Craven County NcArchives Court.....Bryan, Sam 1890
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sue Guptill sguptill@mindspring.com February 25, 2013, 8:04 am

Source: N C Archives
Written: 1890

Folder: Coroner's Inquests 1902, 1905
Name of deceased: Sam BRYAN (identified in one document as "colored")
DOD: 30 July 1890
Witnesses: J.A. DUGUID, MD (also coroner), Z.T. FULCHER, J.O. LAUD, Sarah C. 
WATSON, Frank HAMMONDS, Geo GRICE (Father-in-law), Thomas BRYANT (Brother), 
Stanford JONES, Walter WATSON, Margaret CHAPMAN, Edward HAMMONDS, Isaac 
RICHARDSON, Clara GILHAM, Gillie GILHAM, Geo. WATSON, Alexander WEBER
Witness statements: DUGUID describes the path of the bullet through the chest, 
into the abdomen, and through the colon. Medical cause of death was 
peritonitis and gangrene of the intestines as a result of the wound. FULCHER 
states "ran in house & ran out with pistol stooped by fence and when man 
passed on wheel he fired on him shot 3 times no conversation." [Note: there is 
no name given for who did this]. LAUD had nothing to say--out of town. S. 
WATSON states Walter GRICE & Walter WATSON came to her house. Sam BRYAN & 
Stanford JONES came to her gate, and BRYAN and GRICE got in an argument about 
a glove that each claimed. Sam "jumped his wheel" and went to J.O. LAUD store 
in search of glove. Sam then came back through the alley, and said, "If I 
catch him I will kill him"; they both entered the alley and approached each 
other. GRICE sees BRYAN and turns to run; BRYAN follows him. At the corner of 
the alley, GRICE turns and fires 3 times. The first two balls above his head; 
the third one hit him. The wheel carried him to the corner & he fell. F. 
HAMMONDS states that he heard the pistol shot and saw him fall (about 100 feet 
away). Gave chase but did not catch or recognize the man who did the shooting. 
G. GRICE states he heard pistol fire and saw Walter GRICE running with crowd 
after him. BRYANT states he heard pistol fire and saw GRICE running. Geo GRICE 
stopped him and took the pistol. Geo GRICE kept the pistol. G. GRICE was 
recalled, and states he started to take the pistol but didn't, because he was 
afraid of being shot. JONES states Sam BRYAN gave him his glove to keep until 
Monday. W. GRICE asked for it, and he gave it to him. He told Sam, and Sam 
went to look for GRICE, saying that if he did not give him the glove before 
night, he would kill him. JONES did not see the shooting. W. WATSON states 
that he and W. GRICE were together when Sam came and asked for the glove. 
GRICE said to wait until after supper. Sam said wait till I return & I will 
give you a glove, jumped his wheel & left. He returned in 5 minutes & asked 
for GRICE who had left. Sam left and entered the alley and met GRICE. Saw 
GRICE shoot him 3 times. CHAPMAN states she was sitting on her porch, and saw 
one man shoot another man. Did not know either man until they went up to the 
fallen man. BRYANT the wounded man said it was Walter GRICE who shot him. E. 
HAMMOND stated he heard the shots and ran out. He saw Walter GRICE running and 
grabbed his coat; he put the pistol in HAMMOND's face and said to turn him 
loose he would blow his brains out. Geo GRICE asked him what he had done, and 
he said he had shot Sam BRYAN. RICHARDSON states he heard 3 shots; at the 
second shot he fell, and the third shot was while he was prostrate. RICHARDSON 
saw a man run, but did not recognize him. BRYAN asked to be turned over, and 
said it was Geo. GRICE who shot him. C. GILHAM states she saw Sam BRYAN on the 
ground and saw W. GRICE shoot him once. G. GILHAM states she [not sure if 
Gillie is male or female-sbg] was leaning on her fence, heard a pistol shot, 
then a second. S. BRYAN fell in front of the fence; while he was on the ground 
W. GRICE fired the third shot. 
Inquest verdict: Inquest held 31 July 1905. Came to his death by a bullet 
wound at the hand of Walter GRICE.


Additional Comments:
Citation: 
Craven County Coroner's Inquests 1870-1905 (broken series)
CR.028.913.2


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