Criminal Justice Matters: Joseph Davis, 1936, 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: December 31, 1936 Winn Parish Enterprise

Man Who Left Parish Under Fire 28 Years Ago Would Like To Return

"Christmas is the time for old songs, old wishes, old friends..." and this
proved true this Christmas when W. P. Pendarvis of Ward Two, who was a
constable under former Sheriff Frank L. Shaw twenty-some odd years ago, was
surprised with a card and a clipping from a man who left this parish under
fire from the guns of Pendarvis and Floyd Allbritton.  Allbritton was also a
constable at that time.  The card was from Joseph Davis, who is now 90 years
old and resides in Bathesda, Belmont County, Ohio.

Davis, among other crimes committed, had stolen some sheep from Mrs. Molly
White, five miles this side of Tullos.  Davis' record was bad, and the two
deputies admitted they were afraid of him, so when they captured him they
decided to let him escape and they fired their guns at him and he left this
section of the country.

According to Mr. Pendarvis, Davis claimed that he had robbed seventeen banks,
without the use of a gin, had held up and robbed twenty-one stagecoaches, and
in his lifetime had killed seven men.  To the deputies' knowledge he had 
served a term of twenty years in the federal penitentiary at Atlanta, Ga., and
at a later time an additional ten year's term.  While residing in this parish
he married a Mrs. Scism and when he left this country he kidnaped her twelve
year old daughter, Rosy.  In later years Rosy was located at the home of a
deputy in another parish.

On one side of the Christmas card sent to Mr. Pendarvis, Mr. Davis had written
the following: 

"Bathesda, Ohio, 1936, Dec. 21.

Dear Friend, will write to you a few lines to let you know I am as well and
getting along as well as could be expected.  In two days now, I will turn in
my 90th year.  I would love to hear from you.  I will send you this clipping
from our county paper that was printed when my leg broke ten years ago.  If
you will, give it to Rosy if she wants it.  If not, keep it yourself.  Write
and tell me all the news.  I would like to see Rosy (Rosy is now a Mrs. Brown
in Tullos).  Write me, and I will write you a long letter.  If I am well
enough I will come to see you next summer.  Good-bye, Bill, may God bless
you."