Obituaries: Edward L. Megison, 1934, Winn Parish, LA Submitter: Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 Source: Winnfield News-American & Winn Parish Enterprise Date: March 22, 23, 30, May 25, June 7, 8, 14, 15, 28, 29, 1934 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** March 22, June 7, 14, 28, 1934 Winn Parish Enterprise March 23, 30, May 25, June 8, 15, 29, 1934 Winnfield News-American March 22, 1934 Winn Parish Enterprise Edward Megison Killed In Knife Fight Murder Charge Filed Against Car Carter, 19 Quarrel Occurs After Prayer Meet; Victim Son of School Board Member Edward Megison, 20 years old, died almost instantly from knife wounds allegedly inflicted by Carl Carter, 19, in a quarrel following prayer meeting at Bethlehem Church, several miles north of Calvin, Wednesday night at 9 o'clock. The fight was the culmination of hard feelings that had existed for about a year and a half, it was said by persons in that community. The two boys had engaged in several fights before this time and numerous arguments, the cause of which was not learned by The Enterprise. Both had been in court following a fight at a dance at Onis Garrett's store over a year ago, but a compromise was reached at this time. According to reports, Megison and his wife had left the church ahead of a crowd but stopped a little way up the road for the group of about ten or twelve persons, who witnessed the fight. Megison was stabbed thirteen times on the back and front of his body and it was thought that the upper end of the heart was severed. Carter sustained bruises it was reported. The knnife that killed Megison was about three and a half inches long. The accident occurred near Ora Bates' home. Sheriff Sholars, Dr. Faith, coroner, and Dr. Fittz, were summoned to the scene. Carter was arrested and put in the parish jail. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Carter. The inquest was held Thursday and a charge of murder was filed against Carter late Thursday afternoon. The coroner's jury was composed of W. C. Cookston, R. F. Brewer, J. O. Teagle, K. L. Boyett, and C. S. Smith. The jury returned the following: "Having examined witnesses, etc., we have concluded that Edward Megison came to death from knife wounds, two interior and two posterior fatal wounds, in addition to other wounds not fatal, which said wounds were inflicted and given by one, Carl Carter, and that said jurors do therefore find that said wounds were so given with the design of effecting the death of said Edward Megison, and that he, the said Carl Carter should be bound over to the Grand Jury on a charge of murder." Edward Megison is the son of J. C. Megison of Ward Eight, who is a member of the parish school board. He is survived by his wife, Winnie Garrett Megison, parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Megison; and one nine year old sister, Elsie Marie. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 5 o'clock at the Bethlehem Church with Rev. Shows, pastor of Calvin Baptist Church in charge. March 23, 1934 Winnfield News-American Edward Megison, of Calvin, Stabbed to Death Wednesday Night; Carl Carter is Being Held Here Pending Investigation Two Youths Engage in Altercation on Way Home From Church Services Edward Megison, age 20, is dead and Carl Carter is being held in the Winn Parish jail awaiting verdict of coroner's jury charging or exonerating him from the guilt of stabbing to death the dead man Wednesday night while on the way from church services at Bethlehem community near Calvin about nine o'clock. It is alleged that Megison, son of J. C. Megison, and Carl Carter, son of C B. Carter, both of Calvin section, engaged in an altercation and that Carter, with a pocket knife, stabbed Megison to death, the fatal cut being about the heart, causing instant death. Reports are to the effect that the attendants of the church services were going home and that Megison with his young wife had gone down the road to a point about in front of Ora Bates' place on the Friendship road. The two were reported to have stopped there and were overtaken by other on their way home, among them a crowd of boys in which Carl Carter was present. At this point it is alleged Carter and Megison came together in a close fight in which Carter with his knife at close range cut Megison about the arm and ch___ in three slashes, one reaching the heart that resulted in Megison's death. Following the fight officers were notified and Sheriff Bryant Sholars and his deputies immediately went to the scene. Carl Carter gave himself up and was brought to the parish jail where he is now awaiting final court action. Trouble of Long Standing Reports and evidence indicate that young Megison and young Carter had had trouble before this time, the misunderstanding beginning more than a year ago. Witnesses stated that on several different occasions in the past they had had words and almost fist fought, but that serious trouble had been avoided by friends intervening and separating the two. Coroner's Inquest Held Dr. J. F. Fait, Winn Parish coroner, assisted by District Attorney Harry Fuller, held a coroner's inquest beginning at 11:30 Thursday morning and as this paper goes to press is st______ progress to ascertain the facts in the case and return a verdict and recommendations for further action. Funeral Services for Young Megison Funeral services for Carl (should be Edward) Megison were held Thursday afternoon at four o'clock conducted by the Rev. F. M. Shows at the Bethlehem Church and interment in the Bethlehem Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, who was Miss Winnie Garrett, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Megison, his father being school board member from Ward 8, and one sister, Miss Elsie Marie. March 30, 1934 Winnfield News-American Carl Carter Held on Murder Charge in Megison Death Verdict is Reached After Examination of Witnesses of Fatal Fight Carl Carter, age 19, is being held in the parish jail on a charge of murder returned by a coroner's jury following the investigation at an inquest held Thursday of last week of the death of Edward Megison, who died of wounds allegedly inflicted by Carter Wednesday night near Calvin. The verdict and recommendation of the coroner's jury was: "Having examined the witnesses, etc., we have concluded that Edward Megison came to death from knife wounds, two interior and two posterior fatal wounds, in addition to other wounds not fatal, which said wounds were inflicted and given by one, Carl Carter, and that said jurors do therefore find that sais wounds were so given with the design of effecting the death of said Edward Megison, and that he, the said Carl Carter, should be bound over to the grand jury on a charge of murder." The coroner's jury was composed of W. C. Cookston, J. M. Teagle, K. L. Boyett, Charles S. Smith, and R. F. Brewer. Young Megison and young Carter, according to reports, were returning from services at Bethlehem Church near Calvin when they were drawn into a fight, the culmination of misunderstandings of more than a year. During the fight Megison was wounded with a knife, the fatal wound being about the heart causing instant death. Carter was taken into custody by Sheriff Bryant Sholars and placed in the parish jail. A coroner's inquest, presided over by Dr. J. F. Faith, coroner, and District Attorney Harry Fuller, was held Thursday at which time a number of witnesses were examined. From the testimony taken at this investigation the jury reached the verdict that Megison came to his death from the wounds inflicted by Carter and recommended that he, Carter, be held on a charge of murder to await grand jury disposition. Megison was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Megison, Mr. Megison being school board member from Ward 8. Carter is one of a large family connection in the in the parish, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. B. (should be C. B. Carter), also of Calvin. May 25, 1934 Winnfield News-American Carter Trial is First on Court Docket June 4th Case to be Tried Before Judge F. E. Jones of Jena With the opening of criminal court here Monday, June 4, Carl Carter, 19, will go on trial for the death of Edward Megison who allegedly died of wounds inflicted by Carter in a dispute which occurred near Calvin on March 28. The case will be tried before Judge F. E. Jones of Jena. John J. Peters and A. Leonard Allen will be attorneys for Carter and District Attorney Harry Fuller will prosecute for the State. The trial is expected to excite much interest and will probably consume several days. According to reports, Carter and Megison while on their way home from Bethlehem Church near Calvin were drawn into a fight over a misunderstanding of more than a year. In the fight Carter inflicted a knife wound on Megison near the heart which resulted in the instant death of the latter. June 7, 1934 Winn Parish Enterprise Carl Carter on Trial for Murder in District Court This Week Case Is Expected to Go to Jury Sometime Friday, Many Witnesses Are Called on Both Sides Carl Carter, 19 years of age, who was indicted by the Winn parish grand jury last month on a charge of murder is on trial for his life in district court here this week. His case, the second on the docket for this term, was started Tuesday noon. The young man, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Carter of the Calvin community, is charged with killing Edward Megison, 20, on Wednesday, March 21, about 9 o'clock several miles north of Calvin as the two, with a part of friends, returned from a prayer meeting at Bethlehem Church. The alleged crime occurred as the result of an argument on the roadway and was the culmination of ill feeling between the two for nearly two years duration. Both had been arrested at one time previously and brought before the court as the result of a fight at a dance at Onus Garrett's home over a year ago. Specific details of the fatal quarrel were not available but it developed during the trial that Carter inflicted several cuts on Megison during a fight and Megison succumbed with a few minutes from a cut in the upper lobe of the heart. Carter sustained sever bruises from the hands of Megison. The deceased was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Megison, school board member from Ward Eight. He is also survived by his wife, Winnie Garrett Megison. Large Number of Witnesses About twenty witnesses were summoned for the defense by Carter's attorneys, Leonard Allen and J. J. Peters and a like number by the prosecution, which is being handled by Harry Fuller, district attorney, and E. M. Mouser, assistant district attorney of Columbia. The jury consists of Messrs. Ben Price, W. H. White, S. B. P. Gresham, Edwin Stroud, Clarence Avant, W. E. Thornton, Ivy Keyes, Guy McElroy, H. L. Dickerson, Lee Underwood, L. W. Gulledge, and F. M. Durham. The prosecution presented testimony Wednesday from ten of twenty witnesses summoned by them. Up to the Wednesday night session of court three witnesses had been put on the stand by the defense. It was expected that the case would go to the jury sometime Friday. June 8, 1934 Winnfield News-American Jury Expected to Get C. Carter Case Sometime Thursday Testimony About Completed Thursday as Paper Goes to Press Forty witnesses, twenty for state and twenty for defense, will have been heard in the case of Carl Carter, on trial in criminal court here charged with the murder of Edward Megison, near Bethlehem Church on March 28, which was expected to be sometime when the case is given to the jury, Thursday night as this paper goes to press Thursday afternoon. The jury was drawn Tuesday afternoon and night and Wednesday taking of testimony was begun before Judge F. E. Jones of Jena. The state rested its case Wednesday afternoon and defense witnesses were heard late into Wednesday night, and continued Thursday morning. The jury on this case is composed of S. P. B. Gresham, W. E. Thornton, Ben Price, Lucius Gulledge, Lee Underwood, G. L. McElroy, Clarence Avant, H. L. Dickerson, Ive Keyes, F. M. Durham, Edwin Stroud, and W. H. White. District Attorney Harry Fuller and Assistant District Attorney V. M. Mouser is being assisted by Earl E. Kidd in the prosecution, while the defense is represented by John J. Peters and A. Leonard Allen. Carl Carter, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Carter of Calvin, is alleged bo have inflicted knife wounds causing the death of Edwin Megison, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Megison, also of Calvin, on the night of March 28th, while on their way from services at the Bethlehem Church north of Calvin. The altercation was the result of a misunderstanding or more than a year, it is reported. Following the investigation of the coroner's jury placing the cause of Megison's death on knife wounds inflicted by Carl Carter, who has been held in the parish jail since that time, the grand jury returned a bill of indictment against Carter, and his trial was set for this term of criminal court. June 14, 1934 Winn Parish Enterprise Lawrence and Sikes Found Guilty as Charged Saturday Manslaughter Verdict Is Returned in Slaying of Megison Youth by Jury Friday A charge of manslaughter was turned in by the jury in the trial of Carl Carter, indicted by the Winn parish grand jury in the killing of Edward Megison on March 21. After deliberating all night after court recessed Thursday night of last week, the jury returned and turned in a verdict of manslaughter at 9:30 a.m., Friday, June 8. The defendant was remanded to the jail to await sentence on June 22. Motion for a new trial may be filed before June 18. The prosecution, handled by District Attorney Harry Fuller and E. E. Kidd, associate counsel, began on Wednesday morning, June 6, and was concluded at 5:45 p.m. that day. Testimony for the defense started at 7 p.m. that evening and continued over during the following day until 3:35 p.m. when the case was argued until 6 p.m. Following this the jury was instructed and retired for the night. June 15, 1934 Winnfield News-American Manslaughter is Verdict of Jury in Carl Carter Case. Sentence Will be Given on Friday, June 22nd by Judge F. E. Jones Verdict Carries Sentence From One to Twenty Years On Friday, June 8, the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter in the case of Carl Carter of Calvin whose altercation with Edwin Megison on the night of March 28 resulted in the death of the latter. The jury got the case at 9:45 Thursday night, June 7. The verdict carries with it a sentence of from one to twenty years, which will be pronounced by Judge F. E. Jones on June 22. The Carter trial goes on record as one of the swiftest in parish court history. The drawing of the jury was begun Tuesday afternoon and night, testimony was begun Wednesday morning, the State resting its case Wednesday afternoon. Defense witnesses were heard through Thursday morning and the case given to the jury Thursday night. The defense was represented by John J. Peters and A. Leonard Allen, and District Attorney Harry Fuller and Assistant District Attorney V. M. Mouser were assisted in the prosecution by Earl E. Kidd. The jury on the case was composed of S. P. B. Gresham, W. E. Thornton, Ben Price, Lucius Gulledge, Lee Underwood, G. L. McElroy, Clarence Avant, H. L. Dickerson, Ike Keyes, F. H. Durham, Edwin Stroudn, and W. H. White. Carl Carter is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Carter of Calvin. June 28, 1934 Winn Parish Enterprise Lawrence And Sikes Get Four Year Sentence Other Sentences Are Meted Out in District Court ...Carl Carter, found guilty of manslaughter during the summer criminal session this year was sentenced to serve a period of not less than six or more than ten years at hard labor in the state penitentiary and to pay costs of court. Carter, 19 years of age, was convicted in the killing of Edward Megison, young Winn Parish man. June 29, 1934 Winnfield News-American Four Convicted and Sentenced, Taken to State Penitentiary Judge Overrules Motion for New Trial in Carl Carter Case Overruling motion for new trial by defense counsel, Judge F. E. Jones, in district court here last Friday, sentenced Carl Carter, convicted for manslaughter in the death of Edwin Megison, to six to ten years in the state penitentiary. No appeal from this decision was taken. The same day sentences were passed on Neil Lawrence and Hershel Sikes who were convicted on charges of breaking in and stealing, and who were given 4 years each in the state penitentiary, and Fred Thomas, negro, on a similar charged received the same kind of sentence. Deputy Sheriff G. M. Walsworth conveyed the four sentenced persons to Angola last Saturday.