The Ouachita Telegraph - Coronor Thomas Holds Inquest in Belknap Death

Date: May 2000
Submitted by: Lora Peppers <lpeppers@ouachita.lib.la.us>




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The Ouachita Telegraph
Saturday, August 19, 1871
Page 3, Column 1

 Colored Coroner Thomas held an inquest upon the body of a young man
named Belknap, last Saturday, who clearly had died of congestion and 
in his mother's house.  But as he had fallen down from faintness in 
trying to walk and had received a slight wound on the forehead it was 
thought necessary, in spite of the mother's protestations, to hold an 
inquest.  This inquest business appears to be carried a little too far.  
The Coroner has some discretion in the matter, and it is expected 
(newspaper is illegible) the parish to foolish and unnecessary expense.  
Had he consulted either Dr. Calderwood or Dr. Aby, the attending 
physicians in this case, he could not have lawfully held an inquest.

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