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Show THE TURNER MURDER. The Salt Lake papers, and others of our Territorial exchanges, have lately contained articles about, and references to a cold blooded murder, recently committed near Park city. <br><br> We herewith give a brief sketch of the tragedy: On about June 20th John F. Turner, son of Sheriff John W. Turner, of Utah county, left his home in Provo, and went to Park city in search of work, taking with him one span of horses and two wagons. While at Park city, he made the acquaintance of a German named Welcome, who, it appears, persuaded the young man to start for Montana via Echo, as he said he could obtain work and good wages there. It seems that Welcome succeeded in obtaining another span of horses at Park city, which he attached to one of young Turner's wagons. <br><br> On July 4th young Turner and Welcome were seen together in Park city, and on the 6th both left town. A few days elapsed, when, on July 11th, a woodchopper, passing through Echo canyon, detected a stench. On searching for the cause of it, a human body was found covered by a canvas tent, and a quantity of stones heaped upon it. The description of the body answered that of young Turner, from whom his father had not heard for two weeks. <br><br> When Welcome left Park city he was indebted to a gentleman there, and about the time of the discovery of the dead body, a friend of this Park city gentleman telegraphed him from Piedmont, Wyoming, that Welcome had just sold a team there, and had means to pay the debt with. <br><br> The gentleman of Park city knew that Welcome did not own a team, and that he had left Park city in company with young Turner, and then selling of a team by the former, in Piedmont, looked as if there had been foul play. So he at once telegraphed to Sheriff Turner at Provo, and ?? ?? of his son's ?? ?? he soon after succeeded in arresting. <br><br> On July 26th, while confined in the penitentiary, Welcome made an alleged confession, to the effect that he had an accomplice in the murder, named Jack Emerson. He states that Emerson and himself camped with young Turner near Park city, when Emerson killed the young man by striking him on the head with a board, and that the dead body was put in one of the wagons and conveyed to Echo canyon, where Welcome says Emerson hid it. <br><br> A reward was at once offered for Emerson, but he, on learning that he was wanted and what for, telegraphed to a deputy sheriff that he could be found at Carbon, Wyo. [Wyoming] He was arrested there, and on Aug. 2d, was brought to Salt Lake. His story, in effect, is as follows: He was in Park city on July 4th, and Welcome asked him if he did not want to go to the Gunnison country, saying that if he did he might drive one of his (Welcome's) teams. Welcome wanted to start on the morning of the 5th, but Emerson wanted to stay till the celebration was over, and so, after camping with Welcome on the night of the 5th, they started early on the morning of the 6th, each driving a team. <br><br> They drove that day to a point five or six miles from Echo city, up Echo canyon, and, when nearly dark, camped. Emerson felt a little sick from heavy drinking the day previous, and Welcome spread out the bed on which he, (Emerson) laid down, while Welcome prepared supper. Emerson drank a cup of tea, and went to bed, but Welcome did not come to bed for three hours afterwards. <br><br> Next day they went to Evanston, and next day to Piedmont, where Welcome sold one of the teams. They traveled on until they reached Green River, where Welcome sold the other team, and went off on the train, leaving Emerson without a dollar. From Green River, Emerson made his way to Carbon, where he awaited arrest. <br><br> He declares positively that he never saw young Turner at all. If this be true, Welcome must have killed the young man, at or near Park city, before being joined by Emerson on the evening of July 5th, concealed the body in one of the wagons, and, when they camped near Echo, on the night of the 6th, must have hidden it where it was found. <br><br> Emerson further states that on the road from Park city to Echo, he saw a blood-stain on the pillow slip, but Welcome said he guessed his nose had been bleeding; and that he had detected an odor, as of carrion, but thought it came from Welcome's feet. Which of the two men did the murder, or whether both were concerned in it, is now uncertain. <br><br> Welcome is a known horse thief and law-breaker, and has been repeatedly arrested by Sheriff Turner, who, on one or two occasions, was assisted by his son in making the capture. Welcome is known to have sworn vengeance on the Turners, and, escaping conviction for his crimes, has continued at large. Thus it is easy to explain his motive in murdering the young man. <br><br> But no motive has yet been assigned that could reasonably be attributed to Emerson, for committing the deed. The latter, however, had on, when arrested, the suit and boots worn by young Turner when he left home, but he says Welcome gave the articles to him. <br><br> Welcome's real name is said to be Hopt, while Emerson's real name is John McCormick. Both men are now in prison, and no doubt their trial will show which, if either, is innocent, for Welcome's confession seems to fix the guilt between them. |