Criminal Justice Matters: Jack Rachall, 1892, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: Inquest Book, Office of the Winn Parish Clerk of Court Inquest Held Over The Body Of Jack Rachal, Deceased Before C. M. C. Martin, J. P., Ward 8 Filed For Recorder January 12, 1892 R. C. Jones, Clerk Examination of Witnesses State of Louisiana, Ward 8, Parish of Winn Examination of witnesses produced sworn and examined on the 10th day of Jany 1892, between A. J. Franks and the Spencer old place before me C. M. C. Martin Justice of the Peace in and for said Ward, then and there acting as coroner there being no coroner of said Parish, upon an inquest held over the body of Jack Rachal. A. J. Franks, Jr. being first duly sworn testifies and says that I was acquainted with Jack Rachal some 2 years ago this dead body favors Jack Rachal. I heard no guns in this direction this evening. I saw Mr. John Franks, Mr. Ruben Warner and Mrs. Elijah Franks about 10 o'clock on the 9th of this month at Tom Pages gin Elijah Franks had a gun also one of the others but I do not remember which they did not say where they were going. I saw John Franks about 1 o'clock on the same day and Elijah Franks about 2 o'clock. I do not remember speaking to John Franks in the evening, neither do I remember speaking to Elijah Franks. I heard John and Elijah Franks talking to my father but I do not remember what either said. A. J. Franks, Jr. Mrs. Betty Sauce sworn says I saw Jack Rachal about 1 o'clock yesterday he was at my house at the time on the outside of the yard, he did not go in the yard, he did not stay over 15 or 20 minutes I do not suppose, after he had gone a few minutes John Franks, Elijah Franks, and Rubin Warner came up all three with guns. John Franks ask me which way Rachal went. I did not speak but motioned my head down the road after they had gone some 5 minutes I heard 2 or 3 guns fire down the road the way they went and heard some one hoop 2 or 3 times. I left home about that time and went to Ruben Worner's, he overtaking me near the corner of his fence and went onto the house with me. I do not remember of his speaking of Jack Rachal in about 25 minutes after he got home he left and said he was going to his father's, when he overtaken me he had a gun and also carried it off with him. I do not know whether his gun was loaded or not but he said he had brought his gun back just like he carried it off, he had nothing much to say while he stayed at home, he did not carry andy clothing with himexcept those he had on, he said he would be back the next evening. I hever heard John Franks make any threats, Elijah Franks was with Worner when he overtaken me John Franks also came to Warner's after we got to the house, I never heard either of them say that Rachal was dead. John Franks had a gun and while they was there Elijah Franks loaded one barrel of John Franks gun neither of them did not seem to be excited. John Franks told Elijah to load his gun he did not say whey he wanted his gun loaded, they did not seem to be in a hurry to get off. Elijah said he was going across the Saline. I do not know what he was going for, he did not say when he was coming bback, they all three had guns when they passed my house but when they got to Worners Elijah did not have any, when they left my house I do not know whether they went the direction that Rachal went or not. I turned back in the house and left them standing at the fence. Rachal while there did not inquire after either of the three men, Rachal did not say where he was going when he left my house, I do not know what his business was on this side of the Saline. Rachal did not have any gun that I saw. When John Franks, Rubin Warner, and Elijah Franks left Warners I think they all left together when Rachal came to my house he did not tell any business. I do not remember Rachal's name being mentioned at Worner's. John Franks said he was going home when he left Warners he carried his gun off with him. When John Franks told Elijah to load his gun, I did not hear him say what kind of shot to load it with. I never spoke to John that I remember of. Betty (X-Her Mark) Sauce A. J. Franks, Jr., called the 2nd time, says I have been with Elijah Franks and Worner a right smart lately and with John Franks some. Warner generally uses a double barrel shot gun and I have seen John Franks lately with a musket, Elijah Franks has no gun that I know of. I do not know what kind of shot Worner and John Franks use, when they left they gin in the morning Elijah had John Franks' musket, they did not tell any business at the gin that I heard. I have heard John Franks say that Rachal had threatened his life and he did not want him to get the first shot. I do not know whether Worner and John and Elijah Franks hunts together or not. Worner and Elijah Franks had started over the Saline but when they met John Franks they went off with him. A. J. Franks, Jr. Polly Sauce, sworn, says on yesterday evening I was at Rubin Warners I suppose he came home about 1 or 2 o'clock. Elijah Franks was with him. I do remember hearing either of them speak of Jack Rachal. When Warner left home in the morning he said he was going over the Saline. I have not seen Rachal in over 2 years. I have not seen John Franks in some time until yesterday evening and I saw him at Rubin Warners. I think he had a double barrel shotgun, he did not seem to be excited. I had been at Warner's since nite before last. I was not expecting Rachal over here. I do not remember hearing John Franks make any threats against Rachall. I did not see any private conversations taken place between any of the three neither of them ate anything while there except Warner. Warner's wife did not seem to be excited. I heard some guns on yesterday evening but do not know which direction they was. Warner and his wife did not have any private conversation before he left in the evening to the best of my recollection. Warner carried his gun with him yesterday morning. Polly (X-Her Mark) Sauce Allen Franks, sworn, says, I was acquainted with Jack Rachal. This dead body is Jack Rachal. I am acquainted with John Franks, Rubin Warner, and Elijah Franks. I have heard John Franks say that Jack Rachal had threatened his life and when he Rachal came back he aimed on killing Rachal if Rachal did not kill him first.. I have not seen Jack Rachal since he came back until I saw him here dead on yesterday evening. I heard 5 if not 6 guns after hearing the guns I ran to my fathers about 3/4 of a mile. I am used to hearing guns fire in all directions, firing of guns does not alarm me. The reason that these guns alarmed me was I knew that my father and brother was at home and the report of the guns was in that direction and I was expecting a difficulty between Franks and Rachal was I had heard John Franks say that he was going to kill Rachal when he (Rachal) got back if Rachal did not kill him first. When I got to my father's I found no one there except his family, as I was walked through the yard I looked across and saw John Franks, Rubin Warner and Elijah Franks coming down by the lot, these men was in a habit of passing that way. They were travelling in a very fast walk. I spoke to them first and ask what that shooting was. John Franks replied that he had killed Jack Rachal. I ask him if Rachal shot he replied no that he had ran his hand in his pocket and that he shot him before he got his hand out of his pocket. I asked him if Rachal had a gun and he said he did not. I then ask him how he knew where Rachal was to which he replied he got on his trail at Frantom's this morning. I thn ask him if he did anything to Rachal before he shot him, he said he did but said he did know what he said. I then ask him what Rachal did and he said he did not know he says to me go after Mr. Harrell and hold and inquest over him, to which I replied Mr. Harrell cannot hold an inquest he says he is up here dead and if he has got any friends they or some one should go and take care of him. I ask him what he was going to do about it he said he was going on at his work like he had been, and if they came after him he would give up that he would not try to resist, after I commenced talking to John, Elijah Franks and Warner went on and I did not see them any more, they never said a word to me. John Franks never said a word about Elijah and all three had guns. John Franks and Warner had double barrel shot guns, Elijah Franks had a musket, I ask him how he shot him and he said he snapped at his face and as he wheeled to run that he shot him in the back, then he says he says I shot at his face and as he turned that he shot him in the back, from the time I heard the guns, until I saw the men coming I suppose it was 10 minutes, they were coming from the directions where Rachal was found dead. Elijah Franks and Rubin Warner seemed to be excited more than John Franks. Allen Franks Anders Sauce, sworn, says, I came from the mill yesterday evening to Mr. A. J. Franks and after I fed my oxen and got through I went to Reuben Warners when I got to Worner's there was no one there but my mother and sister and my aunt, they said John Franks had been there that evening, they said that John Franks went home and that Warner had went to his fathers that Elijah Franks had gone to Levi Rachel to let him know that his brother Jack was killed that was all they told me and I did not ask any thing about the killing. I was not supprised when I heard Jack Rachal was killed, the reason I was not supprised when I heard he was killed, I had hard that he, Rachal, was going to kill John Franks, but I do not know who told me. Warner has a double barrell shot gun, my mother told me that John Franks gun was empty when he got to Warners and that John loaded one barrell and Elijah loaded the other. Anders (X-His Mark) Sauce A. J. Franks, Sr., sworn, says, I got home from Winnfield in the evening part of the day, I heard some shooting before I got home. I think I heard 4 or 5 guns, I heard some one holler about the time the shooting ended the shooting seemed to be 6 or 8 hundred yards off, when I got home John Franks was in the house and told me that he killed Jack Rachal, he did not say how many times he shot Rachal. John Franks stated that he first shot at his face and then as he turned he shot him in the back and he further stated that before any shot was fired Rachal spoke but he did not understand what he said at the same time running his hand in his pocket, I did not see Worner at all that evening. I saw Elijah Franks during the evening and he ask me if he had not better go and let Levi Rachal know that Jack was killed, to which I replied I did not know for I did not want anything to do with the matter. He did not say whether anyone was with John Franks when Rachal was killed or not. John Franks did not say whether anyone was with him or not when he killed Rachal. A. J. Franks I hereby certify that the foregoing is the testimony of all witnesses on the foregoing inquest and that the testimony was reduced to writing at the time it was given. C. M> C. Martin, J. P. 8th Ward and Coroner for the time being Verdict of the Jury The State of Louisiana Parish of Winn At an inquest taken this the 9th and 10th day of Jany 1892, for the State of la. between A. J. Franks and the Spencer old place in the Parish aforesaid, before me, C. M. C. Martin, Justice of the Peace in and for the 8th Ward in said Parish acting as coroner of said parish for the time being, upon view of the body of Jack Rachal. Then and there lying dead upon the oaths of W. S. Cockerham, J. H. Neal, M. M. Dickerson, T. W. Thompson, and T. G. Harlan, good and lawful men of said parish, who being sworn and charged to inquire on the part of the State when where and how and after what manner the said Jack Rachal came to his death, do say upon their oaths aforesaid, that the said Rachal came to his death from buckshot fired from shotguns which would was given by John Franks, Ruben Warner, and Elijah Franks, with a premeditated design of effecting the death of said Jack Rachal. In witness whereof we the Jurors as well as the Justice of the Peace acting as coroner, aforesaid, have to this inquisition set our hands this the 10th day of Jany 1892. W. S. Cockerham T. G. Harlan M. M. Dickerson J. H. Neal T. W. Thompson C. M. C. Martin, J. P., 8th Ward, Parish of Winn, and acting coroner for the time being Recorded January 19th, 1892 R. C. Jones, Clerk 4th Judicial District Court