Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-21
Turner Case Opens.

The Turner case, in which Fred Lee
vere and Henry Gazette are charged
Jointly with the robbery of gold
watch, chain ard ring valued at SS9
from Alexander ]. Turner. Civil War
veteran, April %, 1872, at Levere's
house on Willow street in Augusta,
went ON trial,
Lee Pierce, conductor for the Lew
iston, Augusta Sc Waterville St. Ry
testified that Turner came to Augusta
from Tegus on his car on the morning
of april 49, he ring taken from the
Levere house was identified by the
witness as the one which Turner wore
on his hand on that morning.
Sergt. Major Edward K. Shaw of
the National Soldiers Home testified
that Turner had been acting as jani-
tor at the headquarters previous to his
death. Witness asserted that he was
sure the watch and ring recovered
frorl the Leyeres were the same ones
that Turner wore, but that he was
not sure about the chain. He said that
on the morning of April %, Turner
came to him to get a pass and he
noticed that Turner had been drinking.
Sergt. Major Shaw testified. in cross
examination. that when Turner drank
at all he would drink to excess, but
that he was not habitual drinker
OF intoxicating liquors. He said that
Turner had borrowed 81 on the day
previous to his death, and that Turner
occasionally would borrow money, but
it was always paid back promptly.
J. Frank Bilodeau testified that
Turner and Gazette came into his
store at 1873 Water street at about
1880 A. NJ. April %. and bought pair
of shoes.
Herman Chase recognized Gazette
as being the man whom he saw go in
to the Levere house in company with
an older man on the morning of April
%. Witness said that the actions of
the older man did not indicate that
he had been drinking intoxicating Ii
quor.
Mrs. Ella Levere. wife of Fred Lee
we're, testified that she had known
Gazette for about two weeks previ-
Gus to April 23, and that, on the Sun
day previous to the day of the death
OF Turner, he came to her house to
live. She said that the first time she
saw Turner was when he came into
the house in company with Gazette on
the morning of the day Turner died,
and that immediately after they came
into the house they went into the front
room, closing the door behind them.
She claimed that she was requested
by Gazette and her husband TO assist
in arugging the old soldier and upon
her refusal TO DO $50 she was driven
from the house. When she returned
about Is minutes later, she said that
she fouud Turner lying on the bed in
the front room. with his lace and
hand purple. Tire next day she said
she found the stolen goods in the house
and Immediately gave them over to
the police.
On cross examination witness stat
ed that Gazette showed her the watch,
chain and ring after Turner's body
hae been removed from the house by
Coroner. Hewins. Mrs. Levere denied
that shit had testified that Gazette was
intoxicated, when she was a witness
before the coroner's jury. Witness was
asked why her testimony in court did
not agree with that before the coro-
ner's jury and she said that she
| changed ii to make it right as a por-
ton of her statements before the cor
| onor's jury were untrue. Witness stat
ed that her husband did not know
| anything about Gazette's intent to
| rob Turner.
| Was Afraid For Her Life.
| On redirect examination examina-
| ton witness said that both Gazette
| and her husband told her that If she
ever testified against them that they
would blow her head off, and that this
was the reason for her making false
| statements before the coroner's jury,
| for she was afraid after they made
| their threats.
| Coroner Frank Hewins of Augusta,
who was called TO Levere's house at
| about $50 p. NJ, April %, was called
| to the witness stand by County At
| torney Williamson. lie testified that
/ when he arrived at the house he found
| Turner lying dead on a bed in the
/ front room. He said that when he
searched the dead mans clothing he
| found wallet and a jackknife in one
i Of his pockets His first search of the
i wallet revealed only 40 cents in
change, but later he found a 81 bill
tucked way down in one corner of it,
| which had escaped his vision in tho
previous search.
He testified that Gazette seemed
| Very excited when he asked him ques-
tions in regard To Turner's death. He
said Gazette made the following state
| ment, when the coroner told him that
| Turner had been dead for at least
two hours instead Of Is or 20 min
utes. as Gazette claimed: What. dc