Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-05-24
NV. HI. Turner Colored Held
| For Crime Confesses
Guilt
TROOPS GUARD JAIL
Capture Of Turner Made Two Hours
After Crime-Negro Attempts Assault
on Miss Pearl Clark.

r.. Morgan Moore, thirty-five years
old, maehinist who was employed
at the Naval Torpedo Station, this
Icity, was shot to death about l2.3O
io'clock Sunday morning while in an
automobile parked near the South end
|of the highway bridge by William H.
,Turner, a negro, about fifty years old,
and Turner then made an Intellectual
leffort to assault Miss Pearl Clark,
tfiancee of Moore, who is secretary to
iRepresentative Fred A. Britten OF
}Chicago and who resides in Wash
iington, who was in the automobile
with Mr.. Moore.
Two hours after the murder and at
assault Turner was captured
lin Alexandria County near the lun,-
bier yard of Joseph l.. Crupper and
lodged in jail at Fort 'Myer Heights
land later admitted the crime.
The body of Moore was first taken
ito Emergency Hospital, Washington,
where life was pronounced extinct
and yesterday it was brought to this
city and taken to Wheatley's mortuary
chapel where an inquest was held at
a O'clock yesterday afternoon by Como
ner 3. H. Swain. NJ. D., Of Alexandria
county. The jury heard the testimony
{f only three witnesses, among them
being Sheriff A. c. Clements, George
F. Marcy, deputy sheriff and DR..
Swain told of the nature of the wound
inflicted by the negro.
The verdict subsequently, brought
III follows,
THAT Thomas Morgan Moore came
TO his death from gunshot wound
bver the heart caused by weapon
In the hands of William H. Turner, a
negro. said TO reside in southwest,
washington, and that the fatal shot
WAS fired with intent to kill, and also
that the said William II. Turner be-
Sore the murder demanded money OF
the said Thomas Morgan Moore and
attempted to rape the young lady
Scmpanion Of Thomas Morgan Moore.
The lu was COM sd of the =
towing residents of Alexandria coun-
ty: Williams o. Williams, ]. M. Jones.
C. C. Donaldson, John Pendleton,
I(David ]. Harrison and A. w. Malls.
The testimony Of Sheriff Clements
before the jury was to the effect that
burner had asked Mr.. Moore for a
dollar and that the negro afterward
rrabbed Miss Clark and she gave him
Ser icweiry in order to defend her
honor and the negro remarked i
Mont want your jewelry." Moore al
Ter being shot remarked to his fan
See "Pearl, he's go me" The sheriff
stated that the murder occurred be-
Tween l2 and 1910 O'Clock Sunday
morning and that the arrest of Tur-
her was effected at 2.40 o'clock Sun
3lay morning.
Witness said that Turner admitted
having shot Moore with .3S Colts
tevolver, and ne added there were SIX
bullets in the revolver when he re-
lowered it, although Turner told hm
That after firing it he reloaded the
weapon.
George Marcy, deputy sheriff,
stated to the jury that he was called
At . o'clock Sunday morning and he
accompanied the sheriff and party to
The spot where the murder was COM
nted and getting to Rosslyn in front
bf Joseph Crupper's lumber mill he
Aaw man whom he suspected was
The fugitive and he grabbed him. The
5;uspect had his hands in his pockets.
b. @. Hines, the jailor, got behind
him and seized the weapon and Mar
&ey said he struck him with his black
lack Two rings, a watch and gloves
Were found nearby and also handker-
hicf. The prisoner, he stated was
taken to the county Jail and locked up.
lI;s thumb was tied up and when
questioned the prisoner claimed that
he was injured on the thumb by his
,low from the blackjack. Witness said
lhe bandage was stripped and twas
shown to be a gunShot wound and E
Wound in the thigh Of the prisoner
\ also was found.
The prisoner later hetestified wen
Athe couple and demanded a dolla
J. Moore whcrerpon the young lad,
Eumpd cut of the machine, beins
frcightened, and the prisoner chase
hes and at-thSs iuncture Moore fire.