CCLHP: Deposition of J. Henry M. Turner
State of Illinois
Coles County
I, Henry N. Turner after first being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that: I reside in the town of Charleston, was in town on the 28th last month. Was in the east part of town during the affray, but started to come up to the public square in company with Robert Smith, Henry Ingle, Dick Norfolk and Perry Smith, and opposite Mrs. Jefferies we saw John O’Hair, Jim O’Hair, Jess O’Hair, Bryant Thornhill, and other men, about twenty in all, all were armed with revolvers and guns and going East on the North side of the street. They stopped a little East of Mrs. Jeffries opposite of Dick Norfolk’s, and arrested Levi Freizner. Just before the crowd got up there, some person proposed that they go back and let’s go down and clean the god damned abolitionists out, and Thornhill said to come on for they will come down the other street and cut us all to pieces and at that he, Thornhill, stepped around the corner of Alf Wilson’s yard with a gun in his hand. When they went to arrest Freizner, they all rushed up with their guns, and I think would have shot but for John O’Hair who said he had surrendered and not shoot him. This occurred soon after the firing had ceased down about the public square. I know Thornhill when I see him and am not mistaken of his identity.
(Signed) H.N. Turner
Subscribed and sworn to
before me this 11th April 1864
M.C. McLain J.P.
