Criminal Justice Matters: Tom Black, 1906, 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 Tom Black An inquisition taken at Atlanta, La. on the 29th day of March, 1906 before A. M. Peters, Deputy Coroner of the Parish of Winn upon view of the body Tom Black there lying dead. The jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed having been sworn to inquire on behalf of the state, where and by what means said Tom Black came to his death upon their oath do say that the said Tom Black came to his death as result of strangulation by smoke and flames which destroyed the Blasingame house on the morning of March 29, 1906. We are unable to ascribe guilt to anyone and think it purely an accident. L. E. J. Grisham C. H. Ferguson J. W. Vance J. S. Corbett J. M. Ferguson A. M. Peterson, M. D., Depty. Coroner D. T. Blasingame after being duly sworn says that he is one of the proprietors of the rooming and gambling house which was destroyed by fire on the night of March 28 which resulted in the death of Tom Black. After supper Mr. Gibson and myself were engaged in a game of pitch till about 9:10 when we quit to go to bed. Mr. Black was engaged writing letter to his wife while we three went to bed. Mr. Black and myself occupied same bed and Mr. Gibson and Shorty Cline some bed in a adjoining room. We were all friendly none of us drinking. Mr. Black and myself have been acquainted and friends since late last spring. We left very little fire when we retired from the room downstairs. We were sleeping upstairs. Fire broke out sometimes between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning. There was no other fire in the building except what we left downstairs and it in my opinion the building was fired. I suspect no one of the burning as I have no enemies here. The first I knew of the fire was I was strangled with smoke and I said to Mr. Black lets get downstairs. Mr. Black was awake when I opened the door but made no reply to my suggestions to get downstairs, but was right behind me and I thought was coming down. Mr. Black came downstairs right behind me falling from last steps. He fell towards the c____. I reached back for him but his clothes tore loose having already been scorched. Then there was too much fire for me to possibly get him. The fire was bound to have started on first floor. Mr. Black lived at Pittsburg, Tex., before coming here. His wife was at Sherman so he said where she is waiting till he was located. Mr. Black says he lived at Pittsburg, Texas. D. I. Blasingame. W. Cline, after being duly sworn, says that he was boarding at the house that was burned last night and received injuries in making his escape. I retired to my room upstairs about 7:30 when I left the room where they were playing pitch. Blassingame and Gibson were playing and a gentleman writing a letter. I did not know Tom Black. I went to sleep early and was awakened by Mr. Blassingame hollowing whats the matter down there. Mr. Gibson says get up the house is on fire. Gibson was then getting up. I never saw or heard anything of the party sleeping with Mr. Blassingame didn't know that anyone was sleeping with Blassingame after I jumped down I hard someone about foot of stairs cry "O My God" and I suppose it was Black. So far as I know everything was quiet and peaceable at the house up till the time of the fire. From what I saw of the fire I believe the house was fired but do not have any idea in the least who did it. W. Cline W. Q. Youngblood, after being duly sworn says he has known Black since last Sept. He was at that time at Grapp's Bluff, La. Three of us owned the house, Blasingame, Brown, and myself. I was sleeping downstairs and was awakened by Brown hollowing and asking what's the matter and we jumped up and ran out. The fire seemed to have started in the South west part of the building. I retired early about 7 everything was quiet and peaceable no big fires in any of the stoves when I retired that I know of Mr. Black was up when I went to bed. I think the fire purely was an accident. Don't think we had any enemies herre or that anyone would have treated us that bad. I was one among the first to get out and had just got out when I heard someone hollow either O my God or O my Lord. I saw Mr. Black lying on the floor downstairs and Mr. Blasingame reach under the flowers for him but his hold tore loose. Mr. Black came here yesterday morning. If he had any money I don't know it. I have no idea how the fire started but think it was an accident. If it caught from either stove it must have been the cooking stove. W. O. Youngblood W. C. Brownmon, after being duly sworn says that he is one of the proprietors of the house that was burned last night. I was sleeping downstairs with Mr. Youngblood and was awakened by the ___ of the fire. I jumped up and hollowed what is the matter. We both run out and I took my trunk with me. I went back and got the bed and made another effort to go back but couldn't. I think the building was fired for the reason I don't see how it could have caught accidentally at that time of night. I was not acquainted with Tom Black till yesterday. I saw Mr. Black after he came downstairs and fell in the floor. Mr. Blasingame made an effort to get him but his hold tore loose and he had to get back out of the flames. I have no reason to suspect any one having fired the house. We were running a boarding house and in connection poker tables we carried no insurance on the house. W. C. Brownmon Gracie Ann Reidly, of being duly sworn, says that she cooks for proprietors of the house that was burned last night am sure that I left no fire in the cook stove when I left about dusk. I served supper about 4 o'clock and after cleaning up the dishes waited for the fire to go out before I left. Don't know Mr. Black. Don't know whether the house was fired or caught accidentally. Gracie Ann (X-Her Mark) Riedly Filed March 30, 1906. Recorded Nov. 26, 1906.