E.W. Teddlie Inquest, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by William R. "Bill" Holly, Jr., 500 Holly-Moore Drive, Pineville, LA 71360-4537 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** >From Records of Winn Parish, Louisiana, Clerk of Court, "Inquest Book, 1887 - 1906" abstracted by Greggory E. Davies INQUEST OF E.W. TEDDLIE Jurors Verdict An inquisition taken at Winnfield, Winn Parish, Louisiana on the 4th and 5th day of October A.D. 1905 before the coroner of the Parish of Winn upon views of the body of E.W. Teddlie, Jr. there lying dead. The Jurorers whose names are hereunto subscribed having been sworn to enquire on behalf of the State, when and by what means said E.W. Teddlie, Jr. came to his death upon their oath do say that on October the 3rd 1905 the said E.W. Teddlie, Jr., came to his death by a gun (Pistol) shot wound inflicted maliciously by a Pistol in the hand of one Oscar Lawrence and we hereby recommend that a warrant be issued and placed in the hands of the Sheriff for his arrest. In Testimony whereof the Coroner and Jurors of this inquest have hereunto subscribed their names the day and year above written. J.J. Peters, M.D., Coroner Jurors J.H. Holmes Henry J. Perkins R.B. Kennedy R.L. Tannehill T.J. Drewett Be it remembered that on this the 4th day of October 1905, the following named persons to-wit: R.L. Tannehill R.B. Kennedy H.J. Perkins J.D. Holmes and T.J. Drewett were duly sworn as coroner jurors to hold an inquest over the dead body of E.W. Teddlie. The Jury being duly empaneled by J.J. Peters, Coroner the testimony of the following witnesses was heard. I.B. White, being duly sworn deposed as follows: On October the 3rd 1905 about 1:30 o'clock I was standing on Speeks Gallery and saw Oscar Lawrence standing on the porch of Mrs. Wright's Store and E.W. Teddlie in the street walking off from him. Teddlie was about ten feet from Lawrence when I first saw them. They were cursing each other, Teddlie walked nearly across the street to Blackmon's corner occasionally turning and cursing back at Lawrence walking nearly toward me, he then turned and walked toward the Court House Yard corner. As he, Teddlie, was walking from Mrs. Wrights Gallery toward Blackmon's corner he said to Lawrence that he had no gun and about the time he turned to go toward the Court House Corner he said again that he had no gun that John Teddlie had searched him that morning and had taken his gun off him. Lawrence said "you damn lying son-of-a-bitch you have got a gun. And when he had reached the bridge across the street gully he said you son-of-a-bitch I will go and see if I can find my gun. I heard Lawrence call him a son-of-a- bitch twice before this. This was the first time I had heard Teddlie call him a son-of-a-bitch and immediately Lawrence jumped off the gallery and walked hurriedly toward Teddlie till he reached about the middle of the street where he stopped and pulled out his gun and Teddlie threw up his hands and said "don't shoot me, don't shoot me". Lawrence deliberately leveled his gun using both hands on him and fired and continued to shoot deliberately for 3 or 4 times. At the first shot Teddlie was standing on the bridge almost behind the telephone pole he then jumped in the ditch below the bridge and lay down, Lawrence continued shooting either once or twice while he was in the ditch. Teddlie then began to get up and as he arose Lawrence shot again and I think this is the shot that killed him. Just at this time Sheriff Shaw ran up ad commanded Lawrence to stop shooting and surrender. Lawrence turned to Shaw with his gun leveled on him and said, "if you raise your hand I will kill you". Lawrence then began to back toward Mrs. Wright's store holding his gun on Sheriff Shaw. When he got to the ditch in front of Mrs. Wright's Store he turned to run and as he did Teddlie fired at him from where he had been shot. This was the first and only shot fired by Teddlie. Teddlie used a small hammerless S&W pistol. I.B. White A.B. Gentry, being duly sworn testified as follows: On October the third 1905, Mr. Cherry and I started up town about one o'clock quell(sic) a difficulty that we understood was being between Oscar Lawrence and Will Teddlie. When we were about the Drug Store I saw Teddlie about Dr. Tate's office and Lawrence was on Fisher's Gallery walking fast toward where Teddlie was. Teddlie and Lawrence both walking toward Mrs. Wright's porch Lawrence walked up to Teddlie on Mrs. Wright's porch and they seemed to stand there for a few seconds then Teddlie stepped off into the street and walked toward the Blackmon Corner but before he reached the corner he turned toward the Court House Corner and said "wait until I get my gun Lawrence", Lawrence said "you've got your gun on you", and Teddlie said "you damn lying son-of-a-bitch, I haven't. Lawrence said "you are a liar and I will make you prove it" and jumped off the gallery and advanced hurriedly toward Teddlie drawing his gun about the left of the gallery. When Lawrence had gotten to the middle of the street or post he leveled his gun toward Teddlie and Teddlie threw up his hands and said "Don't kill me, don't kill me, don't kill me". Lawrence never said a word, but began to shoot using both hands to shoot with. Teddlie at first tried to conceal himself behind a telegraph pole, two shots were fired while he was trying to do this and then Teddlie jumped and fell into the ditch below the bridge. Two shots were then fired at Teddlie while he was in the ditch. About this time Sheriff Shaw and Mayor Leeper ran up and Sheriff Shaw said "drop your pistol and surrender". Lawrence then turned to Shaw and said "don't raise your pistol, Frank, if you do I'll kill you" and at this time Teddlie raised up in the ditch and shot at Lawrence and stepped out of the ditch on the West side of it and as he did Lawrence wheeled toward him and shot the fatal shot. They were both using pistols. Attest: A.B. Gentry J.M. Wright being duly sworn deposed as follows: On October the 3rd, 1905 about 1 o'clock I started from Smith & Grisham Drug Co to our store and passed Will Teddlie and Oscar Lawrence talking on the porch in front of the Barber Shop. I heard Lawrence say "You have not got the nerve to do what you did this morning, and they continued to walk on down to our store, Teddlie walking in front as Teddlie walked off the gallery he said "I have not got my gun, wait until I go get it", Lawrence said "alright, I'll wait for you". Teddlie walked toward the old Blackmon Corner and as he was walking that way Lawrence was cursing him and Teddlie was talking back to him. Just before Teddlie got to the old Blackmon Corner he turned and started toward the Court House and when Teddlie was about the bridge over the street ditch Lawrence said "you have got a gun on you" and Teddlie said "you are a damn liar". At this time Lawrence jumped off the gallery with his hands on his pistol in his right hand hip pocket and went toward Teddlie in a fast walk when Lawrence had reached the middle of the street he drew his pistol and put both hands to the handle of his pistol and as he did this Teddlie threw up his hand and said "don' shoot Oscar, don't shoot, Oscar" and with deliberate aim Lawrence began to shoot. When the first shot was fired Teddlie was on the ditch bridge he then fell or jumped into the ditch below the bridge and while there Lawrence shot at him twice. Lawrence then began to walk somewhat sideways back toward the store and as he did this Teddlie shot at him from the ditch, somewhat on his knees and at this Lawrence wheeled and with deliberate aim shot at Teddlie again. This is the shot I think hit Teddlie. About this time Sheriff Shaw come up and said demanded him to surrender and Lawrence told Shaw not to come on to him and bout then I stepped into the store. Attest: J.M. Wright H.J. Perkins, being duly sworn deposed as follows: On October 3rd, 1905 about 1 o'clock I was in Mrs. Wright's Store about 8 feet from the door and saw Will Teddlie pass the door and Lawrence about 10 feet behind him. I stepped to the door and they were cursing each other. Lawrence was doing most of the cursing. Teddlie made to halt until he got near the corner of the old Blackmon Store. Lawrence stopped at the steps of the porch and did not go any further. He Lawrence turned back. Teddlie turned and walked up toward the Court House. Lawrence was cursing all this time and Teddlie was saying very little. When Teddlie turned toward the Court House he said "I've not got any gun" and Lawrence said "you are a damn liar you have got a gun, you have not got the nerve to use it". About this time Teddlie got to the little bridge near the Court square corner he replying to Lawrence said "you are a damn liar". Lawrence at this time jumped off the store porch and said to Teddlie, "I'll make you prove it" with his hand on his pistol and went toward Teddlie in a fast walk or trot. When he had reached the middle of the street he drew his pistol and placed both hands on the handle and began very deliberately to aim at Teddlie and advance toward him. Teddlie then jumped behind the telegraph post and said "Oscar don't shoot", he said this as much as twice. Teddlie had his hands up when he was begging Lawrence not to shoot him. When the first shot was fired he was behind the telegraph post when the second was fired he staggered and fell off into the ditch below the bridge and apparently made several attempts to rise and Lawrence continued to shoot at him in the ditch. Lawrence turned as though as he was going away and Teddlie shot at him, about the time Teddlie shot Lawrence turned and shot at Teddlie again. About this time Sheriff Shaw came up and asked Lawrence to give up and Lawrence said he would not do it saying to him not to raise his hand. Lawrence kept backing off with his pistol in his hand until he got near the store house gallery and then he jumped into the gallery and run through the store. Lawrence was not more than 30 feet from Teddlie when he was shooting. Attest: H.J. Perkins Frank Moss, being duly sworn deposed as follows: On October the 3rd 1905 about half past one o'clock he was sitting on a plank bench in front of the Barber shop and Oscar Lawrence come up to Will Teddlie and said "hello, Will" and Will Teddlie said "hello, Oscar". The Lawrence said "I hear you had a shotgun down here before dinner for me", Teddlie said "no, I didn't have it for you". Lawrence said "you are a liar". Then Teddlie said, "I called you as you went out of the gate and you would not listen" and Teddlie placed both hands on the top of his pockets like he was going to put them in his pockets and Lawrence said "don't put your hands into your pockets, if you do I will kill you", and Teddlie said "alright" and pulled up his pants by his belt. He did not look like he was fixing to draw any weapon but just like he was casually putting his hands into his pockets. At this time Teddlie walked off down toward Mrs. Wright's Store and Lawrence was following after him, cursing him. Teddlie told Lawrence he was not armed, that the Sheriff had done unarmed me. And Lawrence said "you are a liar, you have a gun on you now". Lawrence said "you told somebody you wanted to put a barrel into me. If you do just get out and step off your ground, I won't shoot you to your back, you are not brave enough to shoot with me." When they got to the steps of Mrs. Wright's store porch, Lawrence stopped and Teddlie walked off of Mrs. Wright's porch going towards the Blackmon Corner when he was nearly to the corner he turned toward the Court House and when he was near the bridge (line didn't copy here) Lawrence and Lawrence jumped off, (possibly more lines didn't copy here) Teddlie threw up both hands and begged him not to shoot him. Lawrence was about the middle of the street when he began shooting. At the first shot Teddlie looked like he was behind the telegraph pole at the second shot Teddlie stepped into the ditch below the bridge and tried to get under the bridge for protection. Lawrence then shot at him once under the or in the ditch. About this time Sheriff Shaw ran up and said "hold up, Oscar, don't do that anymore" and Lawrence said "don't crowd me Frank". About this time Teddlie raised up in the ditch and shot at Lawrence and Lawrence turned then and deliberately shot Teddlie. I think this shot hit Mr. Teddlie. Attest: Frank Moss S.M. Speaks, being duly sworn: witness knew very little about the affair. Roy Jones, being sworn deposed as follows: On October the 3rd, about one o'clock witness was walking off the concrete walk at Teagles Store and saw Oscar Lawrence walking along behind Will Teddlie with his hand in his hip pocket about Dr. Tate's Office Lawrence following after Teddlie to the end of Mrs. Wright's porch and I walked on to the porch in front of the Barber Shop. Teddlie walked off the porch and went toward Blackmon's Corner and Lawrence stopped on the porch. All this while I heard some talking but could not understand any thing that was said. Before Teddlie got to the Blackmon's he stopped and said "I will go get my gun and pass you anywhere on the street" and turned toward the Court House. At this, Lawrence said "you have got your gun now, why don't you use it". Teddlie said "I haven't got my gun", Lawrence said "you are a damn liar, you have"; Teddlie said "you son-of-a-bitch of a liar, I have not got it". Lawrence then jumped off the gallery and went running or trotting toward Teddlie. He drew his gun as he crossed the street ditch and when he was about the middle of the street maybe a little on the side toward Teddlie he threw his gun on Teddlie and shot. Before Lawrence shot Teddlie threw up his arms and begged him not to shoot. At the second shot Lawrence used both hands to hold his gun and aimed like he was shooting at a target. At the third shot Lawrence shot with the same deliberation and Teddlie staggered and fell into the ditch. About this time Shaw and Leeper ran up and commanded him not to shoot any more. Lawrence turned to look at Sheriff Shaw and as he did Teddlie raised to his knees and shot at Lawrence. Lawrence wheeled and shot Teddlie again. Teddlie staggered and fell and Lawrence with his gun up saying to the Sheriff not to crowd him ran into Mrs. Wright's store. Attest: Roy Jones L.E. Carraway, being sworn deposed as follows: On October the 3rd, 1905 about 1 o'clock witness was standing in front of Teagles Store and saw Oscar Lawrence walk up to Teddlie in front of the Barber shop. Teddlie walked on toward Mrs. Wright's Store and Lawrence following him to the end of Mrs. Wright's store porch. Teddlie then walked on and witness heard him say I am disarmed if you don't believe it go over there, waving toward the Court House and ask them about it. Before Teddlie reached the corner of the street he turned and started toward the corner of the court House square and when he was about the bridge across the street ditch Lawrence jumped off Mrs. Wright's porch and started toward him and when Lawrence was a little past the middle of the street he began shooting at Teddlie. Teddlie was holding up his hands begging Lawrence not to shoot when Lawrence commenced the shooting. Attest: L.E. Carraway C.A. Bridgford being sworn said that Lawrence eat dinner at his place that day about 10 or 15 minutes before the shooting took place. He had often eaten there and on this occasion was as usual except he appeared to be a little excited. I saw no sign of intoxication. This was October the 3rd, 1905. Attest: C.A. Bridgford Filed for record Oct the 5th, 1905. Recorded November the 25th, 1905. Dy, Clerk & Recorder (Submitted by William R. "Bill" Holly, 500 Holly-Moore Drive, Pineville, LA 71360-4537)