
them.) His grim humor suit
ed the cruel times. Even
Judge Tourgee, author OF "A FooiS
Errand," dreaded his drastic utter
ances and was meas in his presence.
Turner's face had little vivacity. HIS
eyes were lustreless and the grasp of
his hand had neither warmth nor
energy and felt like q fish in the
dark" Many thought him incapable
of friendship; others declared him to
be kind and generous and a good
neighbor. He gave to Of
persons ridiculous names, such as Kill
dee. Greasy SAM, Sugar Lips, Rotating
Dick and the like, and these he pub
lished in the Sentinel.
In 1870 he was urged by his admir-
erS for the gOvernOrShlp at the next
election, in 1872. While he V ap-
plause. he made use of no e~xtraordi-
nary arts to preserve his popularity,
and only a few years later, he had be
come dissatisfied with the 'COnServa-
tives' and even sought to be a Re-
publican. In 1890, in an article en-
titled Blowing His Rams Horn" the
Durham Sun called him a political
orphan.
During the Kirk War, his singing
Holden that he reckless,y ordered
Turner's arrest. Nothing could have
suited the latter better, for Orange
county. his home, under the existing
statute, mad not been declared by the
Governor in a state OF insurrection
Mr.. Turner was marched around by
Kirk, with the other prisoners and,
first and last was imprisoned both in
Graham and Yanceyville.
After his arrest, true to his nature
he did what he could to irritate his
guards. and these were not at all pO-
lite and did not care a fig for Mr..
Turner's constitution rights. They
not only replied to his taunts in kind,
but played pranks upon him.
Should any lawyer read these recol-
lectionS, he might be entertained by
perusing the complaint in a suit for
large damages commenced by Mr..
Turner against Stephen A. Douglas,
in 1875. The latter had been Gov.
Holden's Acknowledgement in the Kirk
War, although then not quite twenty
years old. IN September, 1870, Turner
had brought suit against Holden,
Douglas and Bergen, for false impris-
onmcnt: but the action was discon-
tinued as to Douglas and was revived
in 1875.
Mr.. Douglas had employed me to
appear for him, and Col. .Rudin APP
peared also for Douglas. The "com-
plant" discloses the peculiar style and
temper of the plaintiff, as we'll as the
characteristics of the TROOPS having
him in custody, if the undisciplined
mob Of Col. Kinks command can be
called troops"
Col. Rutfn and myself considered
the complaint together, with a view
to making answer.
90 p,hS, no,
and much dignity and although he
keenly enjoyed a good joke, he seldom
laughed. Mr.. Turner, who was a law
yer, had written his own declaration.
When l read it aloud, it struck Col.
Ruffin SO ludicrously, that he fell on
the bed in my room at the hotel and
rolled over in d paroxysn of laughter.
1 ppo if Col. Ruffin enjoyed hi
unique pleading, in the manner de-
scribed, We may all do so. as we'll.
The occasional grotesque spelling,
which | reproduce, adds to the humor;
as Artemus Wards crooked orthog-
raphy rendered his conceits the more
whimsical.
Here follows the complaint. which
is quite like Mr.. Turner's writings in
the SentineI:
Josiah Turner VS.. Stephen A. Douglas
Superior Court. Orange County, Fall
Term. 1875.
The plaintiff complaining of the de-
PENDANT says:
]. That on the 5th day of August
1870, in the town OF Hillsboro, nea
which place in the county Of Orange
he resides. he was aSsa uIted with dead
ly muskets or rifles. cooked
and presented within shooting dis
lance. by a set or squad OF armed mer
calling or sitting themselves STATE
troops, or Militia of North Carolina
under n immediate 81
Lieut., HOneycut-of which troops OF
squad Of men George w. Kirk wa
oolohei. and Stephen A. Douglas was
deherai: duly commissioned and ap.
po1n'ea by Gov. w. w. Holden.
said took him prisoner without w..
rant or process of law and carried hin