News Item For Turner, Jesse
Headline Jesse Turner Killed
Text News reached Cassville Saturday morning that Jesse Turner, 22 year old son of Mrs. William Turner who lived in Cassville for several years, who had moved to Joplin about six months ago, had been shot and killed Friday night in Joplin by a young man named Steele.

After the coroner's inquest was held Saturday the body was prepared for interment and shipped to Cassville. The funeral, conducted by Rev. E.W. Love, was held at the Baptist Church at 2:30 Sunday afternoon and interment made in Oak Hill Cemetery. The body was accompanied to Cassville by his mother and brother, Clyde, and four sisters and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Day. His father William Turner died in Joplin, May 2, and was also buried here.

The Joplin News Herald gave the following account of how Jesse met his death:

That Jesse Turner, 22 years old, 1037 Kentucky Avenue, died at 11:45 o'clock, Friday night as the result of shots fired by O. O. ("Bee") Steele of Commerce, Okla., was the verdict of a jury at an inquest conducted yesterday afternoon by Coroner A. R. Snyder at the Hurbut undertaking Company. Fourteen witnesses were examined.

Five shots fired at 10:45 o'clock Friday night between Fifth and Sixth Streets in Joplin street attracted William Stuckey, an employee of the Joplin Supply Company, across the street. On investigation Stuckey found the body of Turner, a fellow employee lying crosswise in a court between Fifth and Sixth streets.

Patrolmen Walter Fitch, who arrived on the scene, was met by Steele who had a revolver in his hand. Steele's only comment was that he did not want to hurt the policeman and that he was forced to do the shooting.

Dr. J. Will Barker, city physician, was called to attend Turner, and an ambulance of the Frank Stevers Undertaking Company carried the wounded man to St. John's Hospital. There he died one hour later.

Testimony at the inquest failed to reveal what had become of a pocket knife with which Bert and Frank Wohlford, the former who had come from Oklahoma with Steele, said that Turner had threatened the Oklahoma man.

The Wohlford brothers and Durant Newman, eye witness to the shooting were the principal witnesses examined.

According to Bert Wholford, he, Steele, and Samuel Barlan, had arrived in Joplin from Commerce about 5:30 o'clock in the afternoon in a motor car owned by Harlan.

A short time before the shooting the two Wholford brothers and Steele were sitting in the car, which was in front of the Joplin Supply Company, waiting for Harlan to come and drive them back to Commerce.

We were sitting in the car when Turner came up to us, said Frank Wohlford. He was a stranger to us. I am a fighter and can beat you all, Turner said. Then he said he would kill us. He took out a knife and made advances towards us, and annoyed us for several moments. Newman came over from across the street and said the would get us out of the trouble. Turner told him something about someone owing him some money.

Newman drove the machine around the block and stopped the car across from the garage, on the east side of the street. Then he went over to the garage. Turner continued to bother us, and Bret stuck out his foot and kicked him on the nose. Things began to get more serious, and Bret jumped out of the car and said he was going to shut up Harlan right away.

"Turner continued to flourish his knife. Steels said he begged him to go away and then said he was going to get even with him. He jumped out of the car and the first thing I saw a shot was fired. I didn't see Steel pull the gun. Four shots followed the first in rapid succession. Turner flung up his arm and then fell to the sidewalk."

Frank Denton of the Denton Bar, Sixth and Joplin streets, said that Turner had come into the saloon a short time before the shooting and had been quarrelsome. He had accused an Indian there of making fun of his neck, which had been crooked since birth and of which he was very sensitive. He had said that he would kill anyone who jeered at his disfigurement. Denton said that he wasn't drunk.

Turner had been employed at the Joplin Supply Company for about a year. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Enola Turner, one brother, Clyde W., and four sisters, Gertrude, Gladys, Nadine, and Marie. His father, William Turner, died May 2. The family moved here from Cassville, Mo., about six months ago.

Four shots hit Turner. Two struck him between his shoulders, one in the lower part of his abdomen and a fourth at his elbow.

Steele has been placed in jail. After persistently saying that he was a miner, he admitted later to Ray Bond, assistant prosecuting attorney, that he was a bootlegger and came to Joplin to get some whiskey.

Bond swore out a warrant for first degree murder before Judge N. G. Morrison, yesterday afternoon. It is expected that Steele will be arraigned before Judge Morrison tomorrow morning (Monday).

Steele is about 30 years old and married.
Newspaper Cassville Republican
Date Thursday, July 17, 1916
Resource State Historical Society of MO
Submitted by Donna Cooper