Black History

Printer Admits Slaying Wife

In 1961, Edward Terle pleaded guilty to manslaughter in his wife’s death, but the mysterious death of James Turner—key witness and Black man—raised racial tensions and fears of KKK involvement in South Norfolk.

#HistoricalJustice #Norfolk1961 #CivilRightsEra #KKKHistory #UnsolvedMystery #BlackHistoryMatters #VirginiaCourts

Edward F. Terle, 55, White and a linotype operator, pleaded guilty in South Norfolk Corporations Court to voluntary manslaughter in the saying of his wife. He found her in their auto with a Colored man and faces a maximum of five years.

The penalty can be a lesser term or even a suspended when he is brought before Judge Jerry G. Bray Jr. on July 26.

Terle’s wife, Agnes, 37, was found dying in a field near Campostella Bridge on the night of May 16, 1961. Her husband signed a confession May 23 and was indicted for murder.

His guilty plea settled the question of who battered his wife with a board. But there remained a cloud of mystery over the death of James Turner, 52, a Negro ragpicker who was found dead on the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks June 18, 1961 after a freight train struck him. Trainmen said he was sitting on the tracks and failed to move although the locomotive’s whistle was sounded repeatedly and it was moving at 10 miles an hour.

When picked up Turner was found to have died of a broken neck and multiple internal injuries. The medical examiner listed the death as accidental. No one could testify that the victim was alive when the train struck him. Turner died 200 yards from the spot where Mrs. Terle was beaten.

Turner’s death came on the heels of reports of activity of hooded men in South Norfolk. Some persons believed the men were members of the KKK. Speculation also arose because Turner was regarded as a principal prosecution witness in the Terle case.

🕵🏾 What really happened in South Norfolk in 1961?
Murder confessions. Mysterious deaths. Suspected KKK involvement. You won’t find these stories in textbooks.