Criminal:  R. E. Boyett & J. E. Rayburn, 1926, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From:  Inquest Book A, Office of the Clerk of Court, Winn Parish
Courthouse, Winnfield, LA.

Inquest of R. E. Boyett & J. E. Rayburn

Coroner's Jury Verdict

An inquisition, taken at Winnfield, in the Parish of Winn, Louisiana, on
the 1st day of May, A. D., 1926, before S. C. Fittz, Coroner of the Parish
of Winn, aforesaid, upon view of the bodies of R. E. Boyett and J. E.
Rayburn, there lying dead.

The jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed, having been sworn to
inquire on behalf of the State, when and what means said R. E. Boyett and
J. E. Rayburn came to their deaths, upon their oaths say:

That R. E. Boyett came to his death on the 1st day of May, 1926, by bullet
wounds inflicted in his head and stomach by one J. E. Rayburn; that the
killing was unlawfully and feloniously done in this Parish of Winn,
Louisiana; that, in the opinion of this jury, said 
J. E. Rayburn committed the crime of murder, but due to the fact that said
J. E. Rayburn was soon thereafter killed, there is therefore not
recommendations to be made by this jury.  

That the jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid, do further say:

That J. E. Rayburn came to his death on the 1st day of May, 1926 by bullet
wounds inflicted in his body by Bryant Sholars, deputy sheriff of the
Parish of Winn, La., while in the discharge of his official duties, and
also in the justifiable and lawful defense of his person and that of other
officers of said Parish.  

In the case of this killing, the recommendation and verdict of this
coroner's jury is:  That no crime was committed by said Bryant Sholars in
slaying said J. E. Rayburn, and that the said Bryant Sholars should be
exonerated of all blame in connection with this killing and commended for
his action in the matter.

In testimony whereof, the jurors whose names are hereunto signed, having
unanimously agreed upon the above verdict, the coroner and said jurors
have hereunto subscribed their names on the day and date above written
(testimony of witnesses examined signed and attached hereto and made part
hereof).

S. C. Fittz, Coroner
J. W. Teddlie
Kenneth Watts
F. A. Dow
O. Trahan                         Filed for the record and recorded May 1,
1926                     

[This inquest has to do with Deputy Sheriff R. E. "Bob" Boyett who was
slain in the line of duty in 1926, by J. E. Rayburn, a paroled convict
form Leavenworth Pen., in Kansas.  Boyett and Dy. Bryant Sholars were
investigating the robber of a Winnfield furniture store which had
occurred in the early morning hours of May 1, 1926.  They had gone to a
rooming house located at the corner of N. Grove St. and Broad Street, to
question neighbors about Rayburn, a suspect in the robbery.  When Dy.
Sholars knocked on one of the doors at the rooming house, it quickly
opened and he was staring down the barrell of Rayburn's gun.  Sholars
called for help, and Boyett, who was checking another room, came to his
aid.  Boyett was gunned down, and Sholars was wounded, but managed to
kill Rayburn.  Both worked for Sheriff W. T. Heflin, who was retiring,
and Boyett was a candidate for sheriff.  Following his death, Sholars
won and served as Winn Parish Sheriff for 20 years.  I was raised about a 
block from where this occurred and my grandmother told me often 
of this story.                     Gregg]