Cassius Simmons Turner, Born:17 Dec 1845, Van Buren, Crawford, Ark, Died: 1904, Washington, Hempstead, Ark. Married: 15 Feb 1872, Rosston, Nevada, Ark. to Sarah Ophelia Jones. Born: 1 Sept 1852, Pontotoc, Pontotoc Co. Miss. Died: 1895

The Daily Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas--Tuesday April 7, 1886

The Washington Telegraph furnishes the following particulars of a Robbery and attempted Murder of my Great, Great grandfather Cassius Simmons Turner, who was reared in Camden (Ouachita Co) by foster parents: Wilson R and Elizabeth Simmons.

A young man, and a friend of ours named Cassius Turner with a young friend of his, are engaged in merchandising on a small scale at Lait's Mill, between Paraclifte andRocky Comfort and about six miles from the latter place. On the day above mentioned a man living in the neighborhood by the name of McClusky and two of his accomplices came to the store apparently with the deliberate intention of murder and robbery - one of which they came very near effecting and the other thoroughly.

It appears from the circumstances in the case as related to us by Mr. Turner himself and the truthfullness of which we vouch for that Turner had previously employed McClusky to do some work for him making a contract in which the price thereof was expressly stipulated and McClusky had gone there on the day before of the unfortunate affair ostensibly for the purpose of perfecting a settlement. He presented an account exceding the stipulated price and which of course was demed as being correct. Whereupond a difficulty ensued that resulted in a serious and almost fatal termination. Turner being unarmed was unable to cope with his adversary in a shooting affray so after scuffling for some time he let go his antagonist and went back into the store expecting to find a couple of pistols that had been left there the day before but had been purloined during the day by the friends of McClusky to whom they belonged. Whilst he was standing behind his counter the cowardly assasin went to the window and fired upond him with an army size six shooter the ball passing through the right leg below the knee completely shattering the bone. Being thus disabled he attemped to crawl from behind his counter across the store towards a back room attached to the building. In crossing the room he was again fired upond by the ruffian this time from the door. The second shot took effect in his left thigh causing a serious flesh wond. The assassin again fired but this time without effect.

During this affair the friend of Mr. Turner had seized a loaded rifle but was prevented from using it by one of the friends of McClusky who seized him and during the scuffle fired it off through the roof of the house. They were then entirely defenceless, each of the other party having a pistol. No further outrage was attempted upond their persons.

Now the robbery. One of these vilains a young man calling himself Powell came to the store and appeared to be very much affected at the result of the affair and exercising his voluble tongue in making use of the profoundest expressions of regret prevailed upond young Turner to allow him to assist in nursing his wounds. He finally consented to the arrangement and during the absence of Turner's friend the unscrupulous scoundrel went to the drawer and stolr all the money therein amounting to some two hundred dollars, nearly half which was gold. He then left the house, joined by his friend and that night stole two mules from Mr. Holman and left the country. Mr. Holman was in close pursuit of them at last accounts and will no doubt capture them. Mr. McClusky was arrested and after a preliminary trail, in which two wise justices brought in a verdict of murder in the second degree. He was released on bail. He is now at large.

Mr. Turner had to have his leg amputated the next day, which operation was performed by Dr. Alexander, of Rocky Comfort, to whose extraordinary skill in surgery Mr. Turner is no doubt indebted for his life. Under the care and attention of a skillful and experienced nurse he is rapidly recovering and will be entirely well in a short time.

Children of Cassius and Sarah O. Jones are:
Wilson S.
Jesse James
Robert Jones Turner