The Washington times., 1920-07-18

LhNChiNG A1-fEMi'f FAILS
Enraged at the killing OF Moore
and the attempted criminal assault
on Miss Clark, citizens OF the county
made two attempts TO lynch the ne
gro. Federal and county officers
however. succeeded in spiriting the
negro from the jsils at Alersndrla
county courthouse and Leesburg.
thence to Richmond! where he was
held for .safekeeping against mob vio-
| lence. IL was because OF fear that
the citizens OF the county would
make another attempt to lynch the
negro that ne was brought to trial at
Richmond instead OF In the Federal
court in Alexandria.
Efforts made by counsel for the
negro TO show that the crime was
committed on Virginia property
failed. William II. Duncan. former
commissioner OF revenue OF Airing
ton county and recently elected clerk
OF the circuit court of the county
produced records proving conlusive-
| ly that the tract of land where the
killing occurred had been purchased
twenty years ago from virginia py
the Government. IL was because OF
| the fact that the crime was commit
ted on Government property that Tur-
ner was tried In the Federal court
here.
ASKS FOR DEATH PENALTY.
The prosecution was conducted by
| Assistant United States District At
\ torneys r. T. Wilson, OF Petersburg;
f. G. Duvall, OF Alexandra. and Henry
r. Miller. of Richmond. In his clos
ing argument to the jury. Attorney
Wilson asked for the death penalty.
declaring: "If the prisoner does not
hang on the gallows for the crime he
committed. no man should pay the
death penalty for a crime"
Turner was tried on an indictment
charging him with the staying OF
Moore. He also was under indict-
ment on the charge OF attempting to
assault Miss Clark and OF robbing the
Congressman's secretary Of her
jewelry.
Attorney Smith. OF counsel for Tur-
ner, entered a motion for a new trial
on the ground that the court erred
in its instructions to the jury and In
admitting the testimony of Miss Clark
by the prisoner after he had shot and
killed Moore. Turner will be held at
the Henrico county Jail here until the
day OF his execution.
CLAIMS HE WAS SHOT FIRST.
Turner took the witness stand In
his own defense shortly after noon
yesterday.
Admitting that he shot and killed
Moore, the negro declared he only
fired at the Government expert in
self-defense. He claimed that nc shot
Moore after the latter had twice shot
him in the thumb and right thigh. He
denied that he attempted to rob
either Moore or Miss Pearl J. Clark
f1ancee of Moore and secretary to
Congressman Britten. who was in the
automobile.
Asserting that he saw the machine
parked and believed that it was dam
aged, it was to ask IL he could be Of
any aid that he stopped at the auto
mobile, the negro testified.
The negro later was cross-examined
by Assistant District Attorney r. T.
Wilson, of Petersburg, who, with
Henry r. Miller, Of Richmond, prose-
cuted the case for the Government
The negro's plea Of self-defense was
not given much weight by the jury.
as the Government had established
strong case against the negro. 1t had
been brought out that he not only
shot and killed Moore after. the latter
refused him money, but seized, choked
and attempted to ravish Miss Clark.
PROTESTS OvERRIDDEN.s
Over the vigorous protests of coun-
sci for the defense, the government
succeeded in introducing testimony
detailing the attempted criminal as
sault made on Miss Clark by Turner.
Attorney Harry M. Smith, of coun-
sci for Turner. declared the testi-
mony was irrelevant to the murder
Indictment on which the defenda mt
was being tried, and would tend to
prejudice the jury. Judge Waddill
overruled the motion. and Miss Clark
then related that after the slaying of
Moore, Turned seized and dragged
her into a clump of bushes, declaring
he intended to commit a criminal as
sault on her. and that being repulsed.
he left her after embracing and kiss
ing her.
After the negro had shot and kill
ed Moore" testified Miss Clark. II
ran terror stricken from the scene.
The negro pursued and caught me. He
dragged me into the woods. chok ed
men, threw me to the ground, and
disarranged my clothes.
"PLEADED, WITH HIM.,
II pleaded with him, begged him
frantically, to leave me alone. 1t
seemed like a life time. He finally
kissed me and went away, placing
his right hand on his thigh where he
had been shot. He only walked a few
yards when he returned again. He
again seized me, but this time he did
not throw me to the ground. 1t was
only because of my pleadings, and
probably the fact that his thigh was
injured together with the fear that
some one was coming. that he let me
go again.
II then ran to the bridge. Where I
met some autoists, of whom l asked
help"
Lieut.. of Detectives Guy c. Burlin-
game followed Miss Clark on the wit
ness stand yesterday morning. He
told of questioning Miss Clark after
she had been taken to police head
quarters. and he also declared that
he found bruises and finger marks on
the young womans throat These
marks were caused by TUrner when
he seized her by the throat to stife
her attempts to cry for help.
G. l.. Justice, Charles Johnson, and
L. a1I Of A tAr Ir,n l.