St. Charles Parish Inquest Book #1

ZPage 116--Inquest held on 14 Jul 1885 on the body of an unknown colored man lying dead between John Volman aand Frank Harvey Place. The jurors verdict is that he came to his death by being drowned in the Mississippi River. There were no marks of violence on the body. Jurors were Simmon Mathew, Anthony Labranche, Alfred Anderson, Ussin Eugene and Clement Colly.

Page 117--Inquest was held in the city of New Orleans on 20 Jun 1885 before Dr. J.F. Fenney, coroner, on the body of Henry Williams,lying dead at Charity Hospital and after careful autopsy find death to have resulted from a gun shot wound of the abdommen producing internal hemumorrhage. Henry Williams, male,black, native of LA.,age 23, resident of this city since by occupation a laborer residing at Boutte Station, dead of internal hemumorrhage on 29 Jun 1885 at 12 o'clock from a gun shot wound of abdomen. Jurors were A. C. Seymour, Daul Maloney, M.L. Tinney, and J. T. Tinney, MD Coroner.

Page 118--Inquest held on 18 Aug 1885 on the body of Emma Thomas, lying dead at the Oakland Plantation. The jurors verdict is that she came ro her death by sunstroke and not otherwise, there being no marks of violence on her person. The jurors were Chas Ellis, James Harris, Leon Louis, Jesses Zino, and Clement Colly, Coroner.

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

Page 100   Inquest was held on 10 June 1885 on the body of John Baptiste lying dead at the (S)illmore)? Place. The jurors' verdict is that he came to his death by the Visitation of God, there being no marks of violence on his person and no guilt attaches to any person. Jurors were John Harris, Leon Wiseman, David Hymel, Jack Hanna, A. Russet, and Clement Colly, Coroner.


Page 101   Inquest was held on 24 Jan 1885 on the body of Marclous Williams, lying dead at the Morris Web Place. The jurors' verdict is that he came to his death by being sick and destitute, that he was sick for more than a month, having no food, clothes or medicines and was also without the aid of a doctor, the jurors agree that no guilt attaches to any person. Jurors were George Alesc, Joe Robinson, John Smith, Hippole Williams, R. D. Jhanis, and Clement Colly, Coroner.                                                                         


Page 102   Inquest was held on 24 Jan 1885 on the body of an unknown colored boy found drowned in the Mississippi River in front of Davis Plantation. The jurors' verdict is that he came to his death by some unknown cause , there being no marks of violence on his person and therefore no guilt attaches to any person. Jurors were Daniel Perce, Thomas Edward, Eugene Edward, Cas Fleming, Joseph Thomas, and Clement Colly, Coroner.

Inquest Records Book #1 March 1877-December 1886

Page 89.   Inquest was held on the body of Alex Washington on 6 Jun 1884 at Bayou LaBranche before 5th Ward JP Antoine Clark. The jurors' verdict say that Aron Thomas of St. Charles Parish on the 5 Jun 1884 in the peace of the State then and there being Alexander Washington at the hour of 12 o' clock on the Jackson Railroad at a place called Bayou LaBranche did there and then threaten to kill Aron Thomas and with his weapon, a shotgun in his hands with malice aforethought did make an assault and him, the said  Aron Thomas fired and used every effort as to prevent from committing himself left the said Alexander Washington and  flee from there in fear of death could not escape so the said Aron Thomas himself in the preservation of his life against the said Alexander Washington to defend and in his own defense him the said Aron Thomas defended his life by shooting the said Alexander Washington in his jaw and throat with a musket of which  caused death instantly in his own defense. Jurors were William Erwing, Louis Williams, Joseph Eugene, Joseph Schexkemberger, and C. C. A. Stephens, Antoine Clark, 5th Ward JP. Filed J.B. Martin, Clerk.


Page 90.   Inquest was held upon the body of Victor Joseph on 4 Jan 1884, lying dead, before Coy Clinton, 1st Ward JP acting as Coroner. The jurors' verdict is that he came to his death by being frozen to death back of Hahnville. Jurors were Paul Johnston, Charles Thomas, Robert Pierre, Michel Pierre, Bazil Pierre, and Coy Clinton, acting Coroner. J. B. Martin, Clerk. 

Inquest Records Book 1, March 1877- December 1886

Page 64.  Inquest was held 7 Nov 1882 at Star Plantation, on the body of A. Williams by Coy Clinton, Justice of the Peace, 1st Ward. The jurors verdict is that he came to his death by Diarha(sic), caused by inseperance(sic). Jurors were Gus Stewart, Randall Hunt, Ginn Williams, Alex Gillerm, Rev. H. C. Johnson and Coy Clinton.

Page 65. Inquest was held on the 11 March 1883 on the body of Joseph Clendon at Ashton Plantation, before the 2nd Ward Justice of the Peace. Jurors verdict is that he was killed by two gunshot wounds inflicted in the head and in the right eye, wounds being about an inch and a half apart, one penetrating through the skull and emerging the top of the head, either one of which could be fatal. Wounds were inflicted by a 44 calabre(sic) British Bull Dog pistol in the hands of Morgan Flowers, who is now in custody of the Sheriff. Jurors were M. R. B(ene)?, Charles Gassen, Louis Thomas, John H. Bacehux, F. J. Casey,(Cele)?, A. Stephens, 2nd J.P.

Page 66.  Inquest was held on 26 Dec 1882 on the body of Paul Ben who was found dead in his bed on the Mary Plantation in the first ward. The verdict of the jurors was he died of penonumomia(sic) of the lungs. Jurors were Timothy Aikens, Eugene Mitchell, Joseph Lagnson, Felix Brown, Jos. Stein, Joseph B. Friedman, Dy. Coroner.

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

P58.  Inquest was held on 14 Apr 1882 on the body of Washington King, lying dead in an isolated cabin about three miles from the river near Waggamen, 4th Ward. The jurors' verdict is that he came to his death from an accidental bad fall, having struck his left chest causing the rupture of a chronic abces(sic) and active hemorhages(sic) and death in a few hours and we find that the vomiting of blood was produced by the above cause and that the fall was accidental as no one approached him until the time he was in agony and so we exonerate anyone to blame. Jurors were Adolph Mojonnier, E. Waggamen, Edward Bull, Jos. Streger, Louis Edward and J. F. Martin, Coroner.

P59.  Inquest was held on 27 June 1882 on the body of an unknown man in front of the Davis Place. Apparantly(sic) a Chinaman fished out of the Mississippi River by Mathews Antoine. The jurors verdict is that the man came to his death by drowning. Jurors were Clairborne Stainly, J. M. Bailer, Jos. M. Ward, Jos. Newell, Jos. Thomas, and Joseph B. Friedman, Dy. Coroner.

P60.  Inquest was held on 27 June 1882 on the body of a colored man found in the Mississippi River in front of the Alice Plantation. The said body,  from all appearance, having been in the water about three months. No marks of violence or injury could be seen. The body was brought to shore by Ursin Zeringue. Jurors were J. M. Bailer, Clairborne Stanily, Marshall Bennett, Louis Thomas, D. K. Lewis and Jos. B. Friedman, Dy. Coroner.

Inquest Records Book #1, March 1877-December 1886

P 56.  Inquest was held on the child of Marie Thomas at Magnolia Ridge, 4th Ward. This was a dead child unlawfully buried by one Clairborne Harvey and exhumed by order of the coroner. The dead child was borne by Marie Thomas on the night of 23 December 1800 and buried on the 24 December 1880. The verdict of the jurors was that the dead child lost his life due to a Prostrate confinement, criminal neglect and incompetence of one Clairborne Harvey, acting as midwife and surgeon in the case and mother, Marie Thomas, being abettor before, during and after the fact of that practice. Jurors were Frank Roberts, J. M. Bailer, Adolph Mojonnier, Isham Henry, John Bently, and J. F. Mojonnier, Coroner.

P 57.  Inquest was held on 12 April 1882 on the body of John Brown, age about 70, at the Star Place, 1st Ward. The jurors' verdict was that he came to his death on the evening of the 10th at half past four o'clock, by the crumbling down of an old brick house structure of the Star Place, the same having had the wall partially demolished to use the bricks in the sugar house of the Star Plantation and further we find that the falling of the structure was caused by the criminal practice of demolishing the walls of the structure without any precaution or warning to the working men at the plantation and charge the owner and manager of the place of criminal neglect. Jurors were Geo. Smith, Ben Ednia, Lewis Pafuell, George Washington, Randell Hunter, and J. F. Mojonnier, Coroner.

St. Charles Parish Inquest Records--March 1877-Dec 1886

Page 38.  Inquest was held on a corpse found floating in the river on 16 Apr 1880. This corpse was found by William Johnson. The verdict is that we believe he lost his life by being burned by some ill-fated steamboat, as all the back part of his body is burned and charred and appears to have been in the water about two months. Jurors were R. B. Baguie, Louis Thomas, C. C. A. Stevens, Louis Friloux, Leonce Zeringue, and J. F. Mojonnier, M.D., Coroner.

Page 39.  Inquest was held on the body of Aristide Ursin on 26 Apr 1880, found dead. He was born in this parish, age 51. The verdict is that he came to his death from excessive liquor drinking on the evening of 24 Apr 1880. Jurors were Manuel Bush, Jerry Shurnton, Jerry Stevenson, R. Gooseberry, William Washington, and J. F, Moujonnier, Cornorer.

Page 40.  Inquest was held om the body of Thomas Robson on 19 July 1880 found dead in the 5th Ward. The verdict is that he received his death from two pistol shots in the hand and fired at him on the evening of Sat. 17 July between 19 and 11 o'clock by Fanny Williams. Two balls penetrating the right side of the liver perforated the colon transverse, one ball laceratinng the right kidney, which ball was extracted at the autopsy and the other lodging in the vertebra of the lumbar region, both balls having caused two mortal wounds which produced death in 24 hours.

St. Charles Parish Inquest Records------Mar 1877-Dec 1886

34.  Inquest held on the body of Drosin Pierre on 12 Jan 1880. The verdict is that he was killed in the swamp of Philip Thomas in the rear of Davis Plantation and while there employed and while cutting trees, a tree fell and struck a side branch which broke and struck him on the head, causing death instantly. Jurors were Max Gugenheimer, John Blair, Peter Alexander, James J?ksen, Prosper Williams, and Jos. Stein, Dy. Coroner.

35. Inquest held on the body of  Francis Carter on 6 Oct 1879, found dead on Fashion Plantation. Inquest was held before 5th Ward Justice of the Peace, acting as Coroner. The verdict is that she came to her death by hard drinking. Jurors were Arthur Stread, Jeffery Dymer, Edward Steward, Joseph Williams and H.L. McCutcheon, Justice of the Peace.

36. Inquest held on the body of Charlie Miller on 5 Nov 1879 at the 14 Mile post on the Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad in St. Charles Parish. Inquest held by S.D. Gustave, Mayor and Ex-Officio Justice of  the Peace for the city. The verdict is he came to his death by being accidentally killed by a south bound engine on the Jackson Railroad. Jurors were Geo. Becker, J.J. Bauer, G.M. Becker, G. McIntyre, Wm. Morrison and S.D. Gustave.

37. Inquest held on the body of Samuel Williams on 10 Nov 1879 found dead at Hahnville. The verdict is that he came to his death on 9 Nov 1879 by having both of his arms smashed in the cog wheel at Mr. Bealman's sugarhouse, two miles from Boutte Station, on 8 Nov 1879 about 10 A.M. Jurors were Rober Robertson, Bazile Aldridge, Augustave Jacobs, Zeno Eugene, Alexander Washington and Jos. Stein, Dy. Coroner.

St.Charles Parish Inquest Records Book #1

Page 30.  Inquest was held on 24 Aug 1879 on the body of Narcisse Kellup at Bayou Des Allemands before the 4th Ward Justice of the Peace, acting coroner. The jurors verdict was that he came to his death by bad management of the boat and accidentally drowned by heavy weather at the time on Friday, 22 Aug 1879. Jurors were Timothy Akins, He ? Thomas, James Lee, Henry Curtis, Joseph Morehead, Jr., and Domingo Pitre, acting coroner.

Page 31.  Inquest was held on 13 Sep 1879 on the body of an unknown person on the on the batture in front of Fashion Store. The jurors say that the body was found nearly decomposed and seems to have been drowned with no other marks except on the face and neck which could not be ascertained whether it was a wound or eaten by something. On searching the body two letters were found signed 'Your darling wife Hattie' and 35 cents. Jurors were Lewis Ory, Louis J. Lauve, Robert Pierre, Solomon Matis, Frank D. Blood and Jas. Stein, Dy. Coroner.

Page 32.  Inquest was held on the body of a colored man by the name of Joe was held on 12 Oct 1879. So stated he came from Carrolton, LA, and was a ministerial performer. He was drowned  in front of Davis Plantation on 9 Oct and was found on the 12th in front of Louis Gordon Place. The jurors found no marks of violence on his body. The verdict was that he came to his death by accidentally drowning. Jurors were William Johnson, Lewis Clark, Lester Friloux, Valsin Baptiste, James Robinson, and Jos. Stein, Dy. Coroner

Page 33.  Inquest was held on the body of Frank Murry on 4 Jan 1880. On 3 Jan 1880 about 10 p.m. his body was found on the floor and his head on a pan. We find no guilt attached to any person. We find that he came to his death after a lingering disease of cather(sic) and the body was turned over to his friends for burial. Jurors were Fabins P. Peters, Clement Colly, Prosper Williams, Henry Bryant, Samuel Thomas and Jos. Stein, Dy. Coroner.

Inquest Records Book #1-March 1877-Dec 1886 St. Charles Parish, LA

26.  Inquest was held on 15 Oct 1878 on the body of Charles Bouvier lying dead. The jurors verdict was that he came to his death by yellow fever and no person is responsible. Jurors were Sam Thomas, St. Martin Francis, ? Lacour, Lee Grant, John Irvin and F. Massey, deputy coroner.

27.  Inquest was held on 25 Oct 1878 on the body of Francois Eyraud lying dead on the Freelanders Plantation. The jurors verdict was that he came to his death by yellow fever and that no person is responsible. Jurors were Adam Taylor, F. Murray, John Alexander, Lee Grant, Joseph Martin and coroner Clement Colly.

28.  Inquest was held on 3 Feb 1879 on the body of Liza Goods, about 8 years old, lying dead near Boutte Station, before the 4th  Ward Justice of the Peace, Domingo Pitre, acting as coroner. The jurors verdict was that she came to her death by accident of her own carelessly. Jurors were Benjamin Thompson, Joseph Peterson, ? Peterson, Edmond Roberts, W? Johnson and Domingo Pitre, acting coroner.

29. Inquest was held on 18 Mar 1879 on the body of Jerry Perry, lying dead on Speranza Plantation before the 2nd Ward Justice of the Peace, Alexander A. Jacobs, acting as coroner. The jurors verdict was that he came to his death by cerebral apoplexy. Jurors were J.B. Martin, Jerry Thorton, Cain Grant, Michael Labranche, David Taylor and Alexander A. Jacobs, acting coroner.