Mattie Sapp Inquest, 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 ********************************************** Coroner's Inquest Over Body of Mattie Sapp-Age 13. (pg.1, Book A, Winn Parish Inquest Book, Winn Parish Clerk's Office, Winn Parish Courthouse, Winnfield, LA.) Dr. John Pugh: Cause of her death due to Gun Shot Wound-I was called about 7 o'clock in evening of September 29, 1917 to see Mattie Sapp and when I arrived she was on the bed. I examined her and found a wound, a gun shot wound in small of back just below ribs. Found a large hole entering as above and along left border of spine. Her intestines were protruding, she was rational and complaining of suffering a great deal, and calling for water. I asked her who shot her and she said Prince Henry; I asked her if they had had any fuss or fight that evening and she said no. But they had had a fight some time ago and he cut her with his old knife, and she cut him with a case knife, and he was mad at her. She told this in a very laborious way. I then gave her a hypodermic to relieve her. She died a short while later. Mr. Hamp Stoud and a bunch of negroes were there when I arrived. Lambert Mixon came before the girl died; I was ther when the girl died. Another thing I remember the girl said was that Prince was sitting on the bench by the wall with the gun and she standing by the post at the steps when he shot; that she fell out of doors when he shot her. Signed/John Pugh, M. D. Statement of Lewis Mathis: How did Mattie Sapp get killed?: Prince Henry shot her. I was on the gallery sitting on the bench by the wall. Prince was standing up by the bench. Prince says I'll shoot you. He was talking to Mattie. Mattie says I ain't afraid and went walking out and had just got to the steps. Mattie hit Prince in the face with a little old switch just before he said he was going to shoot her. When he first pointed the gun at Mattie he snapped it. He says I'll put a shell in it and reached in his hip pocket and got a shell, put it in the gun and shot her. Prince run put the gun out there by the yard pickets. I saw him take the shell out of the gun after he shot her. After Prince shot Mattie he jumped and says Ralph what did you shoot that girl for? Ralph says I did not shoot her. Lewis Mathis , "X", his mark Attest: A. M. Peters, M. D. Statement of Flossie Howard: Prince had the gun and Mattie walked up there and hit him with a switch and he loaded the gun and shot. He pointed the gun at Mattie and says I am going to shoot you. He then put his hand in one of his hind pockets, got a shell put in, in the gun and shot her. He was standing on the gallery by the bench by the wall when he shot her. Mattie was standing by the steps on the gallery. When Prince shot Mattie she fell on the steps and says a Lordy I am done dead. When Prince shot Mattie he said-Ralph, what did you shoot that gal for? Ralph says I didn't shoot that gal. Flossie Howard, "X", her mark Attest: A. M. Peters, M. D. Statement of Clemmon Sapp: I was down back of the field about 150 yards away when I heard a gun shot and some hollowing at the house. I run up here to the house and found Mattie laying on the ground by the steps. I call her and she answered me. I says who shot you and she says Prince. I picked her up and brought her in the house and laid her on the bed. On coming in Prince met me at the yard gate and said I didn't do it. Ralph shot her. Prince came over here with me about 5 o'clock P.M. He brought a single barrel shot gun with him. About 10 minutes after we got here I went down in the field and left Prince at the house. I went down back of the field after the cows. When we got to the house I told him to take the shell out of the gun and he did so. I told him that because it was a lot of children there. Signed: Clemon Sapp Statement of Ralph Mathis: Tell this jury what you know about Mattie getting killed. Prince killed Mattie. He shot her. Prince and Mattie were playing. Prince hit Mattie and Mattie hit him back with a switch and started out of doors and Prince shot her. When Mattie started and he says I'll get a shell and shoot you. She says I ain't afraid, and he says I don't want you to be afraid. When he shot her, he turned and says boy what did you want to shoot that girl for. I says it wasn't me, it was you. Then he carried the gun out and put it behind the pickets and ran around the house. Clemon came to the house and put Mattie on the bed. Signed: Ralph Mathis (X) his mark Attest: A. M. Peters, M. D. Statement of Verda Mathis: I came to the house when I heard the shot. Mattie told me that Prince shot her. Clemon picked up Mattie and brought her in and put her on the bed. He kindly drag her in. Clemon brought Mattie in by himself. No one helped him. Signed: Verda Mathis (X) her mark Attest: Dr. A. M. Peters, M. D. Filed for record October 1, 1917, and Recorded this 6th day of March, 1920. Eugene Beck Dy. Clerk and Ex-Officio Recorder (Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, LA.)