Killing On Farm
R.L. Turner is Dead and T.J. Duke Surrenders

Dallas Morning News
25 June 1905

Special to the News

Forney, Tex., June 24 – T.J. Duke, a tenant on the farm of Mrs. S.G. Flemming, came to town this afternoon and gave himself up to the officer, stating that he had killed R.L. Turner. Duke gave the following version of the affair:

Turner and his children had been chopping cotton for Duke and he came in the field where Duke was at work and demanded a settlement. A dispute arose as to the account and Turner began to curse him and advanced with a knife. Duke took a singletree from his plow and Turner also got a singletree. In the scuffle the singletree was knocked out of Turner’s hand and then Duke struck Turner on the head, killing him. Duke’s 11-year-old boy witnessed the killing. Both men have large families. Duke has lived here two years, coming from Kaufman.