Evening star., 1920-05-24
NEGRO CONFESSION
IN MOORE Staying
QUICKLY OBTAINED
Verdict on Shooting Near
Highway Bridge Promptly
Returned by. Coroner's Jury.

All problems surrounding the mur-
dor Of T.. Morgan Moore of 509h
South Fairfax street. Alexandria, who
was killed defending his fancee. Miss
Pearl Clark. secretary to Representa-
tive lBritten Of Illinois. early yester-
day morning on the old Alexandria
pike, near the south end Of the High
way bridge. have been cleared up
through the arrest and confession Of
William H Turner. colored. Of 1909
9Th street southwest, in the belief Of
police authorities Of this city and Ar
lfngton county today.
Turner. with bullet wounds in his
thigh and his right thumb. was ar
rested early yesterday morning by
Sheriff A C. Clements. Deputy George
Marcy, Jafler z. o. Kines and j. r.
Signal. They received a description
Of the assailant by telephone from
Night Inspector of Detectives Vice.
don Immediately after the informa-
tion was obtained. They at once set
out to scour the county. Turner was
taken to the Arlington county Jail.
Detectives Kelly and Scrivener were
summoned to question him.
Verdict Of Coroaer's jury.
A coroners jury. presided over by
DR.. b. III. Swain of Arlington county.
met yesterday AFTERNOON at Wheatleys
mortuary chapel in Alexandria, and,
after hearing the evidence Of three
witnesses, returned verdict as fol-
lows:
That Thomas Morgan Moore came
to his death from a gunshot wound
over the heart, caused by a weapon
IN the hands of William H Turner, q
negro: said to reside in southwest
washington. and that the fatal shot
was nred with intent to kill. and also
that the said William H. Turner be-
tore the murder demanded money OF
the said Thomas Morgan Moore and at
tempted TO rape the young Lady COM
panaon Of Thomas Morgan Moore"
Attending the inquest was Com
monweath Attorney Frank L. Ball,
VINO Will prosecute Turner when he
Is brought to trial. Joseph J. Moore,
father of the slain man, also attend
ed There were few spectators, apart
from the witnesses. at the inquest.
Turner was not present
The jury was composed of William
Q. Williams, ]. M Jones. C. C. Dom
aldson, John Pendleton, Daniel J. Har-
rison and A. w. Mills. all residents of
the county.
Witnesses Heard.
DR.. Swain described to the jury the
wound inflicted which caused Moore's
death.
sheriff Clements told of the mur-
oSI ouo Va hes AhAOA AAdSAou A0 uAu
gathered. He said Turner remarked
to the young lady companion of
Moore: II don't want your jewelry"
Moore's last words, the sheriff said,
were Hes got me. Pearl!'
The sheriff said Turner admitted
the crime, and that the weapon was
q .3S Colts. When he recovered the
weapon there were six bullets in 1t,
and the negro. he said, admitted hav-
ing reloaded it
Concluding his testimony. he said:
The negro makes no bones of having
killed Moore"
Voluntary Confession.
Police report that the confession
was made voluntarily aud with no
promises Of mercy. States Attorney
Frank I. Ball declared today that he
explained the wounded thumb as the
result Of . crap game shooting fracas
earlier in the night. Then he was
stripped Of clothing. The wound in
his thigh was found. At this point
he broke down and confessed to all
details of the occurrence.
He il said to claim self defense as
his motive for shooting. He declared
that he asked Moore for O dollar
which was refused; that he accosted
Miss Clark and that Moore opened
fre. He returned fire. with but one
shot.
Today he was a trife fatigued, but
apparently was without fear Of pun
lOlnnad - RaEHa, Onhman .