Bertie COUNTY NC Court Coroner's Inquest - Death of James Ruffin Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lynn McCarthy Lcmccarthy@aol.com http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie.htm Coroner’s Inquest - Death of James Ruffin North Carolina Division of Archives and History Raleigh, North Carolina Original file CR 010 928.9 Served 28th April 1911 J. W. Cooper sheriff State of North Carolina to any Constable or other lawful officer of Bertie County: - Greetings - You are hereby Commanded to summon James Bazemore Mary Ruffin personally to appear before the undersigned Coroner at the house of James Ruffin in Snake-bite township in Bertie County at 1 OClock P-M-the day of apr 28 1911 to give evidence concerning the death of James Ruffin and you will also at the same time and place return this precept with the maner of its execution This 28 day of apr 1911 - J. B. Ruffin Coroner ____________________ Served 28th april 1911 J. W. Cooper sheriff State of North Carolina to any Constable or other lawful officer of Bertie County - Greeting You are hereby Commanded to summon Jno. N. Hoggard J. L. Harington J. H. Cherry W. C. Askew W. E. Casper J. H. Perce six good & lawful men to appear before the undersigned at the house of James Ruffin in Snakebite township at 1 OClock on the day of 28 apr 1911 to inquire into and do such things as shall be given them in charge in behalf of the State. And you are also Commanded to be then and there yourself with this precept. Herein fail not - This 28 day of apr 1911 - J. B. Ruffin Coroner ____________________ In the Matter of James Ruffin deceased Affidavit } James Bazemore being duly sworn says that James Ruffin of said County is dead and the affiant has reason to believe that the said James Ruffin came to his death by his own hand Sworn and Subscribed before me this 28 day of Apr/1911 James Bazemore ____________________ James Bazemore being duly sworn makes statement that James Ruffin deceased was malling rails and I went with his wife this morning to look for him as he didn’t Come home last night, and found him dead-with axe & wedge also gun Close by - the wound in his right side corresponds with the attitude of the gun -as the gun was across a log - James Bazemore ____________________ Mary Ruffin being duly sworn makes statement to following says she is the wife of James Ruffin James Ruffin Came home about 6 OClock P. M after mall to mall rails, also took his gun -about 7 OClock she heard the report of a gun in the direction of his work. She became alarmed, the next morning and went to look for him and found him at his work dead - thought to have pulled his gun over the log and caused it to discharge -The gun being across the log - His wound was received in the right side about on a level with the gun - her Mary X Ruffin mark ____________________ In re James Ruffin, Dec’d Be it remembered that on the day of 28 apr 1911 -I, J. B. Ruffin Coroner of said County attended by Jury of six good and lawful men viz: - J. N. Hoggard J. L. Harington J. H. Cherry W. C. Askew J. H. Perce W. E. Casper by me summoned for the purpose, according to law, and after being by me duly sworn and empaneled, at his house in Snakebite township Bertie County, did hold an inquest over the dead body of James Ruffin and after inquiring into the facts and circumstances of the death of the deceased, from a view of the corpse and a Consideration of all testimony to be procured, the find as follows to wit: -That we as the Jury find that James Ruffin deceased Came to his death accidentally by his On hand - J. N. Hoggard J. L. Harrington J. H. Cherry W. C. Askew J. H. Pierce W. E. Casper J B Ruffin Coroner ____________________ Letterhead: Dr. Joseph Blount Ruffin Office-Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Powellsville, N. C. Apr 29 1911 J. N. Hoggard Serving as Juror in the James Ruffin case $1.50 6 miles .60 _____ $2.10 J. L. Harrington Serving as Juror in James Ruffin case 1 day $1.50 6 miles .60 _____ $2.10 J. H. Cherry Serving as Juror in James Ruffin case 1 day 1.50 6 miles .60 _____ $2.10 J B Ruffin Coroner J B Ruffin Serving as Coroner $10.00 Cooper (Sheriff) For serving Summons on Jurors & Witnesses $2.40 J B Ruffin Cor- James Bazemore Witness in case of James Ruffin 50 cents Mary Ruffin Witness in case of James Ruffin 50 cents J B Ruffin Cor- W. C. Askew Serving as Juror 1 day $1.50 6 miles .60 _____ $2.10 J. N. Pierce Serving as Juror in James Ruffin case 1.50 6 miles .60 _____ $2.10 W. E. Casper Serving as Juror in James Ruffin case (1 day) 1.50 6 miles Drive .60 _____ $2.10 J B. Ruffin Coroner ____________________ Powellsville N. C. May 1st 1911 Mr. W. L. Lyon Windsor, N. C. Dear sir: Please find enclosed papers in case of James Ruffin- Please attend to them for me and oblige as it is impossible for me to come to day. Your Friend J. B. Ruffin