Craven County NcArchives Court.....Russell, Luke K. 1887
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sue Guptill sguptill@mindspring.com February 25, 2013, 7:47 am

Source: N C Archives
Written: 1887

Folder: Inquests 1885-1889
Name of deceased: Luke K. RUSSELL
DOD: 2 Nov 1887
Witnesses: J.A. SAULS, T.R. MOORE, W.R. WILSON, Richd. MILLER, H.L. CROOM, 
Perry JONES, Jessee JONES, Harriett JONES, Elijah JONES, Nicey JONES, Cath 
POOL, Eugene JONES, 
Witness statements: [Note: there is offensive language in this testimony. I 
included it because it seemed relevant to understanding the case and the 
relationships of the people involved]. SAULS stated that they were at a prayer 
meeting "last night" [i.e., 2 Nov], and after it were standing around. Mr. 
RUSSELL said, "boys--I want to catch a nigger named WILLIAMS - he has been 
stealing my hogs, and I suppose he has been stealing cotton or got someone 
else to do so - I have papers to arrest him or to search for him-". They went 
to the house of Henry MILLER and asked him if Will WILLIAMS was there and he 
answered no I haven't seen him since Sunday. RUSSELL told MILLER that they 
were not after him [i.e., MILLER] and told him if he knew where WILLIAMS was, 
he should tell. MILLER denied knowing. Then went to Jessee JONES house, and 
asked his wife if WILLIAMS was there. She said no; he left after supper 
tonight. RUSSELL asked if they could go into the cotton loft & looked for him, 
and she said yes. RUSSEL jumped on something to get in the door to the loft, 
and he was shot. RUSSELL said Boys he shot me or killed me.. catch or shoot 
him. He died soon after. MOORE stated the same as SAULS, but added that 
RUSSELL was told not to go up in the loft or he would be or might get shot. 
Luke had said previous to this that he heard WILLIAMS slept in the loft; he 
said this to Mrs. JONES. MOORE saw the charge from the gun and heard a woman's 
voice (probably Mrs. JONES)-when he shot he jumped out of another window or 
door at the other end of the loft and ran towards the kitchen about 30 feet. 
WILSON, MILLER, CROOM, Perry JONES gave identical testimony to the previous 
witness, except the Cattes [don't know what this means] further says he went 
there today into the loft and found clothing, and a quilt. There was a gun, 
shot, and powder in the kitchen; the gun had been recently fired. Coat was 
WILLIAMS, the gun belonged to Sim JONES. Perry JONES says he saw "the nigger 
run" he was black, the moon was shining bright &c so I could distinguish. Said 
boys yonder he goes shoot him - Russell said in my hearing he has killed me 
carry me home-kill the son of a bitch for he has killed me. Did not search the 
loft last night, but went today & saw evidence of where he lay last night. 
Jesse JONES states he doesn't know anything about it, except that WILLIAMS was 
at his home last night. He was there only to be with little boy - going 
hunting. I don't know that he stayed on my premises at all nights-2 or 3 days 
he had been around there. JONES asked him why he didn't go to work, and he 
said he had worked a few days for Joel KINSEY. JONES was at home in bed when 
they were inquiring for him--is very deaf, and did not hear anything. (Coroner 
states that questions unrelated to inquest were asked by Mr. RUSSELL, Sr., and 
he did not include them in the report). Gun is his [JONES'] little boys-Sim. 
JONES's sons are Sim and Elijah. Harriet JONES said some men came and asked 
her where Wil WILLIAMS was, and where her son Elijah was. Asked if they could 
search the loft. Also asked when they ate supper. She heard the shot and got 
her husband up, and her son Elijah who was in bed. She was asked whose cotton 
it was she sold, and she said she guessed it was WILLIAMS'; Cath POOL & Elijah 
brought the "cotten" there. Sold the cotton to Mr. CARROL for supplies. Cath 
POOL was at the JONES' that evening. Elijah JONES said WILLIAMS was at their 
house yesterday, and he [E. JONES] got him to help us. WILLIAMS was in the 
kitchen when E. JONES went up to bed; after gun fired, he got up. Didn't know 
WILLIAMS slept in their loft. Got the cotton from Cath POOL's house. Heard bad 
reports about WILLIAMS. Nicey JONES stated WILLIAMS left their house after 
supper and said he was going down the road to work. Did not hear anything that 
happened. POOL says she went home last night about 8:00, sat up a little 
while, then went to bed. Lives about 3/4 mile away. WILLIAMS told her he got 
the cotton from Mr. HALL; Elijah JONES came and took it away, and his mother 
sold it for supplies for WILLIAMS. Quilt (found in loft) belongs to her; 
WILLIAMS took it without permission Didn't know RUSSELL was shot until today. 
Eugene JONES stated when he went over to Father's last night, "WILLIAMS was 
there. He fired his gun about dark; he thought they were firing for fun. 
WILLIAMS has been going to Father's 'a right smart while'-the old mans little 
boy told me that Will slept there-Didn't any of the family know that Will 
slept there that night except the little boy. Elijah was to have half of the 
cotton that was sold."
Inquest verdict: Inquest held 3 Nov 1887. Verdict that deceased came to his 
death by being shot by Will WILLIAMS.

[Note: Beginning with the next case, there was a new coroner whose spelling 
and handwriting were creative! There is less detail in these cases, and none 
give the actual DOD; they just give the inquest date. Material in quotes is 
just as it is written].


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


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