Obituaries: Hardie C. Pepper, 1930, Winn Parish, LA Submitter: Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 Source: Winnfield News-American Date: December 19 & 26, 1930 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** No. 1 W. Harper In Jail Charge Of Killing H. Peppers At Sikes Altercation Arises While Attending Party, Pocket Knife Used William Harper, 38 years old, is in jail charged with the killing of Hardy Peppers, age 22, on Wednesday night while they with others were attending a party at the McKaskle home in Sikes. An altercation arose between the two when it is alleged that Harper drew his knife, slashed at the young Peppers, striking him at the throat with the incision penetrating as deep as the bone, cutting the jugular vein and death immediately followed. Harper left the premises and a search by Sheriff Bryant Sholars and his deputies of the vicinity was made as soon as they could reach the scene. Early Thursday morning Harper was found and brought to the parish jail here. Young Peppers is the son of Z. Z. Peppers, prominent farmer and stockman of the Sikes community. Harper is the son of Buck Harper whose home is now in Texas, but who formerly lived in Grant Parish, it was stated, moving from Grant to Winn and later to Texas. Funeral services were held for Peppers Thursday from the family residence near Sikes. Dr. S. C. Fittz, coroner, went to Sikes early Thursday morning, empaneled a coroner's jury, which recommended that Harper be held on a murder charge. No. 2 W. Harper Indicted On Murder Charge Killing H. Pepper Special Session of Grand Jury Held Monday of This Week William Harper was indicted for murder, charged with the killing of Hardie Pepper on Wednesday, December 17th at a special session of the Grand Jury on Monday of this week. Judge F. E. Jones issued order on Friday, December 19thj for the special session of the Grand Jury to meet Monday to investigate the case of William Heper, who was ordered by the Coroner and Coroner Jury to be held for murder, following the killing of Hardie Pepper at Sikes last week. The Grand Jury completed its investigation on Monday and returned a true bill of indictment against William Harper. Harper, appearing in court declared that he did not have the means of employing attorneys and the Court appointed Attorneys Cas Moss and Earl E. Kidd, both of Winnfield, to defend him. Arraignment of his case will be made on January 5th. Order was issued by Judge Jones for the Jury Commission to draw a special criminal jury for the special term of Criminal Court for January 19th, 1931. Hardie Pepper, son of Mr. and Mrs. Z. Z. Pepper of Sikes, was killed while attending a party at Sikes on Wednesday night, December 17th, following an altercation between himself and William Harper, another guest at the party. It is alleged that Harper with his pocket knife cut the throat of young Pepper causing instant death. Harper was taken into custody by Sheriff Bryant Sholars and placed in jail and was ordered held for further investigation and for which the Gand Jury was called in special session. No. 3 Funeral Services For Hardie C. Pepper Held Friday A. M. Funeral services for Hardie C. Pepper, 22 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Z. Z. Pepper of Sikies, who was killed last Wednesday night, were held in the Fellowship Cemetery at eleven o'clock Friday morning. Funeral services were conducted by Joe Adams in the presence of many friends of Sikes and other nearby towns. Mr. Pepper is survived by his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Z. Z. Pepper, Sikes, La.; two sisters, Elma Pepper, Sikes, La., and Alma Pepper, Oakdale, La; and five brothers, Lawson, Horace, Homer, Noah, and Morgan, all of Sikes. (For more information on this matter see related story listed under "Criminal Justice Matters")