The Garryowen Homicide

MCCAFFREY, TURNER, SEWELL, LEONARD, CONNELL, KELLY, OKEEFE, NOONAM, WILLIAMS, DONAVAN, HENRY, ODONNELL, MCCENEY

Posted By: Patrick Turner (email)
Date: 2/6/2004 at 09:16:50

Source: Dubuque Herald,
Dubuque, Iowa
Page 4, Column 3 - Friday, November 15, 1878

Further Particulars of the Foul Deed Which Cost John Turner His Life.

From Mr. O. McCaffrey (Says the Jackson Sentinel) who is a cousin of the murdered man, and who returned from Garryowen Tuesday evening, we have gained the following particulars of the foul and cowardly deed that was committed near Garryowen, Sunday night November 3:

John Turner, a young and industrious farmer, 23 years of age, in company with Matthew Sewell, an old farmer living near Garryowen, took supper together at James Leonard’s house, in the early part of the evening, and then went to the store of John Connell. About 8 o’clock they started for home, both riding Turner’s horse. When they came to the cross roads, about a quarter of a mile distant from the Catholic Church, their homes lay in opposite directions, and they both got off the horse. Turner thought to save distance he would go across the fields, and he let down the fence, Sewell helping him. But after they had taken down the fence down, turner concluded he would not go that way, but would go around the road, and so they put the fence up again. Turner then turned around to get upon his horse, and just as he did so received a blow on the back of his head, which felled him to the ground senseless. About 2 o’clock in the morning Sewell went to Father Kelly’s house and informed him that a man was lying up the road about a quarter of a mile in a dying condition. Several parties immediately started in that direction, Sewell among them, and a man was found in a critical state, suffering intense agony and weltering in his own blood. He was carried to the priest’s house, where medical assistance was called and his wounds examined and dressed. He was found to have been stabbed four times and twice in the right side of the neck, and twice in his side, but neither of which would have proven fatal had it not been for the blow he received on the back of his head, which Dr. Finley, of Cascade, pronounced fatal in itself. Turner lingered along in the state of delirium until last Sunday evening, when he died from the effects of his injuries. Previous to his death he stated to his mother and others that Sewell was the man who had given him his deathblow.

After his death Justice O’Keefe, by authority from Corner Carnahan, impaneled a jury, consisting of M. J. Noonan, Robert Williams, and Patrick Donavan, and held an inquest on the body. Their verdict was that Turner came to his death at the hands of Sewell. Sewell was arrested and an examination held before Justice O’Keefe, Sewell pleading innocent. He was placed under arrest, and will be held for trial at the next term of the district court. R. W. Henry is employed for the prosecution and O’Donnell & McCeney of Dubuque for the defense.

Much excitement prevails at Garry Owen and if the people were quite positive of the person accused is the one who committed the deed; he would probably stretch hemp in a short space of time.

Turner was buried Tuesday at 11 ¼ o’clock and it is said the funeral procession was more than two miles long, everybody showing their sympathies to the family and their regards and esteem for the deceased.

Whatever the motive could have been, if any, for the committing of such an unprovoked murder, is a mystery to all, for Turner bore a good character, and is known to have been a quiet, peaceable and unobtrusive young man.

Sewell was examined on Wednesday by Justice O’Keefe, and was held to answer the foul charge of murder of young Turner. The offence being unbailable he was committed to jail at Maquoketa in wait the action of the district court.