Newton-Gwinnett-Putnam County GaArchives Obituaries.....Turner, Rev. M. D. July 1885
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Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 April 9, 2005, 8:44 pm

The Covington Star, July 15, 1885
Suicide of Rev. M. D. Turner
     Rev. M. D. Turner, pastor of the Methodist Church at Lawrenceville, 
committed suicide at Stone Mountain, on last Tuesday evening, by taking 
strychnine. Mr. Turner was well known about Covington, as he had been a student 
at Emory College, and last year married a Miss Annie Pierce, the beautiful and 
accomplished daughter of Rev. James L. Pierce, of Oxford.
     He was a member of the North Georgia conference, and was stationed at 
Lawrenceville the present year. On Tuesday morning he left home, without the 
knowledge of his wife or friends, and walked rapidly to Stone Mountain, a 
distance of about 16 miles. He went to the hotel and procured a room, when he 
fastened the door on the inside and swallowed the deadly poison. His remains 
were carried to Atlanta on the accommodation train on Thursday morning, where
they were met by his wife and other friends. They were carried to Eatonton for 
burial. It is not clearly known what caused Mr. Turner to  commit the fearful 
act of self-destruction, but it seems certain his mind was unhinged and reason 
was at least temporarily dethroned by some cause not fully understood by the 
public. The prevailing theory, however, is that his mind, was affected by the 
holiness movement in that section. Whether this is correct or not, the STAR 
cannot say; but it appears to be the most plausible of any given. At all 
events, there was nothing in his domestic life or relations to have caused it, 
as they were said to be of the most pleasant nature in every respect.
     He left a letter to his wife and brother, of which the following is a copy;
Stone Mountain, Ga., July 7th, 1885
My Dear Wife;
I cannot explain all the steps by which I have come to the terrible purpose of 
taking my own life. You know something of them. I want to protest again, in the 
name of God, that it is no fault of yours. You have been always faithful and 
loving. I have lost faith and hope for the world, and that which is to come. Do
not cease to trust God. I do love you. Think of me kindly, if you can, after I 
have shown myself a recreant to every vow that one takes when he marries a wife.
Alas, my wife!
     Brother Willie, I have taken strychnine. Life seems a most worthless 
failure for me. Give Annie whatever property I have. I left Lawrenceville this 
morning without the knowledge of any one. I walked to this place. You and 
Brother Joe, and Sisters Lucy, Mary and Lizzie must not let this deed of mine 
make you lose your faith. I am to be blamed for it all. I have gone where I 
cannot turn back. Be very kind to Annie. Oh! my poor wife! Oh! my brothers, my
sisters!
     I have thought of the sorrow, the sequel, the ruin that must follow, but I 
see but one way - suicide. I commit my spirit and judgement to God, who will do 
the best that can be done for me. I have laid down under my burden so long that 
I have lost all feelings and anything like proper conception of my crime. Good 
Bye.
M. D. Turner

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