Westport Inquest - John Watson, Rapides Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Jane P. McManus
Date: November 4, 2008

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WATSON, JOHN - INQUEST
# 25782
The State of Louisiana
Parish of Rapides, Hineston Ward
August 25, 1883

Oath of A. J. JOHNSON in behalf of the State before the jurors of the inquest 
of John Watson who was murdered on the night of 24 August 1883.

[ques]  Mr. Johnson how came you here at Camp with these people,
[ans]  I was at Mr. Pagetts, and my valiese [valise] was at Mr. Sandersens, 
on this side of the River and he (Pagett) asked me to come with him and then 
I could get my valeice [sic].

[ques]  did you heare of any trouble agoin to be here last night?
[ans]  no.

[ques]  did you see any one before or after the shooting,
[ans]  no, nor heard no noise,

[ques]  what was Mr. Watson adoing
[ans]  he got up and went to the fire and turned back and then he was shot, 
he was in a falling position when I saw him, and he said hand me my gun.

/s/  A. J. Johnson

I certify that the above is a true copy of the oath
/s/  D. B. Hagan, J.P.


The State of Louisiana
Parish of Rapides, Hineston Ward 2
August 25 1883

Oath of L.P. PAGETT in behalf of the State, upon the body of John Watson, 
who was murdered on the night of the 24 of August.

[ques]  Mr. Pagett how came you here at camp with these men,
[ans]  I was invited to come and camp with them.

[ques]  who invited you to come,
[ans]  Mrs. Tompkins where Mr. Watson was moving,

[ques]  were you acquainted with Mrs. Tompkins,
[ans]  yes,

[ques]  you did not see any one around the camp before or after the shooting,
[ans]  no

[ques]  where was he at when he was shot,
[ans]  he had just left the fire when he was shot,

[ques]  did Mr. Watson show any uneasiness before he was shot,
[ans]  no,

[ques]  did you know any thing about Mr. Watsons caracter [character],
[ans]  he had a good one,

[ques]  do you have any knowledge of who shot him,
[ans],  no,

[ques]  how long did he live after he was shot,
[ans]  four or five minutes

[ques]  did he speak after he was shot,
[ans],  he said hand me my gun, he was in a falling position when I saw him.

I certify that the above is a true report of his oath
/s/  D. B. Hagan, J.P.

August 25th 1883

Oath of JOSEPH McGUIRE taken before the jurors of the inquest of John 
Watson murdered on the night of 24th August 1883

[ques]  Mr. McGuire how came you along with Watson 
[ans],  yesterday morning after he started he asked me to go with [him] 
until he got his oxen broke in good,  at twelve oclock I spoke of going 
back he asked me to go on and camp with him,

[ques]  what time did you stop to camp,
[ans],  the sun was about down,

[ques]  did you see any one after you camped,
[ans],  no one but Mr. Pagett & Johson [sic] they came to our camp and 
staid [stayed] with us,

[ques]  did he have any fear,
[ans]  he spoke of no fear nor showed any uneaseyness [uneasiness],

[ques]  what time of night when he was shot,
[ans]  I am not able to say but I think about ten oclock,

[ques]  what was you doing when the shooting taken place,
[ans]  we were beginning to lye down I was lying down myself between a 
stump and a log near to him when he got up and walked to the fire and 
started back when he was shot,  I did not see nor hear any before he 
was shot nor afterwards,

[ques]  did he speak he was shot,
[ans],  yes he said hand me my gun, he was in a falling position when 
I saw him, he died immediately,

[ques]  have you ever heard Watson life threatened by anyone,
[ans],  there was some talk amongst the People about killing of him 
but have heard no partickular [particular] report since the West port 
fight,

[ques]  was Watson in the habit of taking his gun with him where he went,
[ans]  yes,

[ques]  do you no why he caried [sic] it,
[ans]  no,

/s/  Joseph McGuire

I certify that the above is a true copy of the oath.
/s/  D. B Hagan, J.P.


#25782

An inquisition taken for the State of Louisiana at the 32 mile post in 
the Sugartown Road in the Parish of Rapides on the night 24/25th day 
of August 1883 before D.B. Hagan, Justice of the Peace of the said Parish 
upon views of the body of John Watson there lying dead, 

The Jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed, having been duly sworn to 
inquire on behalf of the State when, how, and by what means the said John 
Watson came to his death, upon their oaths do say that John Watson came to 
his death by shot guns being shot about ten oclock at night from unknown 
hands, being hit by ten large buck shot receiving three deathly wounds one 
breaking his skull and one entering his hart [heart] of which said mortal 
wounds the said John Watson then and there instantly died,

In testimony where of the said Justice of the Peace and Jurors of this 
inquest have here unto subscribed there names the day and date aforesaid.

/s/ D. B. Hagan
Justice of the Peace

R. J. Th—nell	
W. W. Lewis	
G. Greenhaw
W. O. Tynes
J. A. Bruce    
Jurors