Ascension County Louisiana Archives News.....Southwood Plantation - Turner, Nick & Clara - Murdered - 1911
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Mary K. Creamer marykcreamer.00@gmail.com October 1, 2022, 8:00 pm


Source: The Donaldsonville Chief. (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current,
February 11, 1911, Page 5 1911


Negro Killing on Southwood Plantaion. - Nick Turner and his wife, Clara Turner, 
negroes residing on the Southwood plantation in the sixth ward of this parish, 
were shot and killed at about 10 o'clock last Sunday night by John Bird, also 
colored, who is said to be an ex-convict from East Baton Rouge parish. Bird made 
his escape after the tragedy and has not yet been apprehended. He is about 
thirty years of age and a mulatto.

The Turner couple occupied one half of a double cabin in the "quarters" of the 
Southwood plantation, the other half being occupied by another negro pair. The 
board partition which divides the interior of the house into two sections does 
not extend to the ceiling, there being a space of two or three feet between the 
latter and the top of the partition. Bird, armed with a double-barrell shotgun, 
shortly before 10 o'clock Sunday night called on the couple residing next door 
to the Turners, and after conversing with them against the partition, upon which 
he mounted and peered into the adjoining room. Seeing the Turner pair in bed 
asleep, Bird, holding a coal-oil lamp in his left hand, levelled his gun at 
Turner with his right hand and pulled the trigger, the lead striking the 
sleeping man in the left arm and breast. Bird immediately fired the second 
barrel at the woman, the entire charge of shot taking effect in her chest and 
killing her instantly. Turner, upon being shot, rolled out of bed and darted 
through the back door, but his wounds were too serious to permit his recovery 
and he died at about 2 o'clock the following day.

Sheriff E.C. Hanson and Coroner Paul Thibodaux hastened to the scene of the 
killing Monday morning and Dr. Thibodaux held an inquest over the body of the 
murdered woman, the jury returning a verdict in accordance with the facts above 
stated. It is said Bird wanted the Turner woman to leave the plantation with 
him, but she refused, and the killing followed.
 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/ascension/newspapers/southwoo681gnw.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/lafiles/

File size: 2.6 Kb