Presumed son of Lou E. Totten and James W. Turman. However, research brings question to these folks being his birth parents in that: (1) They had married in 1890 and had no prior known children; (2) Their advanced ages (48 and 47 years old) at young Jim's birth adds to the question, and (3) The 1920 census originally reflects "Unknown" and is crossed out and replaced with "U.S." in parent's birthplace columns following his name.
Jim married Bonnie Oxford on 30 Dec 1940 in Vigo County, Indiana. Two children were born into that marriage before the couple divorced in 1945.
His life from 1945 until his death is open to research, but known facts are that he had moved to Florida from Indianapolis in 1956; married twice more; and owned Carl's Furniture and TV Repair Store in Lakeland, Florida.
He married Mary Louise Merritt in Sep 1959 in Polk County, FL, and they divorced in 1968. He then married Helen Lee Petty about 1971. There were no known children from either marriage.
Newspaper articles and online Florida court case records reflect that James Carl Turman was shot and killed during a robbery attempt at his store. The accused perpetrator, Willie Jasper Darden, Jr., was charged and found guilty of the crime. After numerous appeals, Willie Darden was executed on 15 Mar 1988.
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MY PERSONAL NOTE: The first wife of James Turman was my sister. I lived with Jim and Bonnie for a few months when I was quite young, and I grew up with the two Turman boys. After researching the murder case, and especially Willie Darden's trial, I believe that a major injustice occurred and that Darden was put to death for a crime he did not commit. Reader, feel free to Google the full name and read the multiple entries.
ADDITIONAL: Marriage application and U.S. Census reflect birth year as 1919 rather than date on plaque.
Jim married Bonnie Oxford on 30 Dec 1940 in Vigo County, Indiana. Two children were born into that marriage before the couple divorced in 1945.
His life from 1945 until his death is open to research, but known facts are that he had moved to Florida from Indianapolis in 1956; married twice more; and owned Carl's Furniture and TV Repair Store in Lakeland, Florida.
He married Mary Louise Merritt in Sep 1959 in Polk County, FL, and they divorced in 1968. He then married Helen Lee Petty about 1971. There were no known children from either marriage.
Newspaper articles and online Florida court case records reflect that James Carl Turman was shot and killed during a robbery attempt at his store. The accused perpetrator, Willie Jasper Darden, Jr., was charged and found guilty of the crime. After numerous appeals, Willie Darden was executed on 15 Mar 1988.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY PERSONAL NOTE: The first wife of James Turman was my sister. I lived with Jim and Bonnie for a few months when I was quite young, and I grew up with the two Turman boys. After researching the murder case, and especially Willie Darden's trial, I believe that a major injustice occurred and that Darden was put to death for a crime he did not commit. Reader, feel free to Google the full name and read the multiple entries.
ADDITIONAL: Marriage application and U.S. Census reflect birth year as 1919 rather than date on plaque.
Presumed son of Lou E. Totten and James W. Turman. However, research brings question to these folks being his birth parents in that: (1) They had married in 1890 and had no prior known children; (2) Their advanced ages (48 and 47 years old) at young Jim's birth adds to the question, and (3) The 1920 census originally reflects "Unknown" and is crossed out and replaced with "U.S." in parent's birthplace columns following his name.
Jim married Bonnie Oxford on 30 Dec 1940 in Vigo County, Indiana. Two children were born into that marriage before the couple divorced in 1945.
His life from 1945 until his death is open to research, but known facts are that he had moved to Florida from Indianapolis in 1956; married twice more; and owned Carl's Furniture and TV Repair Store in Lakeland, Florida.
He married Mary Louise Merritt in Sep 1959 in Polk County, FL, and they divorced in 1968. He then married Helen Lee Petty about 1971. There were no known children from either marriage.
Newspaper articles and online Florida court case records reflect that James Carl Turman was shot and killed during a robbery attempt at his store. The accused perpetrator, Willie Jasper Darden, Jr., was charged and found guilty of the crime. After numerous appeals, Willie Darden was executed on 15 Mar 1988.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY PERSONAL NOTE: The first wife of James Turman was my sister. I lived with Jim and Bonnie for a few months when I was quite young, and I grew up with the two Turman boys. After researching the murder case, and especially Willie Darden's trial, I believe that a major injustice occurred and that Darden was put to death for a crime he did not commit. Reader, feel free to Google the full name and read the multiple entries.
ADDITIONAL: Marriage application and U.S. Census reflect birth year as 1919 rather than date on plaque.
Jim married Bonnie Oxford on 30 Dec 1940 in Vigo County, Indiana. Two children were born into that marriage before the couple divorced in 1945.
His life from 1945 until his death is open to research, but known facts are that he had moved to Florida from Indianapolis in 1956; married twice more; and owned Carl's Furniture and TV Repair Store in Lakeland, Florida.
He married Mary Louise Merritt in Sep 1959 in Polk County, FL, and they divorced in 1968. He then married Helen Lee Petty about 1971. There were no known children from either marriage.
Newspaper articles and online Florida court case records reflect that James Carl Turman was shot and killed during a robbery attempt at his store. The accused perpetrator, Willie Jasper Darden, Jr., was charged and found guilty of the crime. After numerous appeals, Willie Darden was executed on 15 Mar 1988.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY PERSONAL NOTE: The first wife of James Turman was my sister. I lived with Jim and Bonnie for a few months when I was quite young, and I grew up with the two Turman boys. After researching the murder case, and especially Willie Darden's trial, I believe that a major injustice occurred and that Darden was put to death for a crime he did not commit. Reader, feel free to Google the full name and read the multiple entries.
ADDITIONAL: Marriage application and U.S. Census reflect birth year as 1919 rather than date on plaque.
