The Evansville Daily Journal

Capture of a Noted Burglar and Fugitive—a Policeman Shot.

On Saturday morning about 2½ o'clock Policeman Farwell of the Fourteenth Ward saw four suspicious looking characters on his beat in the Bowery, and was soon afterward informed by Officer Hoyt (Tenth Ward) that one of the gang was John Turner, a noted burglar who had recently escaped from prison in Brooklyn, where he was awaiting trial for house-breaking. Farwell then disguised himself in a citizen's coat and pursuing the suspected individuals, came up with them in Spring-st. near the Bowery.

Knowing Turner from the description he at once seized hold of him, when a severe fight ensued between the two. Turner momentarily disengaging his hands, procured a six-berreled pistol and fired one shot into the left shoulder of the policeman, but as luck would have it, only a flesh wound was inflicted. Policeman Hoyt hearing the noise from the opposite side of the Bowery came over without delay, and arrived on the ground just in time to knock Turner on the head with his locust as the latter was renewing his efforts to escape. The blow only partially stunned him, and jumping to his feet again the desperado fired a second shot, the bullet passed through the rim of his hood which was also burned and blackened by the powder. Turner received another and not so gentle a tap on the head as the first, notwithstanding which he fought desperately for several minutes, he being determined to free himself from the official grasp. He however, was subdued and taken to the 14th District Police Station-House where he was locked up. He will be held here for attempting to murder the policeman, beside which an indictment for a burglary in Brooklyn stands recorded against him. In this last named affair he had two confederates who have been tried, convicted, and sentenced to the State Prison at Sing Sing for ten years each. Turner's companions last night managed to escape arrest.