Criminal Justice Matters: Roy Ervin, 1905, 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 Clerk of Court, Winn Parish, LA Inquest Of Body Of Roy Ervin An inquisition taken at Coldwater and Winnfield, Winn Parish, La., on the 20th day of October in the year 1905 before the Coroner of the Parish of Winn upon view of the obyd of Roy Ervan, there lying dead. The jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed having been sworn to inquire on behalf of the state when and by what means said Roy Ervin came to his death upon their oath do say that the said Roy Ervin came to his death October the 20th, 1905 from the effects of a wound caused by an engine passing over his leg and thigh on Oct. 19th, 1905, said engine running at the time on Lee Logging Co's Tram near Coldwater, La. The same being caused by accident due to an effect of the said Roy Ervin to board the engine while moving. In testimony where of the Coroner and Jurors of this inquest have hereunto subscribed their names, the day and year above stated. J. J. Peters, M. D., Coroner G. E. Smith C. H. Sutton J. G. Teagle R. F. Machen J. R. Cupp Coldwater, La., Oct. 20, 1905 Mr. C. H. Thomas, sworn, says: I am superintendent of the Lee Logging Company at Coldwater, La. I did not know Roy Ervin who was killed by the log engine here yesterday. I do not know that he was working for the Co., he might have been working for some one out at Camp. I was going with the engine to the Camp to carry Bill Huggings out there when about 1/4 of a mile out I saw two men walking on the track going the same direction that the engine was going first before the engine overtook them they stepped off the track one to the left and the other to the right. I saw no more of them till he train engine stoped and the Engineer said go and see if I haven't killed that man. I got off the engine and looked back and saw a man who said his name was Roy Ervin lying by the track holding his leg up. I went immediately for Dr. Chatman who got to him in a short time and said he did all that he could for him. I then without delay sent him to Winnfield for treatment this occurred about 5 o'clock p.m. on Oct. 19th, 1905. I know of no malice existing between Mr. C. E. Simmons the Engineer who was running the engine at the time this party was killed and the deceased party. Roy Ervin the deceased seemed to be very friendly toward Mr. Simmons and ask him to go with him to Winnfield and see him through. I did not hear him say that he thought anyone was to blame for his getting hurt. C. H. Thomas Mr. Huggings, sworn, says: I was in the Log Engine yesterday evening about 5 or 5:30 o'clock going out to the Camp when we were about 1/4 mile out from the Commissary I saw two men walking on the track traveling in the same direction, the Engine was going, when the engine got near them they stepped off the track one on each side. I saw no more of them till the engine stopped and I heard a man hollow. I and Mr. Thomas got off the engine and went back behind the engine. I saw there Roy Ervin laying by the track with his leg broken or rather badly crushed, he said, "I am ruined forever, if my foot had not slipped, I would not have been in this fix. He did not seem to blame anyone for his getting hurt. Mr. Thomas and the engineer went for the doctor. The doctor got there in about 15 minutes. The doctor put a bandage on his leg and gave him a table they started with him to Winnfield half an hour after he was hurt, they sent him to Winnfield for treatment. Roy Ervin told Mr. Simmons to give his ring to his youngest brother and if he died to send his body back home to be buried. W. M. (X - His Mark) Huggings Attest: R. F. Machen G. E. Smith Coldwater, La., Oct. 20th, 1905 Ike Lampkins sworn, says: I was on the log engine yesterday evening going out to the camp. I was sitting on the fireman's seat we overtook two men as the engine passed them one of them caught at the engine on one side and the other caught at the other one of them got on the other fell with one leg on the track and the engine ran over him. The engine was running slow I didn't know the man that got hurt. He seemed to catch to the hand hold on the tank at first but his hold broke and he fell under the engine, hi leg was cut off all but the skin. They stopped the engine as quick as they could and went to him, took his lef off of the track and got the doctor there as quick as they could. Ike (X - His Mark) Lampkins Attest: R. F. Machen G. E. Smith Field for Record Oct. 21, 1905. Recorded Nov. 24, 1906.