Criminal Justice Matters: Inquest of Dewey Fatheree, 1922, 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 A, Office of the Clerk of Court, Winn Parish Courthouse, Winnfield, LA. Dewey Fatheree, Inquest of An inquisition taken at Winnfield, Louisiana, on the 26th day of March in the year 1922, before the Coroner of the Parish of Winn, upon view of the body of Dewey Fatheree, 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 the said Dewey Fatheree came to his death upon their oath do say: That the said Dewey Fatheree came to his death on March 26th, 1922, from wounds inflicted by a knife in the hands of S. L. Wilkins, G. G. White, being there present aiding and abetting, therefore we recommend that a warrant be issued charging the said S. L. Wilkins and G. G. White with Murder and that they be arrested and held to answer said charges. In testimony whereof the Coroner and Jurors of this Inquest have hereunto subscribed their names the day and year above stated. J. J. Peters, M. D., Coroner Kenneth Watts W. W. Curry W. C. Cookston W. J. Walker C. F. Walsworth John Lee: Who being duly sworn testifies as follows: This morning Dewey and me went down to the Creosote Plant. We going down there to see if Mr. Fatheree was going back to dinner. We got up even with those houses and this boy, Bud Wilkins called mr. Fatheree up there and he ask Mr. Fatheree about the difficulty he, Wilkins, had had with Mr. Thames yesterday. I don't know what he asked Mr. Fatheree but I suppose that the answer Mr. Fatheree gave him didn't suit him and he called Mr. Fatheree a liar, and when me and Dewey saw that they were about to have trouble we went up there where they was at and when we got there Dewey walked between Mr. Fatheree and the Wilkins boy, and when he walked in between them he pushed one one way and the other the other way he turned around and pushed Mr. Fatheree with both hands and when he turned around and faced the boy he pulled his hand out I don't know whether he had his knife in his hand or not but he pulled his knife out and stabbed him one time, he lived somewheres about three minutes after he was stabbed. Mr. White came up there about the time we did he said let me get out here and get to him too I don't know who he was talking bout. Mr. White acted as a friend to Wilkins. John Lee Winnfield, LA. March 26, 1922 Frank Austin: Who being duly sworn says: The first I knew about it was that I started in my house and Mr. Fatheree and Dewey and Mr. John Lee were walking up the railroad and Bud Wilkins walked out in the road and Mr. Fatheree walked up the railroad dump to where he was at and they were in a argument and Dewey his son went up there and this Wilkins boy went to hit Mr. Fatheree and Dewey he jumpted in between them, and this Wilkins boy hit at Dewey and Dewey hit him back and the Wilkins boy raised his hand like he was going to catch his arm and Mr. White run in to Mr. Fatheree and Mr. Fatheree stepped back and the Wilkins boy stabbed Dewey, and after he stabbed him he walked back toward the bank like he was going to crawl down the railroad bankand when he got to the edge of the railroad he dropped down on his knees and mr. Beach caught him and Mr. Fatheree started off and Mr. Beach said come back Mr. Fatheree your boy is dying and Mr. Fatheree says well we will have to get a doctor. I believe if Mr. Fatheree had caught his arm the Wilkins boy would have been prevented from stabbing Dewey had not Mr. White not run into Mr. Fatheree. He could have cut Dewey the first time he hit at him I didn't know he was cut after he stabbed at him the second time until I saw blood. Frank Austin Winnfield, LA., March 26, 1922 Mrs. G. I. Beach: Who being duly sworn, testified as follows: Mr. White and the Wilkins boy was in my house and Mr. White was looking out the window and he turned to the Wilkins boy and called him by his first name and says I see old man Fatheree and his boy coming down the railroad, and the Wilkins boy sent out on the poarch and called Mr. Fatheree and said did you see the boy throw the eggs at the house and says how come you to say he didn't, and Mr. Fatheree gave an oath and came up the railroad bank to where the boy was at and began to quarrel and curse and the Fatheree boy walked in between them and told his father to go on home that he would take care of it and he hit the Wilkins boy kinder on the chest and staggered him back and when he came back he stabbed him in the chest with his knife and old man White was out there quarreling and Mrs. Fatheree told Mr. White to come on and fight and Mr. White says no he had been sick and Mrs. Wilkins girl called Mr. White in the house and Mr. White said give me a brick and the Fatheree boy staggered around and fell and my husband kinder turned him over and told Mr. Fatheree his boy was cut and Mr. Fatheree said he would have to get a Doctor and my husband said no he is dead. The Wilkins boy might have called Mr. Fatheree and I might not have heard it for the Victrola was playing. He was kinder throwing slurs at Mr. Fatheree before this happened. I don't know whether he had it in for Mr. Fatheree or not, this was Mr. White throwing the slurs. The man that was with them could see it and hear it better than any one else. Mrs. G. I. Beach Winnfield, LA. March 26, 1922 W. J. Fatheree: Who being duly sworn testified as follows: I will tell you just how that the thing happened. I work at the Creosote every Sunday and me and Mr. John Lee, and Dewey were going to dinner and Bud Wilkins called to where he was at and says to me I suppose you said that boy didn't throw them eggis in the house, so I says no you are mistaken the boys could have been throwing eggs and happen to hit the house and he says not you you just a pop eyed liar you know better than that and I says to him go on and behave yourself that you ain't fooling with Mr. Thames so Mr. White came out of Mr. Beach's house and says lt me get to him so Dewey steps right between me and the Wilkins boy so just as he steps between us whey this boy stabbed him. My boy says as he stepped between me and the Wilkins boy papa lets go home and he stabbed him. Just about the time the Wilkins boy stabbed my boy White tried to get hold of me. Mr. Austin saw him when he took hold of me. My son lived about three or four minutes after he was stabbed. W. J. Fatheree (X) His Mark Attest: J. J. Peters, M. D. Filed for record March 27th, 1922, and duly recorded on this 27th day of March, A. D., 1922. Eugene Beck Deputy Clerk & Ex-Officio Recorder Winn Parish, Louisiana