William John Turner

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Dianne Jones on 28th December 2022

Correction: The original newspaper article gave his occupation as "busk manufacturer", which has been wrongly transcribed as "brush". Busk manufacturer also appears in his Wakefield jail record of 1866. A busk (also spelled busque), according to Wikipedia, is a term from corsetry, and refers to "the rigid element of a corset placed at the center front of the garment. Two types exist, one- and two-part busks." (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busk_(corsetry)) --00--

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Dianne Jones on 28th December 2022

NEWSPAPER report of the trial: "MURDER OF AN INFANT AT SHEFFIELD. WILLIAM TURNER At the Leeds Assizes, Thursday, before Mr Justice Smith, William Turner, brush manufacturer, was charged with having murdered Mary Jane Turner, at Sheffield, on the 14th June last. The deceased was the prisoner’s own child, and only eleven weeks old. He lived in Nottingham-street, in Sheffield, and some time ago he was married to a widow, named Simpson, who had a daughter, named Annie. This girl, the night of the 14th of June, went home about half-past nine o’clock, and found her mother in a yard attached to the house. The prisoner was in the house, and the girl asked him if he and her mother had been quarrelling, to which he replied 'Yes', and went out. The girl went up stairs to the deceased and on picking her up to kiss her, she found herself covered with blood. It turned out that the infant’s head had been nearly severed from the body with some sharp instrument. At a little after ten o’clock the prisoner went to the police office, and said, 'I’m come to give myself up for murder.' The officer in charge said 'Nonsense'; but the prisoner replied, ‘I’ve killed my infant daughter, and it is all through marrying a widow; my life depends on you.' He was very much excited but not drunk. When searched a razor covered with blood was found in one his pockets. To the officer whom he knew said, 'Oh, Winn, it’s a bad job; you know me.' Winn replied, 'Yes.' The prisoner then said, 'I’ve cut my child’s throat with a razor; I don’t know how I’ve done it, for I was out of senses, and as soon as I found that I had done it I walked down the street the Town Hall. I had nothing against the child, and nothing against its mother; but I was completely out my senses, because I once had a sun-stroke in India.' As to the facts of this painful case there was no doubt, and the only question was whether at the time the prisoner killed his child he was suffering from disease of the brain. It was proved that he loved the deceased dearly, and that he was frequently complaining of his head. At times he looked strange, and would sit silent for long time together... One day he asked for a drink of water, when it was given him he bit a piece out of the pitcher. Other strange traits of conduct on his part were spoken to. It had been necessary for his family to frequently put razors and knives out of his way, and he frequently went into fits of passion, when he lost the use of his limbs. The medical testimony favoured the supposition that the prisoner’s brain had been impaired by a sun-stroke, so that he was liable to be excited to a great pitch of indignation from small causes, and lose all control of himself, not having the power to distinguish between right and wrong. The Jury returned with a verdict of guilty, but recommended the prisoner to mercy. The judge put on the black cap, and when the prisoner was asked it he had anything say why sentence of death should not be passed upon him, he said he should like to 'say a few words, my lord'. 'In the first place, I wish to thank you, my lord, for the attention you have given to my case; although I bitterly regret the result, my lord, I am innocent of the crime laid to charge. I was not in my senses at the time of its committal. However, gentlemen, you have given your verdict. It now only remains for your lordship to pass sentence. I thank you for your recommendation to mercy. 'Lord, I have nothing to say why sentence of death should not be passed upon me. I am found guilty of the crime laid to charge, and I am ready submit with all penitent submission to punishment. I beg to entreat that the sentence of death may be carried out, and that the recommendation of the jury will be of no effect, that persons will seek to set aside the sentence. 'Indeed, my lord, I have a far greater desire to pass out of this world now when I fully believe, yes, and know that my sins will be forgiven. It has been an anxious time, my lord, these last two months, when I have been brought to repentance through prayer. I trust and fully believe I have obtained that forgiveness from God which has been denied me by the laws of the land. Whereas, if my sentence were reduced to imprisonment for life, then I should have to lead a life without aim, without object, and all gloom and hopeless despair (here the prisoner’s sobs considerably interrupted his utterance but looking occasionally at some memoranda which he held in his hand, he proceeded) — when, perhaps, my faith in God’s mercy would have vanished, and eventually I should lead a life worse than before. 'I pray that the sentence may be carried into effect. I have no wish for life on earth, but for the life eternal, and I pray God that he may grant it me soon; and I trust your lordship, after these remarks, will not listen to the recommendation to mercy. I thank you, gentlemen of the jury, for the recommendation to mercy, but indeed it will be mistaken kindness in my case. 'In conclusion, I repeat I am innocent of the crime. I trust on earth to have the forgiveness of society in general, whose laws I have outraged. I trust for the forgiveness of my family, whom I have disgraced (here the prisoner’s voice became very tremulous almost inaudible). I have already the forgiveness of her, a most fond, devoted, and affectionate wife (here the prisoner burst into a flood of tears) whom I have so utterly, so foully wronged. May God in his mercy forgive me. I thank you lord, for your attention, and I have now finished.' His Lordship, amid silence which was rendered more than usually solemn by the remarkable conduct and apparent remorse and contrition of the convict, then passed sentence of death; but he said, notwithstanding the prisoner's wish, he should in duty forward the recommendation of the jury to the proper authorities." (Thursday 16 August 1866, Royal Cornwall Gazette, p7). --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 28th December 2022

TRIAL: 3 August, 1866: At the Leeds Assizes, William John Turner was convicted and sentenced to death for murder (England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 for William John Turner; England; Yorkshire - West Riding; 1866). --00--