The Tennessean, of the 19th, contains the particulars of a sanguinary encounter which occurred on the 8th instant [August], in the 14th civil district of Roane county, from which it appears that the two combatants in this case, named respectively TURPIN and HEMBREE, brothers-in-law, having had a misunderstanding between each other [according to John Strunk, it was a land/boundary dispute], they mutually agreed to settle their difference in a fair, square, stand-up fight, no knives or deadly weapons to be used.
In pursuance of this agreement, TURPIN threw his knife away. HEMBREE refused to do likewise, when TURPIN tried to arm himself with a club, and whilst in the act of picking up a stick, was set upon by his antagonist, and severely, if not fatally cut about the head, neck and shoulders. Notwithstanding TURPIN’S wounds are believed to be fatal.
HEMBREE is still at large, no attempt having been made to arrest him. Roane seems to be making rapid strides towards the reputation enjoyed by the frontier, where law is set openly at defiance, and its minions are powerless. Note: It is not known if Mr. TURPIN died or not.
(Source: Knoxville Weekly Whig, Wednesday, 25 Aug 1869, Vol. XX, No. 29.)
The second account of William's death has been provided by Jane Burr of Humble, Texas. On August 3, 2012 I received a package from Jane that contained a document written by Mary Morris McCafferty entitled, "Mama's Stories: A Recent Family History Constructed from the Memories of Florence Ethel Turpin Morris." The account of the fight that resulted in William's death begins on page 23:
It was not uncommon in those days to settle grudges with a fight. Each combatant had witnesses present and it was understood that once the fight was over, the winner prevailed and there would be no further dispute about the matter in question. A "fair fight" meant that no weapons would be used--only fists. William and a neighbor had a dispute over a piece of property. A fair fight was arranged and it was held out behind William's barn, so as to be away from the women and children. Both men threw their knives into a fence corner and fought with their fists. William was declared the winner. The other man was known to have a very bad temper. He dashed for his knife as William was walking away. Someone shouted to William to watch out. He saw that he was in danger and he ran to the barn to get something to use in defending himself. He snatched at a board that was lying under the edge of the barn. Apparently the board was nailed onto something because he could not free it and while he was tugging at it, the man stabbed him in the back.
William lived 30 days after he was stabbed. Before he died, each child was taken to his bedside so that William could say farewell and present each with a keepsake. Some of the children were given $20 gold pieces. King was given a pair of gold cuff-links. King was only about two years old at the time, but he seemed to remember being taken to the bed where his father lay and said he remembered how the bed was placed in the room.
