Patrick County Virginia USGenWeb Archives News.....Jury Is Picked To Try Turner and Shelton in Patrick County Court March 8, 1928
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ron Martin cindyandron@bellsouth.net January 8, 2023, 3:37 pm

The Danville Bee March 8, 1928
STUART, VA., Mar 8--Good progress was made in the Patrick Circuit Court this 
morning when the trial of Ora Turner and Ernest Shelton was begun on the charge 
of killing David and Maynard Cox at Fayerdale on February 7th last.   The Jury 
was empaneled during the morning and the opening arguments indicating what each 
side expects to show had been concluded when court adjourned for dinner.

Judge Turner Clement of Chatham is presiding, there are some 35 witnesses and 
considerable interest in the fortunes of this case.  A check of the witnesses 
this morning showed that both sides were prepared to go into the case for the 
first time several continuances having been granted in the past on account of 
illness.

The jury empaneled is composed of J.A. Gunter, Dick Shelton, W.M. Francis, J.L. 
Via, Richard Mills, A.J. Shepherd, W.E. Layman, Luther Slaughter, E.R. Hopkins, 
J.G. Walker, G.F. Mills and George F. Via.

The crime with which Ora Turner and Ernest Shelton is charged took place at 
Fayerdale on February 7th, 1927.  David Cox, aged 20, and Maynard Cox, aged 16, 
were shot to death as was Turner Hall, in a rapid exchange of shots at the home 
of Frank Chaney.  John Chaney rushing into the room where the shooting took 
place lost part of an ear from a bullet and sustained a wound in the foot.   
Mrs. Betty Chaney rocking in an adjoining room was wounded in the hand.  

It is the defense contention that Turner Hall killed the Cox brothers but the 
state through the presentation of the Cox sisters as witnesses, maintain that 
the two accused men shot down the brothers.  

Behind the shooting was a series of episodes which under mountain traditions 
spelled ill will.  In the first place there had been mysterious information 
given to officers about stills.   This was followed by the alleged ambushing of 
a man named Bunyan and the Cox brothers were believed to have committed this 
offense.   Shelton and Turner were two of a group of men, none of whom it 
appears were deputized who went to the Chaney home with a warrant charging one 
of the Cox brothers with participation in the Bunyan affair.  The shooting 
followed when the men entered the house and made know the purpose of their 
visit.  The defense is contending that the Cox brothers had the right to defend 
their home from the invasion of men said to have been without official 
authority. 


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