SON SHOT DEAD BY FATHER.
The Terrible Turner Tragedy at Dunedin.
What Was Revealed at the Inquest.
Was the Old Man a Loafer? — Discharged From Seacliffe Mental Hospital — Says He Shot in Self Defence — The Old Man's "Last" Drink — Something About Deceased — Formerly a Police Station Cook — Turner's Dilapidated Appearance in the Dock — A Loaded Revolver — The Gun Pointed at Another Son — "That's the Gun I Did it With" — A Verdict of Murder.
One of the ghastliest tragedies, resulting from domestic infelicity, was enacted in the St. Kilda district of Dunedin last Saturday afternoon, about 2 o'clock, when Robert Turner, aged between 50 and 60, mortally wounded his son Percy John, aged 25.
"Everybody works but father", is not intended to be flippant, because, in this very serious instance, these words from the old song put in a nutshell the alleged cause of the direful tragedy.
Robert Turner was discharged from Seacliffe Mental Hospital about nine months ago. From the time of his committal, he was detained for only the short period of six weeks, after which period the Superintendent reported that Turner had made a most
COMPLETE AND WONDERFUL RECOVERY from his mental derangement.
The main trouble between father and son lies in the fact that the father did no work. Since his discharge from Seacliffe, father had done practically no toil, and as father was also very fond of his "pint and supper beer" that did not help to mend matters.
On Saturday, morning last, between 8 and 9 o'clock, the consistent loafing of father became too much for Percy John and he gave his father a bit of his mind, which culminated in a quarrel, Percy John striking father, and putting father out. He also defied father to come back to the house, another fact which father greatly resented, as he was going to lose the pickings of his well-fed children.
About noon time the elder Turner came back for lunch, and, thinking to get him out of the way, Mrs Turner gave him his lunch early. About one o'clock, or a little after, Percy John came home, and after lunch he packed some things in his box and went to a room next the stable to get a rope to tie up the box.
HIS FATHER WAS IN THE STABLE and after some conversation, which does not appear to have been shouted out, a shot was heard, and Percy was seen to stagger back and fall, while his father rushed out of the stable with a pea-rifle in his hand. A revolver was also found by the stable door, about ten feet from where Percy was seen to fall.
The father claims to have done it in self-defence, and that Percy threatened him with the revolver, but the peculiar feature of this is that the police have so far failed to trace any relationship between the revolver and Percy. He is never known to have had the weapon, nor has it been ascertained that he made purchase of such a firearm on or about the day of the tragedy.
As to whether the deed was the action of an insane man or not, Turner's very actions and callous words seem to give denial to any such supposition. As soon as the deed was accomplished, he admitted it without any qualms and made the excuse that he did it in self defence. On the way to the Police Station, he stopped at the pub for a drink in the private room, and when told by the bartender that he could not have a 3d drink in there, he replied, "You might as well give me one; it'll be the last I'll get; I've shot my son." He seemed more anxious to have a last snifter than to express any regrets for his action. Moreover, his demeanor in court on Monday morning and at the inquest at the Hospital on Monday afternoon could hardly be described as that of an insane man. He was cool and collected, showed no trace of anxiety, and indeed followed the inquest proceedings with interest, showing that he was quite cognisant of what was being said and done.
A report of the inquest proceedings is given hereunder, and the Police Court proceedings were merely formal, the accused being remanded till Friday. On his appearance in court, the difference between father and son (or, for that matter, his other sons) was at once distinguished. Whereas the son was always a neat, well-dressed, smart looking man, Robert Turner presented one of the most dilapidated fronts which has ever graced the Police Court dock. He is short of stature, small eyes, has a prominent nose of a pronounced reddish tint, and wore a suit which had seen better days. He also wore a turned-over white collar, which had evidently been in mourning for some time, and surmounting this was about two weeks' growth of greyish black wool. At the inquest, he was somewhat averse to being looked at, and sat with his cap in hand to his mouth. He has a wife and three other children, two boys and a girl.
The victim was formerly culinary artist at the Christchurch Police Station, and had the novel experience of
BEING ARRESTED ON THE PREMISES. It was in connection with trouble with his wife, who obtained a divorce from him in Christchurch a few months back on the ground of misconduct with another woman. There was one child of the marriage, about three years of age. Turner was to have married the other woman in a week's time. The deceased for some time had been connected with the Auckland and Wellington police in the capacity of cook. Recently he took up a position as jewellery traveller on the T.P. system, as work in his own line was scarce. He lived for about four hours after being shot.
Coroner Graham held an inquest at the hospital. Inspector Dwyer acted on behalf of the police, while Mr Bedford acted for Turner.
Dr. William Stuart Roberts deposed as to the cause of death. The postmortem examination showed a bullet wound on the left side of the chest, between the seventh and eighth ribs, in the line of the armpit. The bullet had passed through the lower lobe of the left lung, causing severe hemorrhage, and the left chest was full of blood. The bullet had struck the vertebral column, and was finally lodged in the spinal cord. The cause of death was hemorrhage. He extracted the bullet (produced). The deflection of the wound was slightly downwards. It looked as though shot had been fired by a person standing to one side.
Robert Franklin Turner, brother of the deceased and an employee of Hudson and Co., biscuit- manufacturers, said he identified the deceased as his brother Percy John Turner.
Continuing, witness said: Percy John was a cook by trade, but has recently been a jewellery traveller. He
STAYED AT HOME WITH HIS PARENTS and was 25 years. of age. I was at home on Saturday morning, but I know of no trouble between my brother and father. I leave home at 7 a.m., whereas my brother would not leave till 9 a.m. My brother and father were both in the house when I left home. I returned at 12.50 p.m. My brother came home about 1 p.m. Percy had his dinner on his own. After Percy had his lunch, he packed his box with a view to going away. He never said anything, but when he finished packing he went to clean his boots in the wash-house. He came inside again, washed his hands and went out to a room next the stable to get a rope to tie his box with.. That would be about 2 o'clock. He then went to the stable, and seemed to be talking to some one in the stable, but I did not see who it was. I heard a report and saw him fall. I should say it was a gun shot. My sister and I at once rushed out to the stable. My father came out from the stable and went back again. He had a gun in his hand (pea-rifle produced). I picked up a revolver at the door (six-chambered bulldog revolver produced). My father closed the stable door and
AIMED THE GUN AT ME. The stable door is a grating door and he presented the gun through the open wooden spaces. He was inside the door. He said nothing so I aimed the revolver at him. He came out eventually, threw the gun at me and rushed away. I picked the gun up and threw it at him. He picked it up again and went out into the street. Mr Ross caught him on the street. Some neighbors had by his time arrived and they carried my brother into the house. My brother was lying about ten feet away from the stable, and I found the revolver close to the stable door. I never saw that revolver before. My brother never had that revolver to my knowledge. I never saw the rifle before. The revolver was fully loaded when I picked it up. My brother and father were not happy together.
Cross-examined by Mr Bedford: I ascertained from Mr Aslin that the revolver was fully loaded. My brother staggered a bit after I heard the shot, possibly ten feet. I did not watch my brother closely previously to hearing the shot. My brother did not say he was going to any place when he packed his box.
William Ross, builder, St. Kilda, said: I live close to deceased. I was at home on Saturday afternoon. My attention was drawn to Turner's house by my wife. I ran round to the house, and met Mr Turner, jnr., about 40 yards from his gate with a rifle in his hand. I caught him as he was running, and took the gun from him. He said he was going to give himself up. The last witness came along and said "Turner shot Percy." I took him to the Police Station, where Turner said, "I've come to give myself up." Before we arrived at the Police Station, we went into the hotel, where
TURNER CALLED FOR A DRINK. That was in the side room. The bartender said they were all 6d drinks here, the 3d drinks were in the front bar. Turner said, "Oh. well, it will be my last, as I've shot my son." I identify the gun produced as the one I took from Turner.
Sergeant Patrick O'Connell corroborated the evidence of Ross as to the statement made by Turner in the Police Station. Turner also said. "I've done it in self-defence. My son had a revolver, and he threatened to shoot me." I asked Ross "Whose is the gun?" and Turner said, "That's the gun I did it with." I cautioned Turner, but he repeated that he had done it in self defence.
To Mr Bedford: Ross was present and heard all that Turner said.
The Coroner returned a verdict of death due to severe hemorrhage caused by a gunshot wound wilfully inflicted by Turner, senr. -NZ Truth, 7/9/1912.
THE TURNER TRAGEDY.
Father Shoots His Son.
The Latest Particulars.
Accused Committed For Trial.
[From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.] .Reverting to the Turner tragedy, recorded in "Truth's" last issue, our Dunedin correspondent sends the following later particulars: —
The rifle which was at first sight termed by the police and others "a pea rifle" is not in reality a "pea rifle." "Truth's" rep. made a closer examination of the firearm. It is an oldfashioned gun, such as might be used to shoot wild pigs, and has a slightly larger bore than a pea rifle.
It is not in good taste to comment adversely on the dead, but in fairness to the father, it may be mentioned that according to the expression of the opinions which are being freely distributed around the Holy City, the deceased was alleged to be a man of irascible temper. He has been known to go into
A PASSION OVER MERE TRIFLES. His divorced wife, who is at present employed as an assistant cook in a hotel near Moray-place, is reported to have said some months ago, "Percy will come to a bad end one day." Whether her words have any significance in view of the tragedy must be left to the judge and jury.
It is alleged he also displayed palpable fits of temper on the football field when he was a member of the Union Football Club.
It is now stated that although Turner did no work during the last nine months, he was not in the best of health, as was evidenced by his committal to Seacliffe, even if only for six weeks. He brought his family up respectably and always found them a crust. When he was getting old, he expected the family to find him a home.
No further discovery has been made as to the ownership of the revolver.
In the last few months — since Percy took up the T.P. jewellery business he had come to be regarded as something of a "hot air artist," and customarily made the statement that he carried five hundred quids' worth of jewellery in his bag. Even if this be true or untrue, it should not be looked at in an adverse light, because it might easily be regarded as
"ONE OF THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE," and the more valuable the jewellery which he said he had, the better prospects of doing business.
Public sympathy seems to be divided at the present time. One thing is certain, all join with "Truth" in saying that the family are to be sympathised with over the dreadful and unfortunate occurrence, and what the outcome will be no one will know, until the matter goes before the Supreme Court.
Investigations made by "Truth" show that on the morning of the tragedy Percy came up to the office of Goatham and Co., jewellers, for whom he was working, and told Goatham and the boys that he had had a row with the old man, and that the old man had knocked the youngest boy about, whereupon he (Percy) objected, and knocked the old man,
WHO GRABBED A CARVER and chased him (Percy). Eventually the old man dropped the knife after Percy had threatened to fell him. Turner senr., locked himself in a room, and Mrs Turner made peace, and Percy went off to work. This is the narrative as told by Percy when he went to work on the Saturday morning. Goatham did not want Percy to go home on Saturday at noon-time, because of the fact that there might be further trouble, but Percy persisted, and the tragedy happened.
Another of Goatham's travellers went out to Forbury-crescent, and obtained the jewellery bag which Percy had been peddling.
One peculiar circumstance is that on the tragic day a married sister came down from Oamaru with a few weeks' old baby, and there was to be a christening feast. The good things had been ordered, but the tragedy interrupted all possibility of ceremonies, and baby is still unchristened.
At the Dunedin S.M.s Court on Friday of last week, Robert Turner was charged with murdering his son, Percy John Turner.
The evidence given was similar to that adduced at the inquest.
The accused, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial. -NZ Truth, 14/9/1912.
THE TURNER TRAGEDY.
Accused Man Removed to Mental Hospital.
Police Reticent and Give No Reason
Investigations Re a Revolver.
[From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.]
Robert Turner, the alleged murderer of his son at Forbury Park Crescent, St. Kilda, was on Tuesday morning week transferred from Dunedin Gaol to Seacllft Mental Asylum.
When "Truth's" rep. saw the old man on the station platform at Dunedin,. he seemed, if anything, to have gained a more
VENERABLE AND REPUTABLE APPEARANCE during his enforced stay in the gaol. He has lost the dirty, unshaven appearance, and has grown, quite a respectable short, black beard, which is heavily tinged with grey.
He appeared to have a somewhat vacant look, and with his long hours of idleness, with many moments for brooding over his act, his mind, which has previously been shown to be not altogether of particularly sound balance, may probably again have become to some extent slightly unhinged.
The authorities are very reticent on the subject, and will give no authentic reasons for his removal from gaol, but the foregoing seems to be the very probable reason.
He looked at "Truth's" rep. for some little time, and "Truth's" rep. said "Good morning," but
TURNER DID NOT REPLY. As he proceeded along the platform, he gazed at the intending passengers and carriages with no apparent line of vision, and his gait was aimless.
With his approaching trial in the Supreme Court next month, on or after Monday, November 11, there must be a good reason for his removal at this, the almost eleventh hour. Another opinion is, however, expressed that the removal has not been made on account of his present mental condition, but simply that thoroughly competent observation may be kept on the alleged murderer, so as to determine his present state of mind, in view of the approaching trial and possible defence of insanity.
Meantime, the police have been making very close investigations as to whether the revolver, which was found on the scene of the tragedy, was or was not the property of
PERCY TURNER, THE VICTIM. Persons, who have been interviewed by the police, have spoken to "Truth" on the subject, but these persons declare that they can give no definite information as to whether the revolver was actually Percy's property, or that the revolver was in his possession at the time of the tragedy. -NZ Truth, 9/11/1912.
THE TURNER TRAGEDY.
Murderer Insane and Sent to an Asylum.
Doctor's Evidence Precludes Defeuce
Case Short and Sweet.
(From "Truth's Dunedin Rep.).
Some sensational medical evidence was given at the hearing of the murder charge in the Supreme Court, Dunedin, before his Honor Mr Justice Sim last Tuesday, when Robert Turner was accused of having shot his son on August 31 at the family residence in Forbury-crescent, St. Kilda. From the testimony of Dr. Stenhouse, gaol surgeon, who had had the accused under observation from September 3 to October 29, it appears that Turner has been making things merry within the prison precincts. He has shown himself to be sullen, morose, and depressed, though not apparently suffering from any anguish or remorse such as might be expected from a normal father under the circumstances. He refused to answer the doctor's questions, and told the grey-bearded, bespectacled old saw-bones that he had no right to ask questions. He stolidly
REFUSED TO ANSWER all questions relative to drinking habits, and when questioned on that point Turner was very nasty, but said that he drank like other men. When interrogated as to his previous committal to Seacliffe in November of last year, Turner turned up with wrathful ire and declared that at that time he had been drugged by some person unknown to him. He only wished he knew who it was, and also how long these drugs had been administered to him. Dr. Stenhouse give it as his opinion that Turner was delusionary insane. On October 10 last, when Turner was having some fresh air, in the gaol yard, a ladder fell on his face through some means which has been unexplainable. His cheek, nose, and eye were bruised, and he had to be taken to the doctor. Whilst being taken to the doctor's room he became very violent, and it took the combined strength, of
THREE BRAWNY WARDERS to convey the little grey-bearded Turner to the physician. When in the medico's room, Turner was almost more violent he kicked and struggled violently, and, as a windup, attempted to drag the doc's chronometer from his vest pocket, For the next week or two he continued to be violent; and he was removed to Seacliffe on October 29. (Incidentally, it might be mentioned that "Truth," in its issue of November 2, was the only paper which gave notification to the public of this removal.)
Turner made some more than interesting admissions to Dr Edward Alexander, the sanity expert; who examined Turner on September 30 and October 3. From the admissions of the accused, it appears that Turner had had the rifle, with which he committed the deed, loaded for seven months previously, in view of an attack whiph he expected. He had a mania for collecting firearms and any sorts of odds and ends. In addition to the rifle, he had a horse pistol, and both of these, he said, he picked up in Invercargill. With reference to his previous detention in Seacliffe, Turner
PROTESTED AGAINST THEIR FEEDING him whilst there, and said they should have let him die. Turner's story of the tragedy is to this effect: "Percy came at me with a revolver and I locked myself in the stable. I couldn't do anything else but shoot at Percy, though I am sorry that Percy did not succeed with me." As will be seen, Turner was first committed to Seacliffe on November 30, 1911, and discharged on January 13, 1912. At that time he was suffering from homicidal delusion. Dr. Alexander says the early discharge may be accounted for in two ways: (1) Possibly, the delusions had quite disappeared, but became renewed with the home environment; (2) on the other hand, Turner may have concealed them.
Turner had taken alcohol to excess, which had affected his brain, though he had not imbibed so freely during the past eighteen months, but the damage was done before then. Dr. Alexander gave it as his opinion that at the time Turner shot his son he was
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACT. Crown Prosecutor Fraser intimated that Dr. Truby King was of the same opinion.
Robert Franklyn Turner, brother of the deceased, Beattie Turner, sister, William Ross, builder, Sergeant Patrick James O'Connel, and Dr. William Stuart Roberts gave formal evidence of the crime as it was enacted on August 31, full particulars of which appeared in the issue of "Truth" of September 7.
Lawyer Bedford said he proposed to lead two lines of defence — that of justifiable self-defence and insanity.
Justice Sim pointed out that if he argued the first he must contend that Turner was sane. Counsel could hardly turn round and with the next breath urgue that he was insane. He thought that the medical evidence of the Crown was quite clear, but Mr Bedford need not accept it. Mr Bedford said he would accept it, and withdraw the plea of self defence. The jury, without leaving the box, found the prisoner "Not guilty." and acquitted him.
Justice Sim thereupon ordered that Turner be kept in close custody at Seacliffe Mental Hospital until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice was known.
One curious feature of the case which has not hitherto been mentioned, is the information that Turner did not stay in the house with his family, but resided in a small room in the stable from which he shot his son, and which is adjacent to the house. -NZ Truth, 23/11/1912.
Percy and Robert Turner, father and son, lie in the same grave in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery, with other family members. Robert's condition must have improved at Seacliff as his address at time of death in 1925 is recorded as being in Andersons Bay Rd.
DEATHS
TURNER. — On January 30, at Dunedin, Robert, husband of M. M. Turner, 447 Anderson’s Bay road; in his seventy-fifth year. Private interment. — Hope and Kinaston, undertakers. -Otago Daily Times, 31/1/1925.
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