Butts County GaArchives News.....Bill Turner, Assassin – Death Sentence November 3 1911 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Don Bankston http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005864 January 27, 2005, 11:27 am Butts County Progress – Week of November 3, 1911 Must Pay Penalty on Gallows on Thursday December 14th. Justice Moved With Commendable Stiffness in This Case And People of Butts County Are to Be Congratulated on Their Stand for Law and Order – Turner Boys Will Be Tried at February Term. Bill Turner was found guilty on the murder of Jesse Singley on the night of August 25, this year by a jury Tuesday, and was sentenced to be hanged on December 14, which falls on Thursday. Butts County Superior court met in special session here Monday for the purpose of trying Bill Turner and his boys for the alleged murder of Jesse Singley on the night of August 25. Judge Daniel charged the Grand Jury briefly, and that body retired and began considering the business before it. An indictment against the Turners was returned the same day. The trial of Bill turner began Tuesday morning. He was brought from Atlanta on the 12 o’clock train Monday night. Sheriff L. M. Crawford handled the situation, with the assistance of a dozen special officers. Though a large crowd was in the city to hear the trial, yet everything was quiet and orderly. Some difficulty was experienced in securing a jury for the trial, the special panel of sixty having been exhausted before more than half of the required number was drawn. Extra jurors were summoned and the trial proceeded. The State rested its case by the noon recess of court Tuesday. Several witnesses were put up, the testimony being about the same as at the corner’s inquest. Though the evidence was only circumstantial, it was regarded as strong. The most damaging evidence was given by Robert Sherrell and S. T. Stallings, who testified they saw Bill Turner pass their livery stable the night of the shooting, saw him stop and load his Winchester, and heard him say he would kill them if he found them. Witnesses declared the party of white citizens had just passed the stables about five minutes before the shooting. Deputy Sheriff O. E. Smith told of going to Indian Spring on the afternoon of the trouble and of searching Turner’s house. Sheriff Crawford told of going to Indian Spring the night of the killing and of the arrest of the defendants next morning. Dr. H. W. Copeland testified as to the nature of the wound in Jesse Singley’s leg. At the afternoon session the defendant made his statement. He denied being present when the shooting took place. The defense, however did not prove an alibi. No witnesses were called for the defense. Solicitor General J. W. Wise conducted the State’s side. He was assisted by Col. C. L. Redman. Col. T. Moore represented the accused. Both the arguments of the Solicitor General and of Col. Moore were brief. The Jury was out only a short time before bringing in a verdict. The murder for which Turner was convicted was a brutal and shocking ordeal. The details of the crime are fresh in the minds of the people of this county. It will be revealed that Jesse Singley was shot and fatally wounded and J. R. Conner was seriously wounded in the leg as they were returning from Indian Spring in the summer. The arrest and imprisonment of Turner and three of his boys are well known to the people. The shots followed some trouble at Hotel Elder Friday afternoon between two Negro bell boys. Single Conner and other citizens were visitors to Indian Spring that night, presumable to see if there was any disorder. When returning home and after being a few hundred yards from the spring, they were fired upon from ambush. The crime was fastened upon Turner and his boys by a coroner’s jury, which investigated the matter. Feeling ran high at the time and the Negroes were taken to Atlanta for safekeeping. Judge Daniel was petitioned to hold a special term of court to try the accused. This he agreed to do. The jury that passed upon Turner’s case consisted of W. M. Glass. R, B. Cobett, J. H. Patrick, Wiley Wright, C.B. Higgins, J. N. McElhany, J. M. Leach, W. P. Watkins, A. B. Stalsworth. E. R. Harper, W. T. Scarbrough, J. W. Maddox. Bill Turner’s boys, George, Alonzo and J. C. will not be tried at this term of court. Following the trial and sentence, Bill Turner was taken to Atlanta Tuesday night. His trial consumed just four hours and a half, the jury being out but thirty minutes File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/butts/newspapers/gnw527billturn.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb