Chronology

Josiah Turner Jr. turns down a militia guard after shots are fired into his Hillsborough house

After shots were fired into Josiah Turner Jr.'s house near Hillsborough while he was away, Colonel William J. Clarke wired that he was sending a guard of twenty men with orders to arrest every suspicious person, and Holden's private secretary, W. R. Richardson, asked Turner for particulars of the attempted outrage on Mrs. Turner. Turner replied from Hillsborough that the attackers were unknown, pointed to two Black men he said had been seen nearby, and said he had told Clarke the civil law was ample in Orange and he would have the militia arrested for trespass if they set foot on his land. Holden's defense put the exchange in evidence on February 18, 1871.

People: Josiah Turner Jr.

Lieutenant Hunnicutt wires from Hillsborough that he has Turner under guard, and Burgen orders anyone who tries to free him shot

On August 5, 1870, Lieutenant J. W. Hunnicutt telegraphed Lieutenant Colonel Burgen at Company Shops from Hillsborough that he had arrested Josiah Turner Jr., had him under the bayonet and wanted an extra train. Burgen answered that Hunnicutt should come up on the freight and shoot on the spot anyone who tried to release Turner. The telegrams, from the Hillsborough telegraph office, were read into evidence by the House managers at Holden's impeachment trial on February 18, 1871.

People: Josiah Turner Jr.

State troops search Josiah Turner Jr.'s house outside Hillsborough and carry off his guns

While Lieutenant Hunnicutt held Josiah Turner Jr. at the Hillsborough depot, two or three of his men went to Turner's house about a mile off to search for arms and came back with two pistols and two guns. Turner, testifying at Holden's impeachment trial on February 16, 1871, said one pistol came back only after he offered a $10 reward and the rest stayed with Kirk; a Sentinel editorial of August 9, 1870, read into evidence, said every room was searched without a warrant and his boys' shotguns taken.

People: Josiah Turner Jr.

The officer holding Josiah Turner Jr. at Hillsborough says he will arrest anyone who brings a habeas corpus writ

At the Hillsborough depot, Lieutenant J. W. Hunnicutt told Senator John W. Graham that he had arrested Josiah Turner Jr. by Governor Holden's order and that he had a general order, passed down through Colonel Burgen, to arrest anyone who came with writs of habeas corpus, Graham included. Graham gave this account under oath at Holden's impeachment trial on February 16, 1871, adding that Hunnicutt said Burgen had detailed him to take ten men to Hillsborough for the arrest.

People: John W. Graham · Josiah Turner Jr.

Orange County representative Frederick N. Strudwick moves to impeach Governor Holden

Frederick N. Strudwick of Orange introduced the House resolution to impeach Governor William W. Holden, which the House adopted on December 14, 1870. On December 19 he chaired the Committee of the Whole that adopted the eight articles of impeachment and elected the seven House managers.

Part of Governor Holden’s impeachment and trial, 1870–1871 · 20 events

People: William W. Holden · Frederick N. Strudwick

Strudwick of Orange goes with two other members to impeach Holden at the bar of the Senate

Frederick N. Strudwick of Orange, with Thomas Sparrow and W. P. Welch, was named by Speaker Thomas J. Jarvis to go to the bar of the state Senate and impeach Governor Holden in the name of the House and the people of North Carolina. The three did so on December 15, 1870, and Sparrow reported back that the Senate had received the message.

Part of Governor Holden’s impeachment and trial, 1870–1871 · 20 events

People: Frederick N. Strudwick

Holden answers that he never ordered Josiah Turner Jr. arrested in Orange County

In his written answer read to the Senate on January 23, 1871, Governor Holden denied ordering Josiah Turner Jr.'s arrest in Orange. He said he had told the militia officers to arrest Turner only if found in Alamance or Caswell, that any arrest in Orange was against his orders and without his knowledge, and that when told Turner was under arrest in Alamance he ordered him held there and in Caswell. Holden also said he believed Turner belonged to the secret organizations and was urging citizens to drive out the militia, a charge the answer states as Holden's belief.

Part of Governor Holden’s impeachment and trial, 1870–1871 · 20 events

People: Josiah Turner Jr. · William W. Holden

William A. Graham of Hillsborough joins the prosecution of Governor Holden

The House managers announced to the impeachment court that former governor William A. Graham of Hillsborough, with Thomas Bragg and Augustus S. Merrimon, would act as their counsel. Graham argued points of evidence for the prosecution through the trial.

Part of Governor Holden’s impeachment and trial, 1870–1871 · 20 events

People: William A. Graham · Thomas Bragg · Thomas Sparrow

Josiah Turner Jr. of Hillsborough testifies at Holden's impeachment trial about his arrest

Josiah Turner Jr. told the Senate court that on August 5, 1870, armed men from Company Shops, eight or ten white men and two Black men, came to Hillsborough on a freight train, ran at him with guns cocked as he rode away from the depot, and held him there under Lieutenant Hunnicutt from about eleven until near three while Captain Hancock paraded his company before the depot. He testified for the House managers on February 16, 1871, and on cross-examination denied any tie to the Klan but admitted saying in private talk that the militia ought to be shot.

Part of Governor Holden’s impeachment and trial, 1870–1871 · 20 events

People: Josiah Turner Jr.

Hillsborough telegraph operator Joseph G. Cooley declines to produce the militia telegrams at Holden's trial

Joseph G. Cooley, 24, the Hillsborough telegraph operator, told the impeachment court that he had been subpoenaed on January 30, 1871, to bring every telegram sent or received about the state troops at Company Shops, but that his superintendent had ordered him to answer no questions about them as confidential and the office manager, Mr. Starke, had sent the originals away. After argument the chief justice ordered the telegrams filed with the clerk, and they were read the next day.

Part of Governor Holden’s impeachment and trial, 1870–1871 · 20 events