Murder charged after fight over peeling a turnip

The Buffalo News ^ | 2-11-2003

[Cagey]

An ailing 74-year-old man strangled a woman after a dispute about peeling a turnip, Buffalo police said Monday.

Henry Ward of Kingsley Street was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Gina Smith, 46, of East Utica Street.

Ward - who has a deformed left arm and suffers from arthritis - appeared Monday in City Court in a wheelchair. He also was in a wheelchair at the time the crime occurred Sunday night, police said.

Ward had been drinking Sunday night when he asked Smith to help peel a turnip, according to Lt. Jake Ulewski, a police department spokesman. When she refused, he tried to call someone else, but she kicked the phone away from him, Ulewski said.

"He grabs her and twists her down, and then grabs her around the neck and then puts a choke-hold on her until she went limp," Ulewski said.

After giving police a statement, Ward said he didn't feel well and was taken to Erie County Medical Center, said Detective Sgt. Anthony Costantino of the Major Crimes Unit. Ward was back in police custody Monday night.

"He was probably despondent from what he did," Costantino said.

Ward and Smith were longtime friends, police said.

Ward was a resident of Gethsemane Manor, a senior citizen apartment complex.

"He was a good tenant," said John Vareca, a spokesman at Ward's building. "We had no issues with him."

Another court appearance is scheduled for Friday.

[Cagey]

There just has to be a moral here.

[Cagey]

Violent Vegetarian alert.

[jigsaw]

There just has to be a moral here.

Not really. He just didn't find her a'peeling.

[Cagey]

Hahahahahaha! Very good.

[lorrainer]

There just has to be a moral here.

Not really. He just didn't find her a'peeling.

But they made quite a pare...

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

A crippled 74 year old man, in a wheelchair vs. a 46 year old woman........ I think the turnip won.....

[albee]

A here hol' mah turnip alert?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

There just has to be a moral here.

Not really. He just didn't find her a'peeling.

But they made quite a pare...

Yep, anyway you slice it.....

[jigsaw]

But they made quite a pare...

Yeah, but it was the last time she'd turnip her nose at one of his requests.

[Cagey]

Ward had been drinking Sunday night when he asked Smith to help peel a turnip..

I'm just wondering why a guy would get loaded on a Saturday night and then want a turnip.

[Cagey]

...errrr, I see it was Sunday night. That explains it now.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I'm reminded of my favorite British comedy, Blackadder

It is set during the Inquisition........and Blackadder's religious zealot of an aunt comes for dinner...... they are having turnips and she admonishes him for suggesting they be cooked......she want to eat it "as God intended"...... but later she notices that it looks "exactly like a thingy"........lol

Hey, I don't write this stuff.........

[seams2me]

Well, now we all know what "peel his turnip" REALLY means..........

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Either way, you don't often find turnips on the menu at your local pub.......

[coloradan]

Yet another senseless death from turnip violence. Turnips should be banned (and I'm sure a lot of kids will agree) but, failing a total ban, there must be background checks, waiting periods, and full turnip registration. There is no Constitutional right to turnips!!

[lorrainer]

Turnips don't kill people, old grumpy guys in wheelchairs kill people.

[MotleyGirl70]

Ward and Smith were longtime friends, police said.

Would things have turned out different if he had asked assistance in peeling a carrot?

[DannyTN]

There just has to be a moral here.

Apparently, it's that you can get blood out of a turnip!

[MotleyGirl70]

You shouldn't turnip your nose to this very series story.