Obituaries: John D. Davis, 1954, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: October 19, 1954 Winnfield News-American

Negro Killed In Knife Scrape Sat. Night

A Saturday night argument in the L. & A. Quarters resulted in the death of
John D. Davis, 20 year old Negro, and the holding of Meredith Jones, Jr., in
the parish jail pending investigation.

The altercation started in the Thomas Joy Room, a night spot in the quarters,
but the participants were separated and both left the building, one through
the front door and one through the side door.  George Thomas, owner of the Joy
Room, told a News-American reporter that he asked both men to leave the
building and "go on home."  Jones left by the front door, he said, while Davis
was escorted out a side door.

Upon reaching the outside, Davis broke away from the grasp of several
bystanders and ran around to the front where witnesses said he attacked Jones
from the rear.  Jones stabbed Davis in the left groin, severing the main
artery.

When officers arrived at the scene Davis was rushed to a local hospital but
was pronounced dead on arrival.  It is believed the man bled to death while
lying in the street.

In the meantime Jones had left the scene of the fight and a three car search
by sheriff deputies, state troopers and city police was launched.  He was
finally located in a parked car in front of the West End Caf‚ by Deputy Wesley
Carter and City policeman Cecil Alderman.

A coroner's inquest will be held Wednesday morning, Sheriff C. M. Robinson
reported today.  In the meantime, Jones is being held in the parish jail.

From his jail cell Jones gave this reporter the following version of the
affair: "I was sitting in a booth with two girls when he (Davis) came up and
started shoving me around.  I got up and we scuffled a little and I hit him
one time.  They separated us and I went out the front door and started home. 
All at once this guy came around the side of the building, grabbed me and
started cutting me on the back of the neck and head.  I finally got my hand
out of my pocket and stabbed backward with my knife, hitting him in the leg."

Jones said after Davis fell to the ground bleeding that he (Jones) left the
scene and went to the home of his brother in law to change shirts.

"People began telling me that Davis was bad hurt so my brother in law, my dad,
and I were just getting ready to go to the police station when the officers
drove up and took me to jail."

Jones said he and Davis had no previous trouble before the Saturday night
scrape which happened around midnight.  The young Negro youth said he had
never been in trouble before and had never been arrested.

Davis was discharged from the army about two months ago, according to
information obtained from local colored persons.

Jones is the son of Meredith and Eva Jones of the Tugwell addition.

In addition to Carter and Alderman, other officers joining in the brief search
for Jones were State Troopers Leonard Kule and C. D. Bates, Deputy Edwin
Kelley, and city policeman Percy Roberts.