| Sources |
- [S165] The Daily Enquirer, (Utah Digital Newspapers), 4 (Reliability: 3), 27 Dec 1889.
A SAD AFFAIR
___________
WILL TURNER SHOOTS HIMSELF THROUGH THE HEART.
___________
WAS IT AN ACCIDENT, OR WAS IT DESIGNED?
____________
EX-Sheriff Turner's Family Plunged in Grief Midst Their Christmas Preparations.
____________
The people of Provo, while in the midst of their Christmas preparations last Tuesday evening, were thunderstruck by the report that young Willie Turner had shot himself. The news soon became common property and great was the excitement among the friends of the deceased. It appears that Willie had been drinking during the day and his conversation led those, to whom it was addressed, to believe that something had gone wrong with him. About half-past four, he was accosted by his uncle, Thadeus Fleming, who made inquiries concerning his mother's health. Will requested him to speak a little louder as he was growing deaf. In conclusion he said good bye to his uncle and told him: "I will never hear after Christmas." About ten minutes to five, he returned home in a buggy with his brother Charles, to whom he stated that he had smoked his last smoke and taken his last drink. Immediately on arriving at the house, he ran upstairs, being met by his mother and A. Bevan. Bevan addressed him in a joking manner and asked him how he was. He scarcely stopped to make any reply, but continued on his way up stairs. In a very short space of time, a shot was heard, and his brother Charles, who had been following him, rushed up the stairs, but too late, as the shot had proved fatal. He was carried down stairs and died about eight minutes after. The weapon he used was a 44 calibre revolver; the ball entered about a half an inch below the breast bone, and according to evidence given by Dr. Pike before the coroner's jury, ranged downward and must have struck the aorta and the spinal column. The ball was lying just under the skin at the back and was removed by Dr. Pike. According to the evidence produced by the witnesses, he had probably been brooding on the matter during the day. He wished several of his friends good bye. The blow fell with double force on Mrs. Turner as she has not been well for some time and Mr. Turner was away from home. He came down from Salt Lake in the evening and was met at the depot by sympathetic friends who broke the sad news to him as gently as possible. The lot of Mr. and Mrs. Turner is indeed a sad one, and they have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community. The witnesses examined before the coroner's were Chas. W. Turner, Thad Fleming, Dr. W. R. Pike, Claud Gates, Arthur Sutton and A. Bevan. The following verdict was rendered:
Territory of Utah
Provo Precinct
Utah County
An inqusition holden at the residence of John W. Turner, Provo Precinct,Utah County, on the 24th day of December, A. D. 1889, before John R. Twelves, coroner of said county, upon the body of William Chauncey Turner, there lying dead by the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed.
The said jurors upon their oaths do say: that from evidence given the said deceased came to his death by a pistol shot from his own hand.
REED SMOOT.
W.H. HARDY.
HENRY ELLIOT.
Attest,
John R. Twelves,
Coroner.
The above report has been written mainly from facts gathered from the evidence given at the coroner's inquest. There is, however, another view of the case, and we trust the correct one and that is that the shooting was accidental. The evidence does not clearly show whether the killing was intended or accidental; there is a probability that the latter is the case. This view is shared by the father and mother of the deceased and by Doctors Pike and Simmons. It had been his intention to attend a ball in Springville and he had run up stairs to get his pistol to take with him. There are three points in favor of this view of the case. First: A man shooting himself naturally aims at the head. Second: If he shot himself in the body, he would naturally aim at the left side to strike the heart, the more so if he was right handed. Third: In carelessly taking a pistol out of a trunk, the ball would be very likely, when the person was leaning over, to take the course that it did in this case.
The funeral services over the remains of the unfortunate youth, are being held at the family residence as we go to press.
- [S15] Cemeteries and Burial Databases, (State of Utah) (Reliability: 3).
Name: Turner, Willard G.
Gender: M
Birth Date: 15 October 1870
Birth Place: Provo, Utah
Death Date: 24 December 1889
Death Place: Provo, Utah
Burial Date: 25 December 1889
Cemetery: Provo City Cemetery
Source: Sexton
Grave Location: Block 4 Lot 4
Relatives: Father John Wesley & Sarah L. Fausett Turner
Spouse Single
|
RNT Family History
1870 - 1889 (19 years)
