Inquest Record Book #1--March 1877-December 1886

Page 70.  Inquest was held on 3 Mar 1883 on the body of Davis Smith who was found dead at his house, in his bed, on the plantation in this place, known as the Caineleaux Plantation, in the 1st Ward, before the Justice of the Peace. The jurors verdict is that he came to his death due to craust(sic) or colic. The jurors were H. C. Johnson, George Walter, Joe Joseph, Henry Robinson, William Blue, and Coy Clinton, 1st Ward, JP.

Page 71.  Inquest was held 24 Mar 1883 before the 1st Ward Justice of the Peace, Coy Clinton, having been notified of the death of a female colored, aged about 100 years and having gone by the name of Charity, residing at L. D. Broussards. The jurors verdict was that no guilt attaches to any person and she died of old age and a natural death. Jurors were J. Stein, L. C. Broussard, L. G. Broupaw, Francois Jupiter, Jr. and Coy Clinton, JP.

Page 72 and 73.  Inquest was held on the body of Ben Moore on 26 Mar 1883, here lying dead at Hymelia Plantation fronting S. Hymel Store before Justice of the Peace, 1st Ward Coy Clinton. The jurors' verdict is that Ben Moore came to his death by one David Drew, late of St. Charles Parish, Hymelia Plantation on the 25 Mar 1883 about 11 o'clock. David Drew with force and arms feloniously(sic) and violently and malice of forethought made an assault of Ben Moore there with a carbain(sic) knife, which the said David Drew then and there in his hands ??? Ben Moore in and upon the left part of the breast between the second and third rib from the colar(sic) bone of the neck of Ben Moore, then and there violently, feloniously and of his malice and aforethought struck and pierced and gave to Ben Moore then and there with the knife one mortal wound about 1/2 inch and the depth of 5 inches, of which Ben Moore instantly died and David Drew killed him. Jurors were Jos. Stein, Joseph Faunce, Seraphim Hymel, M. G. Cox, Madesson Green and Coy Clinton,JP.

Inquest Records, Book 1, March 1877--December 1886

Page 61.  Inquest was held on 15 July 1882 on the body of Aristide Pierre found floating in the Mississippi River, at Davis Place. The jurors verdict is that he accidently drowned in the river in front of Farmerville at 11 o' clock on the 11th of this month while attempting to force his horse in the water and we are satisfied that nobody is to be blamed for the accident. Jurors were Jos. M. Labranche, Valentine Labranche, Baptiste Antoine, Pierre Lewis, Bazile Pierre and J. F. Mojonnier, Coroner.

Page 62.  Inquest was held on 12 August 1882 on the body of Robert Bowling, age about 35 years, lying dead. Jurors verdict is that he was accidently (sic) killed at the 25 mile post of the Morgan Railroad, while riding on the section hand car, while in motion, by being struck by the car level, dislocating his neck, producing instant death and we find nobody to blame. Jurors were Ben Sird---ff, Adolph Mojonnier, Fred Mojonnier, Jeff Week, Henry Clark, Alex Griffen and J. F. Mojonnier, Coroner.

Page 63.  Inquest was held on 12 August 1882 on the body of Ephraim Porter at Freetown. The jurors conclude on 11 August 1882, that he came to his death from a pistol shot wound which penetrated his left chest one inch back of the nipple in a downward direction, perforating the heart, the lobe of the right lung, the liver, in which the ball was found, having caused hemorhage (sic) and immediate death. The shot was fired by one Alcide Diendonne, now in custody, while the deceased was in the act of committing an assault on said Alcide Diendonne armed with a water pitcher. Jurors were Milton S. Cox, Coy Clinton, John Pierre, Jr., Baptiste Jupiter, Bazile Ronbleau. Witnesses to mark, Chas. A Baquie, J. L. Martin, and J. F. Mojonnier, Coroner.

Inquest Records--Book #1---March 1877-Dec 1886

Page 49.  Inquest was held on the body of Benjamin Gross on 10th of February 1881. The verdict is that he died of Peritonite (sic) and infiltration of Serosity (sic) in the intesting (sic) ananague (sic) from poisoned blood caused by different agencies, as inflamation of the pleura and the interval muscles round the left lungs when, an old wound received by a pistol ball about four years ago reopened internally and principally for want of proper medical attendance, and further we found that the wound inflicted 8 August by Frank Robson was healed and all organs surrounding this wound having penetrated above the hips. Jurors were R. Pierre, Geo. Essex, Jerry Stevenson, Jules Ursin, J. H. Davis and J. F. Mojonnier, Coroner.

Page 50.  Inquest was held on the body of Henry Trovers on 22 February 1881. The verdict is that he was shot 20 February 1881 at about 11 o'clock, in the forearm by a revolving pistol in the hands of Major Charlie, now at large. Major Charlie fired three shots, two of which penetrated the the stomach, the colon, intestines, the liver and arterie (sic) aorta, producing an internal hemorgie (sic) fatal in a very short time. Two balls of the fatal shot having been extracted between the 6th and 7th ribs near the aorta arteries. Major Charlie did commit the said felony on the deceased which was in peace in the 1st Ward. Jurors were Coy Clinton, M. S. Cox, Abraham Sim, William Scott, Robert Pierre and J. F. Mojonnier, Coroner.

School News for 1886 from School Board Minutes

       In January 1886 the board received a report that 606 children had been enrolled in 1885; there were 135 white children and 471 black children. The board agreed to open 11 schools in February for a term of six months. There were five schools for white children and six for black children. The teachers were to be paid not more than $40 a month.
      A petition signed by A. Guilaume, C.A. Bourgeois, M.L. Cox and Coy Clinton from the Baumgarten school area was presented. They said the school was in dilapidated condition and they asked the board to allow them to use the building for a Sunday school and private school at the end of the public school term in return for making all repairs needed.
      The teachers for 1886 were named at the April board meeting. They were Miss Zulema Bourgeois, Mrs. K.M. Haggerty, Miss P.A. Clanton, Miss Georgia Phillips, Mrs. M.C. Aitkens, Mrs. L.A. Evans, Miss Louiza White, Miss M.A. Thoroughgood and Mrs. M. Lawton.
      Schools mentioned at this meeting were on Longue's Plantation and on Mrs. Lawton's Property.  Visiting trustees were appointed for each ward. They were Ward 1, Joseph Stein and Charles A. Bourgeois; Ward 2, Arthur Robbins and Charles Gassen; Ward 3, P.M. Kenner and Schiller Marstires; Ward 4, R.E. Coche and William Taylor; Ward 5, James Williams and Harrison Roe.