Craven County NcArchives Court.....Gibson, John 1881 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sue Guptill sguptill@mindspring.com February 25, 2013, 7:37 am Source: N C Archives Written: 1881 Folder: Inquests 1880-1884 Name of deceased: John GIBSON DOD: 4 April 1881 Witnesses: W.B. DIXON, Chas HORTON, Lovis FINCH, Sam. BROOKS, Mrs Anna GIBSON, Lenisher DUFFY Witness statements: DIXON stated that Mr. THORP had taken GIBSON and family in his house until he could fix another house for him-or as long as they could agree. GIBSON and his wife had a fuss, than THORP told him he could no longer stay in his house, on account of the fuss. THORP gave GIBSON the choice of 2 other houses. When THORP came to dinner on Friday, he asked GIBSON if he had decided which house he would to go. Mrs. GIBSON said that they would not move. THORP told DIXON to pack up GIBSON's things, and GIBSON (referred to by DIXON as "Mr. G.") ran outdoors, saying, "I will kill you." DIXON saw GIBSON coming with a hatchet; Johnny [apparently Mr. THORP] jumped to the back door to get out and could not because it was blocked by a table, so he grabbed a gun and retreated to a corner by the fireplace. GIBSON was coming at him with the hatchet raised to strike, and THORP said stand back or I'll shoot, and GIBSON kept coming. THORP warned GIBSON two more times, and said I'll have to shoot you in self-defense. GIBSON was advancing, and Mrs. GIBSON was sitting by the fireplace. GIBSON got within 2 feet of the muzzle, and Mrs. GIBSON jumped up and caught hold of the gun & raised it up & THORP said this is in self defence, & fired. If he had waited another minute he would probably have been killed. After GIBSON was shot he turned round back to THORP-stumbled towards the window & then turned clear round & went at THORP again with the hatchet, but THORP got away from him. GIBSON staggered & fell. Johnny took no aim when he fired. They never had any dispute before that DIXON knows of. The hatchet had a 2 foot handle & was 5 inches length of sharp edge. HORTON says that he came to work Monday morning (yesterday), and THORP told him to pack his things and move into the house occupied by GIBSON as he was to move to one of two houses. HORTON did as he was told, then went back to THORP. Told THORP he had done it. THORP said GIBSON wanted to move, but Mrs. GIBSON won't consent to move. THORP then told HORTON to hitch the horse to the cart, put in the plow harness and go to the field; it started raining, so he couldn't go in the field until about 10:00; he then went and plowed until 12:00, when he came to the house for dinner. THORP, Mrs. GIBSON, and the children were at the table eating, then they all went out in the yard, with the GIBSONs in the house. THORP, DIXON, and HORTON then went back in the house, and THORP said that Mrs. GIBSON had decided to move. Mrs. GIBSON said are you speaking to me; THORP answered I'm speaking to both of you. She said Mr. THORP I came here & made things look nice all around & in the house and no one man can put us out of here alive. Mr. GIBSON ran out then & said I swear I'll kill you, went to his toolkit and got out his hatchet and came back to the house at a trot. HORTON said Mr THORP he's a coming with a hatchet & THORP jumped and got his gun. Remainder of testimony corroborates DIXON. FINCH said he was about 60 yards from the house. He saw Mr. GIBSON running across the yard to his chest, then saw him running back with a hatchet. FINCH was coming to the house and heard the report of a gun & when he got to the house Mr. G was falling; Mr THORP said I am sorry it was done but I had to do it in self defence. FINCH was too far away when it happened to know how it all happened. BROOKS said that he was sitting about 40 yards from the house & saw Mr G running to where he was, & as he passed, BROOKS heard him say "if any man puts his hands on my things ill kill somebody." He ran to his tool chest & took out a hatchet & ran back to the house & soon after BROOKS heard the report of a gun. He got up and walked about - Mr. THORP called and he went to him. Mrs. A. GIBSON stated she didn't know much. The first thing she knew he ran into the house with the hatchet and ran across the room at Johnny-and Mr. THORP told him "it was life for life"-& shot him-they were always good "frines" till today & never had a cross word. DUFFY said that she/he knew Mr THORP as a peacable & quiet man & never quarrelsome. Inquest verdict: Inquest held 5 Apr 1881, doesn't give location. Came to his death from a gunshot wound from a double barrel gun in the hands of John THORP (wound in left groin) done in self defence. Additional Comments: Citation: Craven County Coroner's Inquests 1870-1905 (broken series) CR.028.913.2 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/craven/court/gibson3014wl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ncfiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb