A Drowning in Colyell Bay, Livingston Parish, Louisiana
From Ledger Book of Martin L. Bowman, Justice of the Peace
File prepared by D.N. Pardue

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From the French Settlement Historical Register, published by the French Settlement
Historical Society, French Settlement, Louisiana 70733. The LaGenWeb Archives thanks 
them for contributing this information.

Vol. 3, December 1978

Originally submitted to the FSHR by Lucille B. Cooper

STATE OF LOUISIANA
THIRD WARD
PARISH OF LIVINGSTON

     Examination of witnesses produced sworn and examined on the 25th day

of April, 1912, at a Landing on Colyell Bay, near SCHEXNEIDER field, before

me, MARTIN L. BOWMAN, Justice of the Peace in and for the said Ward there

and there acting Coroner, the Coroner being unable to attend, according to

the fact upon an inquest held over the body of EUGENE AYDELL.

     W.C. WATTS being first duly sworn testifies and says that he last saw

the deceased about one hour prior to his supposed time of death and that

about one hour after seeing him heard a voice calling and on going to see

where they heard the call found indication that party had drowned.  On

further examination MR. OSCAR WATTS says and testifies that he last saw MR.

EUGENE AYDELL about twenty minutes before hearing the call for help and on

returning also came to conclusion that MR. AYDELL had been drowned having

found the skiff in which MR. AYDELL had been in full of water.

     MR. OPTIMA DUPUY testifies he last saw MR. AYDELL alive about 7:30 A.M.

22 inst. and that MR. AYDELL said to him that he was going to float logs

which he (EUGENE AYDELL) had in the swamp.  And that he next saw him as he

rose out of the water about 70 hours after his disappearance.

     MR. BURTON WELLS on being sworn testified that he was with MR. DUPUY

on the 25th int. and present when MR. AYDELL rose from the water and also

helped taking him out of the water and placing him in the boat.

     We, the Coroners Jury, after a careful consideration and careful

examination of the body of the deceased as well as examination of witnesses

have come to the conclusion that said EUGENE AYDELL came to his death by

accidental drowning in Colyell Bay while floating a raft of logs.

J.E. FONTENOT

LAURENCE SCIVICQUE

JOHN MATHERNE

A.J. CAMBRE

SIMON BRIGNAC

NOTE:  This is an account of a death by drowning in Colyell Bay.  It is a copy of
same from old Ledger Book by MARTIN L. BOWMAN, Justice of the Peace for Ward 3, 
Livingston Parish, Louisiana, April 25th, 1912.