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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCoroner Inquests, Carlton-Cathey NGF Carlton — Cathey CORONERS REPORT IN THE CASE OF: ARTHUR FENORY CARLTON-—Deceased - June 18,1949 Troutman ,N.C. Male-Negro-Married-Aged 32 years. FacTS IN THE CASE: Saturday night,June 18,1949 the Statesville Police Department received a call from the Skyland Hotel stating a man had been stabbed. The call was answered promptly,an ambulance called and the deceased was rushed to the H.F.Long Hospital,Inc. ,Statesville,N.C. he was pro- nounced dead On arrival. He was removed to Peterson & Mangum Funeral Home Garfield St., Statesville,N.C. Investigations were made by the Police Dep't. and Sheriff's Dep't.and several witnesses were summonsed to appear before a Coroners Jury which was set for Tuesday,June 21,1949 at the Iredell Co.Court House at 2:00 P.M. AS a result of this investigation Louis Reid,Jr. of Troutman,N.C. was ordered held in ja@il as a material witness under $1000.00 bond pending the Coroners Jury hearing. Reid was unable to file required bond. MEMBERS OF JURY 1. A.H.Peoples — 6035 Davie Ave. Statesville,N.C. 2. M.E.Ramsey -635 Walnut St. ° 3. S.V.Brumley -N.Bost St. 4. James A. Brady -West ind Ave. 5. T.O0.Morrison -824 Cherry St 6. G.L.Travis —Cedar St. FINDINGS~ Upon examining the body of Arthur Fenory Carlton,we found a puncture wound in his lower Pelvic region about in the center. This was evidently made from a long blade knife;puncturing several smga\l intestines and in all probability ruptured the Abdominal Aorta artery. Death was due to hemorrhage. EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES: 1.Beulah Taylor, Troutman,N.C. Wife of Percy Taylor; Stated— She and her husband went to the Shyline Hotel on Saturday night,June 21,1949 about eight O'clock. She stayed about an hour. I left with Percy about nine O'clock and went over on the Hill.Said she stayed on the Hill and Percy went back to the Shyline Hotel with- out her.Said everything seemed to be all right,and that she smelled liquor on Percys breath, but did not see him take a drink.Said she did not go back to the Shyland Hotal,but later on that night she heard someone say Percy and Fenroy Carlton had been fighting.Said she went on up the street when Percy walked up.She said she was going on home in a cab,and that Percy did not say anything. Said she got in a cab alone and went home,and did not know Carlton had been cut. Said she arrived home about twelve O'clock. Said she did not see Percy again that night. Q. After you met Parcy on the Hill he said nothing? A. No. Q@. You have not seen him anymore? A. No. Q@. Didn't you tell one of these officers here that he got a cab? A. No. Q. Didn't you tell one of these officers here that he came home for about 40 minutes? A. I told them that Percy said,"He is dead". g-. Then you did see him? A. Yes,he came home for about 40 minutes. When he came in he said, "Beulah,the boy is dead." Q. Did he pack any clothes? A. No. Q. How did he leave? A. I don't know how he left. Q. Did he change clothes? A. I didn't see him change. Q. Vhat was he wearing? A. Wearing black coat,brown shirt, gray pants,and he had on a grayish hat. Page #2. Q. When he said the boy is dead,did you know who he was talking about? A- I thought it was Fenory. Q- Did you hear anyone say who was on the front porch when they were fighting? Ae No. ‘ Q. Did Percy have the habit of paying attention to other girls when he was out like that? Ae Noe Q- When you were at the dance hall,why did you leave within an hour? A- I don't know. Q- Why did you leave? You must have had a reason. A. It was too warm,that was the only reason I left. Q- Did Fenory ask you to dance? . A. No,I didn't even talk to him. a. Who paid the cab fair to Troutman? Ae I aide Q. Did Percy get in the cab with you? A- No,he did not, Q. Was Raymond Bruner the cab driver who carried you home? A. Yes,Raymond Bruner was the cab driver who carried me home. Q. Did you hear any argument or see a fight that night? A. NOs. (All) “Ww Raymond Bruner-638 S.Center St. City-Cab driver-— Stated: He did not kmow Fenory Carlton,Beulah Taylor nor Percy Taylor, but on Saturday night,June 28,1949 said this lady,who he idenified as Beulah Taylor and some man hailed him and the man said to take them to the Cabbins -in-The —Pines,then the man changed his mind and said to carry them to Troutman,then changed his mind again and said,"Take my wife home*. The man got out of the cab and paid me $1.50. Q. Wassthe woman near enough to you for fem to hear what the man said? A. Yes,she was right beside hin. Q. Did the woman say anything while she was in your cab? A. Yes,she said she was not going out with the man again because he was acting crazy. Q. Did the man in the cab act odd to you? A. He sure did.No man can get in a bab and ride 50 feet and change his mind three times without being odd. Q. What time was this when they hailed you? A. It was somewhere aroung 11:00 P.M. I took her to Troutman and got bach in town about twelve. (All) ~ Bill Lackey~ Rt.#2,Hiddenite,N.C. Works at Statesville Flour Mille- Stated: we Do you know Arthur Fenory Carlton? A. No. Q. Do you know Percy Taylor? A- Yes,I knew Percy Taylor. Q. Did you know his wife? A. Yes,this is about the second time I ever saw her. Q. Did you see Parcy Taylor Saturday night,June 18,1949? A. Yes. He stated this story: : He and another boy had been out riding and had pullin in a service station for some gas.Percy Taylor came up to the car and asked if he would do him a favor. He said he would,and Parcy got in the car. & policeman came ip and stuck his head in at the window and asked Taylor "Are you Percy Taylor?" Taylor replied,"NoI'm not*. Then the police— man asked if Taylor was in the car.He replied no. The policeman then directed his attention the the rear seat and said,"You look like the man I'm after". The boy replied that he was not the man and the polic-— eman Walked away. Q. Did Taylor saya anything on the way to Salisbury? A. Yes,he had done messed up. Said he had cut a fellow. Q. Did you ask him who he had cut? A. No,I was scared. Q. Where did you pick up Taylor and what time was it? A. It was at the railroad station about 2:45 A.M. Sunday. Q- Did you know anything about the fight? A. I didn't know nothing about the fight,because I had just come in to town.We and some girls had been out riding. Q. How did Taylor appear to you? / A. He seemed to be all right until the policeman came up,then he started talking lots and smoking a lot. Q. Had he been drinking? A. I don' know. Q.Where did you carry Taylor? A. To the bus. station in Salisbury.We got there about 5:45 A.M. Page #8 Q. Did he have a suit case with him? A- No,fe didn't have anything? Q. Did he have a knife? A. I didn't see a knife. (ahi). | “Louis Reid,Jr.—Troutman,N.C. Works for B.C.Ostwant-Stated: He know Fenory Carlton very well. When he saw him at the Skyland Hotel Saturday night,June 18,1949 he was standing at a table and later on he went out the front door. In a short while I went out the door and met Fenory coming back in.He said,"That boy cut me",and painted toPercy Taylor and his wife who were going down the street. He said he. thought Carlton was kidding,until they went down the steps and he (Carlton) fainted and fell. He ran to call an ambulance but the place (Rutledge & Bingham) was closed. He was calling the police when an ambulance came up. He went to Long's Hospital with Carlton in the ambulance. He was dead when they got to the hospital. VERDICT: ® We,members of the Coroners Jury recommené that Percy Taylor be held for Grand Jury actionin the death of Arthur Fenroy Carlton. We @lso recommend that the bond of Louis Reid, a material witness be reduced to $ 200.00. Jr. who is being held as mes 9 0 1 / pach redell County. OFFICE OF THE CORONER IREDELL COUNTY N. C. HARRY B. UNDERWOOD, M. D., CORONER NAME OF First Middle Last 2. DATE of DECEASED Benjamin S. Carlton DEATH SEX 4. COLOR OR RACE 5, MARRIED _X_ N=VER MARRICD_ 6. DATE OF BIRTH 7. AGE Male _Colored WIDOWED___ DIVORCED 3-16-1915 49 PLACE OF DEATH (a) COUNTY. (b) TOWNSHIP 9, USUAL RZSIDINCE 4redell Statesville (a) sTATE (b) COUNTY "Route 7. N.C. Old Field (¢) GTi. arededl Community TOWN Statesville (a) STREET ADDRESS OR RFD NO. 309 Newton Avenue _ CAUSE OF DEATH INTERVAL BETWEEN PART I, DEATH CAUS2D BY ONSET AND DZATH IMIMDIATE CAUSE (a) Hemorrhage im ediate ANTSCEDENT CAUSES DUE TO (b) __taceration of lung DUE TO (c) | Gunshot wound PART II, OTH2R SIGNIFICANT OONDITIONS D, WAS AUTOPSY PERFORMED? YES x NO 12, RSPORT OF INVESTIGATION: See attached Coroner's Inquest. Hy (Bator Harry B. Underwood, M.D. CORONER'S INQUEST April 29, 1964 ~ DEATH OF BENJAMIN S. CARLTON NORTH CAROLINA ) IN THE CORONER'S COURT IREDELL COUNTY ) IN THE MATTER OF THE DEATH ) TESTIMONY OF BENJAMIN S. CARLTON ) This hearing came on before Dr. Harry B. Underwood, Coroner for Iredell County, North Carolina, on April 29th, 1964, at 2:00 p.m. The following were empanelled and sworn in as JURORS: T. S. Kimbrough, 772 Washington Ave., Statesville, N.C. Rev. O.D. Daniels, P. 0. Box 1524, Statesville, N.C. George Tatum, Route 7, Statesville, N.C. Walter Marsh, Route 7, Box 396, Statesville, N.C. George McCullough, Route 7, Statesville, N.C. Joseph Chambers, Jr., Rutledge-Bigham Funeral Home, Statesville, N. C. T. S. Kimbrough was elected to act as Foreman of the Jury. THE CORONER: The inquest hearing into the death of Benjamin S. Carlton is hereby opened and the following men in the Jury please stand. (Jury is sworn in). The following witnesses please stand in front of the Jury: Robert White, Capt. H.P. Lackey, R.E. Perkins, J.C. Rumple, Dr. R. L.Dame, Ray Garland, Charlie Whitner, Mrs. Alice McDowell, Mrs. Mary Johnson, John L. Boyd, W.S. Best, B. H. Johnson, Mrs. Lillian Patterson, L. A. Harris, y: P. Davidson, W. J. Carson, T. K. Knox, Robert Rary, Charles D. Wiggins. (Witnesses sworn in). RoBERT WHITE, after being first duly sworn, testified as follows: ' EXAMINATION BY THE CORONER: Q. Please state your name, A. Robert White. Q. Where do you live, A. Old Field on the Wallace Spring Road. Q. On or about April 23rd, did you find the body of Benjamin S. Carlton? A, I did. Q. Under what circumstances, A. Well, when I was coming from work and drove up in my car, I saw the top of a white car parked out at the end of the road, and when I got close enough, I discovered — his body lying over to the side of the road, so I didn't go down any closer becuase I didn't know if the man was living or dead, so I went to my brother's and called z the law and we had just gotten back when the law arrived, Q. You were in your car by yourself and intthe place that you usually drive, ™ A, Always. Q. You hadn't gone out of your way and you could see the car. A. Yes, Q. Does the Jury have any questions to ask Robert White. A. No, Q. Does anyone have any question to ask of Robert White, OLIVER T. DENNING (Attorney at Law, 117-A, East Third St., Winston-Salem, N.C.) Q. How close to the body did you get. A. I stood on the bank and he was on from the road, Q. Anyone with you. A. I was by myself, 4 CORONER: You didn't get down to the road or any where near the body, A. No. Q. Any other questions, Page Two H.C. LACKEY testified as follows: CORONER: Please give you name and position. A. H. P. Lackey, Captain,Statesville Police Department, Q. Capt. Lackey, you were called to investigate in the case of Benjamin S. Carlton? A. Yes, The call came to the Palice Department and in turn we called the dispatcher on the radio, called the Sheriff's Department. Mr. Harry Brown and I went to the scene, When we arrived Mr. White was there back from the street that had been opened up and I believe there were three other fellows standing there and Mr. Brown and I walked I would say as far as from here to the back of the building from the car and in the edge of the woods and I turned to him and said, "That's Benjamin Carlton", I walked down the incline which was about, I wuld say, four feet, and got about as close as from me to the table to the car, I didn't go to the car at all, and I saw the gun lying in the car, keys lying on the footboard beside the seat, and blood on the seat, and prints as if the deceased had stepped out of the car and had sat down, you could see prints of hands on the ground, and then got up and walked to the back of the car and to the side of the street, There was blood on the ground and he was lying with his head, I believe, pointed to the west in the little ditch, and when I got four or five feet of him, he appeared dead to me and I did not get any closer and went back to the bank ' and stood there until Mr. Perkins and Johnson, deputies, arrived. Q. The reason the deputies arrived is that Mr. Carlton was found outside the city limits, A. That is correct. EXAMINATION BY JUROURS: Q. How many tracks did you see, A. One set from the car to where the deceased's body was, Q. Could you tell how far the right step went forward to the left step. A. No, I didn't pay too much attention and didn't get up close, just enough to see, not right — up over them, Q. There was no evidence that the body could have been dragged in that area, A. No, no signs, CORONER: Does the Jury have any other questions. A. No, Sir. Q. Does anyone in the room have any question they want to ask, MRS. JACQUELINE MAXWELL CARLTON, (first identifying herself as niece by marriage to Mr. Carlton). A. I would like to know if there was any blood from the car to the 37 feet to where the body was found. A. I did not see no sign’i®= of blood from the car te where deceased was lying. CORONER: Any other questions, You are excused, DEPUTY R. E. PERKINS testified as follows: CORONER: Please give your name and position, A. R. E. Perkins, Deputy Sheriff, Iredell County. Q. You were called to investigate the death of the case of Benjamin S. Carlton, A. Yes, Sir. Q. When you arrived at the scene, could you tell me what you found. A. Officer B. H. Johnson and myself answered a call and went to the scene, parked our car and walked out to where Officer Brown, Capt. Lackey and Robert White were standing. We observed the scene, came back to the car and radioed for the Sheriff. Q. Did you have an opportunity to look at the area when you were thepe, Q. Yes. Q. Did you see any tracks on the ground. A. I saw one set of tracks. I believe Capt. Lackey and I talked about the tracks, and it began to rain and I got two blankets and covered up the body of the deceased, Q. Does the Jurg have any questions to ask Deputy Perkins, JURY: No, Q. Does anyone have any questions, MR. DENNING: What time was it then. A. It was approximately 12:05 - 12:10 when we arrived at the scene, Q. What time did you receive the call. A. Approximately 12.:05. Q. Did you at that time examine the automobile as to warmmess of the motor of hing, A. No. Q. Was that done body unier our supervision, A. No. CO. Nan? Any other Sasetinas: You aie asks ° " ai DEPUTY B. H. JOHNSON TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: CORONER: Please give your name and position. A. Deputy Sheriff, Iredell County. Q, You were called in the case of Benjamin S. Carlton. A. Yes, Sir, I was. Q. Tell me what you found when you approached the area, A. I received the call shortly after noon on this date from the local police department, Deputy Perkins and I went to the scene, We observed the scene and immediately called the Sheriff, At the scene we found the Dodge car with the left door standing open, a gun inside, and a body lying across the road from it, and we called the Sheriff's Department at that time, Q. Does the Jury have any questions, JURY: No. CORONZR: Does anyone in the audience have any questions, You may be excused, i \ Page Three SHERIFF CHARLIE RUMPLE TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: CORONER: State your name and position. A. Charles Rumple, Sheriff of Iredell County, Q. On or about April 23rd, were you called in the case of Benjamin S. Carlton. A. Last Thursday at 12:20 p.m, I received a telephone call at my home, Q. Could you tell me what you did from then on, A. As a result of talking to Deputy Perkins, the first thing was to tell him not to let anyone near the scene, I immediately called for SBI Ray Garland, who lives here and does my photography work when he is here,and found that he was in Newland, so I called the Police Department and asked if they could get Chief Myers to go make some photographs, I called Mr. Garland by telephone in Newland and stated the nature of the case and asked him to come at once, and then I went to the scene. When I arrived there I saw this car, a 61 Dodge four door sitting up against a bank on a dead end street. We later measured and 37 feet from that point was a body lying on his back. At that time I didnot know who it was and I then recognized Ben, as I have known him for years, so Mr, Kimbrough was there, and I asked him if or anyone had notified the family, and the Rutledge & Bigham ambulance was called, So someone said the family had been notified, I learned at that time, In a few minutes Mr. Chambers and another man came up in the ambulance, Chief Myers made series of photographs, The Jury of six men were there, and Dr. Came arrived at the scene, I talked with the six men, who are in the jury box, I asked them not to s touch anything, but to come up and examine the car and the scene, At the time I arrived a heavy downpour of rain had washed out the tracks and the car was cold at that time. ia After Dr. Dame and the Jury had observed the premises, then the body was moved to the funeral home with the instructions that it not be touched until the doctor and the agents of SBI arrived. We made careful examination of the premises and tried to ascertain if there had been anything dragged, and, in view of the rain, footprints were obliterated, It was sandy surface and new ground, I then called a wrecker from Carolina Motor Company. The car was locked - I took the keys and locked the car and we had it stored at Carolina Motor. Prior to this Rev. Harris came and brought Michael, the son of the deceased, I asked the young son if that was his father's gun. He said it looked like it, and then he said that it was his dad's gun. Then he got in the car with Rev. Harris and left, CORONER: Before we go ion, are these photographs a true picture of what you found at the scene. A. Yes, Sir. (Jury identifies photographs as an exact representation of what they saw at the scene), Q. Is Jury satisfied that photographs are a good representation, A. Yes, Sir. CORONER: We continue, please, SHERIFF RUMPLE: The car was pulled to the right side of the road, The right front door opposite the driver was locked and the back door on the right was locked and couldn't be opened from that side. Someone in the group told me at the time that the right front door was broken, The front door on the driver's side was standing open. The shotgun was lying across the footboard of the car and on the right of the driver's side was a small brief case and a tablet and some other papers covered with blood, and on the floor- board opposite the driver's side, blood had splattered down into the footboard and across the dash were two or three drops of blood. We locked the car, and the deceased body was lying on the back to the right 37 feet, as stated prior, and there was a puddle of blood on the ground at the feet, and it was poined out to me that he had walked in that direction and had fell or laid down and then had gotten up from that position and fell or laid down with the blood under a portion of his legs - no blood under body lying there - legs and over to ehr gith. He had hands up on his chest, dressed in his trousers, had on white ggmr short or partially rolled up sleeves, tie and bare-headed, no coat. I asked if anyone had seen a coat and they said there was no coat. We removed his eyeglasses and over the sun visor in the car over to the right * side was eyeglass case, CORONER: Any questions that the Jury has concerning this much of Sheriff Rumple's report, JURY: One question, did they ever find out if he left home with a coat, A, We can't find one, Several people saw him prior to this, but haven't been able to find out anything about a coat, CORONER: Any other questions: BOYCE GIBSON: Was the gun which was identified by the son the same as this one here, A, Yes, MRS. B. J. CARLTON: I am widow, My husband was wearing a gray coat that morning, or Page Four he was carrying it across the front side of the car turned right side out. He also was carrying a $10 bill, one of those rare bills that had been floating around that — somenne had given him, and he was carrying the money to the N.C. Mutual Insurance Co., and it hasn't been found, and - - —- (continues to talk but not clearly as is seated). JACQUELINE MAXWELL CARLTON: I would like to ask a question. Previous officer stated that the keys were on the floorboard, Sheriff Rumple said he got the keys out of the ignition - different set - two sets of keys? A. The photo will show the keys in the car, you can see them, same keys I gave you, CORONER: Any other questions, MR. DENNING: Did you find a hat, A. No. Q. Did.you find any evidence of movement of the body, any rolling. A. I couldn't tell that there had been any. The ground doesn't show it in the photograph. It was dry under the body. CORONER: Any other questions. I will excuse you now, but will call you back later, DR. ROBERT L. DAME TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: CORONER: Give your name and position, A. Robert L. Dame, surgeon, Davis Hospital, Q. Onor about April 23rd, while I was out of town were you acting as Coroner in my absence, A. Yes. Q. You were called by the Sheriff concerning the case of Mr. Benjamin S. Carlton. A. Yes. Q. When you arrived at the scene of the accident, what did you see, A. Well, I saw the car that has been described parked at the right hand side of a road that was a circle at that point. The left front door of the car was opene, All the other doors were closed, On the floorboard lying across the door sill under the steering wheel was a weapon, the one that is in the box here, with the stock toward the center of the car and the muzzle lying across the door. On the seat of the car was a cushion that had slid from the other side, or apparently - appeared to have slid. There was an assortment of papers and books that I did not examine at all. There was blood on the floor to the right of the hump that is in the floor of the front seat. There was some blood on the dash. Outside the car right opposite the rear door nearly was a puddle of blood which measured about a foot in diameter. There was no other blood on the ground outside the car. The glove compartment was open and the contents were in dis- array and I did not examine any of the contents, Across the circle formed by the road were blankets that were found to be covering a body, I looked on the ground for blood and for tracks, I wasn't able to see any. it was about 1:30 when I got to the scene, When the blankets were removed from the body, the body was dressed in trousers and white shirt and necktie, The front of the shirt was covered with blood. There was dirt on both knees and on the top of foot, if I recall, right foot. There was some blood along the side of the right trouser leg and the body was lying on its back, Q. Are these yixckurmaxanxexac photographs an exact representation of what you saw at the scene. A. Yes. Q. You then directed the body to be removed to a fumpral home, A. Yes. Q. At the funeral home you performed an autopsy. A. Yes. Q. Who was present. A. Sheriff Rumplé, Mr. Garland, and Mr. Garland had an assistant with him who does photographing, the mortician who is on the jury helped me, and there may have been a deputy, but I don't recall, Q. What did you find at the autopsy. A. There was a hole in the skin of the left side of the chest, that is, to the left of the midline as you look at the body, and it was situated about 3-4 inches to the left of the midline, a little above the nipple. The skin surrounding the hole was charred, dark brown in color. On the left side of the chest just below the arm pit, the tissues were swollen and there were a few fragments of black and there was the blueness that comes from bruising, This is what could be seen without touching the body at all except to move the arm. A. How large was the opening. A. The skin opening on front of the chest, - no greater than an inch, less, about 3/h I would say, and the area of charring around it was one or 14 at least in diameter. Q. Upon looking at that wound and considering it to be a shotgun type,the size of that wound could only be caused if the muzzle of the gun was very close to the skin, is that what you would say. A. Yes, just from the hole itself, it had the appearance of having been caused by one missile father than by several, CORONER: Continue, DR DAME: We opened the chest and when the chest was opened, we could find a tract 5 almo irect_ st t th Bre eee Ras Set been esol bed te*The Sther See eet Belge CON Aone Eee ceed \ Page Five / the chest cavity, passed first from right to left and upward and slightly toward the man's back, We estimated that the angulations were roughly 45 degrees upward from the horizontal and backward from the horizontal table top. The wound investigated or the structures that were injured were first of all about 4th and 5th ribs to begin with, the muscles that lay over them and the skin that has already been described. These two ribs were specifically one-third the central one*third. Each rib had been shattered in only tiny little pieces, each piece no larger than 4 inch in length and for all practical purposes they were gone, Upper love of the left lung had a tear init. The tear was 34 x 24 inches in diameter at least. The chest cavity itself contained about 2,000 c.c. of blood, roughly two quarts, of liquid blood, Mr. Garland wanted the wound on the skin as a specimen and this was removed and given to him. He wanted a specimen of blood and this was also given to him in tubes,and he wanted the use of the pellets that we were able to obtain. The pellets were obtained by making the wound in the arm pit under left arm pit so that we could inspect that wound or the area there, We only took 3 or 4, 5 at the most, and by feeling I could feel some more, I haven't any idea how many more there were, Q. Was there any evidence of any other organs being injured by the shot. A. No other organs other than those that Ihave mentioned, The heart and large blood vessels were not involved, Q. Is this a good representation of the wound as you saw it. A. Yes (Dr. Dame inspects photographs). (Dr. Dame makes diagram on the blackboard to show relationship of the heart and lungs) CORONER: There seems to be a question as to whether a perfon with this type of wound could walk 37 feet. What is your opinion, A, I don't think there is any question about it at all. Q. You believe the cause of death was what. A. Bleeding from the injured lung. Q. That im this case the death didnot occur instantaneously following the gun- shot wound, A. This is correct. Q. We ascertained yesterday how long it took for a person to walk at an average gait a distance of 37 feet, did we not, A. Yes. Q. And how long did it take. A. 10 seconds, Q. With a small opening in the chest wall, the bleeding over a period of 10 seconds, that is, the amount of blood that can come out of that wound in 10 seconds, would it be very great under these circumstances, A. No, The blood that would come from the wound would have been from the muscles underneath it and from the skin and perhaps a small amount of it from the lung as bleeding occurred and not a great deal of blood would have come through a wound that small. Q. Therefore, it would have taken some time for the blood to collect in the chest and come outside, probably. A. Yes. %Q. Could xm the amount of blood that came out in 10 seconds been absorbed by the man's clothing in an upright position. A. I think so, yes. Q. Does the Jury have any question to ask, JURY; Doctor, you speak of this charring around the wound, what would be the cause of that in medical terms. KA. I used the word as only describing what I saw, but not as necessarily having anything to do with the cause of that. JURY: What I was trying to establish, I was thinking maybe of powder burns, CORONSR: We will hear evidence concerning what that wound was later, Any other questions from Jury. MR. DENNING: If he could have got medical attention after the shot, had enough damage been done to caused eath. Could he have been saved had he been medicated after the shot. A. That would depend entirely on how long he lived after the shot. CORONER: You are womering that if the man was shot and someone saw him, could he have been saved, Dr. Dame and I can say that it is possible that he might have been saved if he had had assistance in a relatively short veriod of time, Others have survived this kind of wound, May I say this, and I am speaking as a doctor also, that many people have survived chest wounds involving the lungs, if not so, we would not have many servicemen who are walking the streets today. It has been found if you can get to a certain man who has sustained such a serious injury, a large number can be saved, MR. DENNING: You said he did walk 37 feet, or he wall found 33 feet from the car. Do you think that with a wound like this he would have sufficient strength to open a door, or would you say the door was open before he was shot, A. He could have opened it himself, Q. Would this wound render him in any ways unconscious mentally as to what he was doing after the shot. A. But it is not likely. It might have caused him to become unconscious for a short period of time and then revive. Q. Did you find charred guothang arpund the Mount notewoktih ERing wae the blood. WS didnot Sven now ee that Page Six time where the wound was, We didn't learn that until I saw the body at the mortuary, so I don't recall any charring on the clothes, It might have been there, but I didn't see it, CORONER: We will present these findings at a later time, Are there any other que stions. MRS. JACKQUELINE M. CARLTON: I want to know - I believe I remember correctly, that there was blood found outside the car, A. Yes, Q. You said from the type of wound that it was that it was not possible for blood to come from the wound and there was blood out- sidé the car and no blood for 37 feet. A. Well, any answer would be speculation only. You have to understand that the wound as we see it (Dr. Dame sketching the wound on the blackboard ) -- if a person is standing erect, the diaphragm is the bottom of the chest cavity lies considerably below, closely to the field from where the wound is on the chest. This makes the chest act as a large reservoir. Now it is concievable, if we are allowed to speculate, that the one moment when he was outside the car he may have coughed and during that cough he may have forced a certain amount of blood through the wound and it made a puddle, and it could be that he stood for a few minutes and some dropped from his clothing or from the wound, Any of these possibilities are good. Q. May I go back to earlier testimony, I believe Capt. Lackey said when he examined the ground it looked as if he had sat on the ground outside the car and looked as if there were handprints. It thatnot what he said in this first testimony? A. Therefore, if he had been sitting on the gwound, it is possible in my opinion that blood could have come directly from the wound and clothing. CORONER: You are excused, SHERIFF RUMPLE RESUMES TESTIMONY: CORONER: Recall Sheriff Rumple, please, (Mr. Rumple takes the stand). Would you please now give an account of what happened during the investigation following this point, A. Upon the arrival of Mr. Garland,the other agents, we went to the Carolina Motor Company, processed the car, examined the car thoroughly on the inside, opened the back trunk, examined it, and accumulated this evidence and took it to the office. That was immediately transmitted by carrier under the instructions of Mr, Garland to Raleigh by two deputies, properly labeled and on its way. From that point on the other gentleman and Mr. Garland will have to say as to what was done. Then Mr. Garland and I went back to the scene numerous times and started search for someone who had heard or seen something, and as result of our investigation about 10 o'clock that night we went to the home of a colored lady, Mrs. Alice McDowell, She had already retired for the night and she got up and told us that she had seen the deceased person that morning, and, of course, she is in the room and can give her evidence, The next day we went to the home outside of Statesville and talked to another colored lady, Mrs, Mary Johnson, and these two ladies live within a block and a half of the scene where we found the body. As result of talk with Mrs. Johnson, she told us same story that the other lady had told us. We went back to the car and Mr. Garland again searched, and in the back, this car was full of real fine dust, and the gun was covered with that. We talked with Michael, the young son of the deceased, his mother, in the sheriff's office, and talked to them separately, and Michael told us that, when we questioned him about the gun, his mother said he didnot own a gun or if he did she didnot know nothing about it, and Michael told us that his father had bought this gun about six months ago and he did not want his mother to know about it and he always carried it in the trunk of his car, and I asked him if he had at any time seen his father have the gun out of the trunk, I asked the wife if she had ever seen the gun and she had not. I asked if he had any anmmmuminition and she said he didn't, It had not come out at this time, but they found one shell in the car that had come from 410 gauge shell with a figure 6 in the end. So I talked with Michael in presence of Mr. Garland and other agent and he said some shells were in his mother's bedroom in chest of drawers, and I told him we would have to have them to examine and asked if he could accompany Mr. Garland to get the shells. So they left the sheriff's office and some 30 minutes later Mr. Garland came back with a box of 410 gauge shotgun shells, same colored brass head on it and a 6 in the end and all of that went to the State Technical Lab, and they were obtained from the bedroom of the deceased's wife out of the chest of drawers. We then talked Cee eee eE eee Mg Barrer ei She Sout TORR S,ScewOR KET Of thes secepRed aes + and Page Seven we also talked with his immediate superior, Mr. Booker, He came to Statesville and talked with us for two hours and Mr. Garland about two hours in the office Thursday night and we talked about his accounts and other things and he said that on Wednesday prior to this that he required all agents to call his office in Winston-Salem and give him certain figures which he put on the working sheet of Wednesday and then on Thrsday at 9 o'clock these agents were to come in and file accurate report with him. On this Wednesday he couldn't get in touch with deceased, called Mr. Chambers at funeral home downstairs and asked if they had seen the deceased, that he was trying to get int ouch with him and could not and he came to Statesville to find him and see what was wrong and why he hadn't given report, As result, he learned what had happened. The other witness, Mrs. Patterson, xmakxk can tell you some things that were said about the report. We questioned Mr, Booker about his books and he said up until that week his books balanced, but maybe the witness will tell thathe was havingtrouble with his book and that she assisted, They had an agreement about going to Winston on Thursday, and this particular week Mr. Carlton insisted that it was her time to use her car, I believe, and he wanted her to go on without him and he insisted that he was going to bring his report that morning | and he had certain things he wanted to talk with Mr, Booker about. She went on and came back and bookwas still there in the office and Mrs, Patterson later found out what had happened, and that is about all I know about it, CORONER: Any questions of the Jury to Sheriff Rumple, JURY: Mr. Rumple, during all the investigation have you found any evidence or motives of foul play. A. That is the first thing we did. We have done everything that I know to do. We have here together close to 100 years experience, the benefit of SBI agents, the technical laboratory of state of N.C., and we have worked night and day. We have learned as result of our investigation and statements of the members of the family and have told his wife that the only mtive or reason would be that he owed money and was behind on payments. We have been told that he owed one person in this town excess of $500. and that it was past due, and that he had asked his son to keep that a secret, that he didn't want his wife to know about it, and that he had given him on one or two occasions the money to make these payments, As a result of the investigation and t alking with the son, I was told a that about 3 o'clock in the afternoon on this day that the deceased was found that he, theson, had called one finance place and the lady there answered the phone and he asked what his dad's balance was and the manager overheard the conversation and when he asked th-lady when he was going to make the payment, and as a@ result the manager called the asked when he was going to catch up the payments and Michael then advised him to the death of his father, There were other similar evidences of debt obtained by the SBI and I will let them tell that. The only motive, if you could call it that, would be due to the heavy indebtedness of the deceased, I have known him for 25 years myself and know he was a good man, hever heard anything against him in my life. Sometime back he had a nervous condition and was admitted to Kate Bittings Hospital in Winston-Salem for observation for two weeks and the only motive would be depressed, and I do know that I had a call from the GMAC representative asking that I hold the car after it had been stored, I advised that I could not unless a court order was obtained, I asked the wife, and she would be the last person on earth to know, if she would think . he would have a girl friend and maybe he was obligated, and, of course, the wife didn't know, but I think the motive would be depressed and worried would be the only thing I know about his house payments, car payments and other bills, if that answers questions x the best I knowhow to do. CORONER: Any other questions: MRS. JACQUELINE MAXWELL CARLTON: I don't understand or cannot see how owingS00 or more and a car payment would worry - most of us owe more than that, and I Bek see how a debt of $500 and an overdue car payment would depress a man, CORONER: May we finish the testimony - only questions, please, Any other questions, You are excused, RAY GARLAND TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: (After Mr. Garland takes the stand, CORONER states: Here may I make an announcement that for the rest of the hearing those in the courtroom just limit remarks to questions - no observations or arguments. Any one at end of the testimony wishing to take oath of office and testify will be given the opportunit CORONER: Please give name and position. Page Eight { MR. GARLAND: My mame is Ray Garland. I am a special agent with tle SBI, State Bureau of Investigation. Q. Did you investigate the case of the deceased, Benjamin Carlton, on the 23rd of April. A. On the 23rd of April I was in Avery County on another investi- gation and received a radio message to contact Sheriff Rumple by telephone, which I did, and he requested that I return to Statesville as soon as possible. Upon arrival at Statesville, I met the Sheriff at the office and from there we went to the Rutledge- Bigham Funeral Home, Upon arrival at the funeral home back in the preparation room I first saw the body covered in a sheet. When the mortician removed the sheet I saw a colored male approximately 49-50 years old. At that time the colored male was dressed in a white shirt, tie with shirt sleeves rolled up. He had a belt, wearing gray rants, blue socks and brown shoes. Photographs were made by Agent Boyd with my assistance of the body as it was then. During that examination it was noted by the investigating officers that an amount of blood covered the front of the shirt and part of pants. On the left side of the shirt was a dark circular area and a hole in the white shirt. From there the clothing was removed from the body and the blood washed from the body by the mortician who was in attendance, The body had some blood along the right side of the face and nose, The head, face, the arms, hands, body and legs were examined for scars, bruises, and none were found by the investigating officers. However, there was a wound on the body four inches to the left of the midline-and two inches above the level of the ; nipple, The wound consisted of approximately 3/h of an inch in diameter surrounded by larger black areas. From there, of course, Dr. Dame arrived, and an autopsy was performed in the presence of myself, Agent Boyd, Sheriff Rumple, the mortician and Dr. Dame. So during the autopsy I asked Dr. Dame to obtain for the purposeof the investi- gation the tissues surrounding the wund, also blood sample to be taken from the body and any foreign missiles that may be in the body, and obtained by Dr. Dame was the tissue surrounding the area, two vials of blood samples and some lead pellets, The evidencewas identified by Dr. Dame and later myself and sent to the State Lab by one of Iredell County deputy sheriffs, From there we went to the crime scene, which is located out at the south border of Statesville, out Boulevard and then off to the right on another hard surface and from that a surfaced road known as the Old Field Section ,which is a colored section. There is a newly created dirt road which turns to the left. After traveling that road for a short distanc., another road bears to the left and on to the right. At the end of this road is a large round turn around, an area, dead end, it was pointed out to me two places: One where the car was sitting and where the body was found, Dry spot was on the ground where the car was sitting and from the blood spot where the body was found from the car measured by myself and some of the other officers was 37 feet exactly. From there we came back to the Carolina Motor Company and found a 61 white Dodge four door car. At the time I saw the car it was locked at the Carolina Motor Company, so we got the car back in the light where we could see and Agent Boyd and my- self started processing the car for fingerprints or any facts that it might reveal. At the time I saw the car in the front seat of the carwas a 410 gauge shotgun lying in the front part of the car with the muzzle pointing toward the left of the car, That is the gun that is in the courtroom now. On the seat itself were several books and papers and a brief case and on some of these papers was an amount of blood. We also noted blood splatters or smears on the floorboard, Several spots of blood were on the dashboard of . the automobile. The glove compartment was open at the time we saw it, contents disarrayed, the papers on the front seat had been disarrayed and the brief case was not fastened, but open. In all that time all the doors were locked, I went to the right side of the car and tried to open the right side and was informed by Mr. Booker, who is the staff members for the N.C. Mutual Ins. Co., that door wouldnot open except from the inside, Examined the trunk of the automobile and in the trunk of the auto was a set of chains, spare tire. Nothing in the back seat. We processed the autombike for fingerprints and also processed the 410 gauge shotgun for fingerprints, There were several smudgesnoted on the gun. The gun was extremely dusty. The fingerprint smudges were in dust, however, no fingerprints could be obtained from the gun, and from then on, of course, Sheriff Rumple and myself started to interview witnesses who are in the courtroom now, CORONER: Does the Jury have any questions. JURY: Could he have used the gun on himself, A. Yes, From Benjamin Carlton's arm pit to the tip of his fingers was 27 fm inches, The agent who was working with me has an arm length shorter than that and he can reach the Page Nine trigger easy. (Agent shows courtoom how it would be possible for the gun to be fired hy a@ person of his arm length). Q. We understand that he was sitting in the left front seat at that time, A. Yes, he was sitting in the left front seat of the car at that t ime, 2odooodtmm as shown from the blood in the automobile, CORONER: Any other questions, JURY: Mr. Garland, I understand you were present at the autopsy. Did you find any efidence of powder burns, hat he was shot at close range. A. Hewas shot at extremely close range, We have our ballastics man in Raleigh and also Agent Boyd is here, and the tissues that were taken out by Dr. Dame and placed in formaldehyde and sent to Raleigh. We were not able to get any fingerprints at all, beca se the finger- print is made by the oils and salt in the skin. At the time I saw the gun it was covered with dust, There were many smears and smudges, but we have to have ridge and in dust those ridges disappear, CORONER: Anyone have any questions, MRS. BENJAMIN S. CARLTON: It seems to me - then you could find no fingerprints, but I always felt that if a person is planning to take his life and for that reason would grip very tight and have left a fingerprint. Another thing I will ask you about, you said he could go down across this field in 10 seconds, and it seems to me that the foot prints would have been deeper if ..... CORONER: Just limit your remarks to questions andnot arguments and observations. You will have a chance to be placed on the stand, JACQUELINE MAXWELL CARLTON: My question is this. Did you do a paraffin test for gun prints on his hand. A. No, we didnot, MR. DENNING: Did your ballastics men find this.. cotton wadding. A. No, he did not. Dr. Dame was doing the autopsy and he did not find any, however, back in the wound was a mass of shot, bone fragments, blood clots and the debris back under the arm, but no wadding that I saw. Q. From your experience, after the gun was fired, would it humanly have been placed as found and has been testified to. A. Yes, assume no one would have bothered it Q. Would it have fallen that way or would it have kicked and jumped some other way. A. You are comparing two different things. A man that meets his death instantly - then you can rely on how the weapon was so placeg, but according to your witness, Dr. Dame, our man lived for some period of time and I don't know what he did to that weapon then. x, Q. I saw demonstration - could htat readily be done sitting behind a steering wheel. A. Yes, it could, CORONER: He was demonstrating to show that the trigger could be manipul- ated at that arm length, (Demonstrated is repeated as in car). CORONER: Any other questions, MRS. BENJAMIN S. CARLTON: You were talking about fingerprinting his hand, but wouldn't the first thing you did if you are trying to find if self-inflicted, if gun print is on it. A. There ismore to doing an examination thandoing a pa?affin test. Mrs, BENJAMIN S. CARLTON. I would love to know all the points, Ma. DENNING: Some where along the investigation it pointed it as sticide. Did you at that point go into investigation as a suicide, A. We investigate all of these cases homi- cide, that is, we start all investigations as homicide, and, of course, we have to be governed by the facts and not our personal feelings. Q. I understand that at a certain point you didnot find any evidence of a second person involved and from the would it appeared that it was eelf-inflicted. At that point did you investigate as a suicide from then on, A. We did not, and up to this point and even now we have investigated as homi- cide and it is up to the Jury here to say if he met nis death at his own hands or those of person or persons unknown, but we are only presenting the facts as we see them, JACQUELINE MAXWELL CARLTON: Sir, upon investigating, do you usually check with the immediate family at any time in a case like this - do you make contact as to general uestions or information about his activities. A. Yes, we do, but it might be within or 7 hours after the offense or it may be 6 or 7 days. It depends on how our investi- gation governs this and there is important work to be done, Q. Another thing, do you make contact with the family information as to coming here, I was told that we would be told to come in here this afternoon. A. This is incidental and isnot looking after the welfare of his family. CORONER: I informed you personally that the inquest would be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Any other questions, You are excused, SBI AGENS JOHN BOYD TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: Page Ten CORONER: Please state name and position, A. J,hn L.: Boyd, Special Agent, State Bureau of Investigation, Ballastics Laboratory. Q. Did you do a ballastics examination in the case of Mr. Benjamin S. Carlton. A. Yes. Q. Will you please tell me the results of that examimation. A, Examination showed that the weapon was fired in contact with his body and that it was #6 shot which were removed from the body. Q. Does the Jury have any questions concerning this examination, CORONSR: Of course, you mean prior to contact with his body the barrel was flush across the chest at the wound area being covered by the shirt and undershirt, across the breast surface when it was firedA. Yes, CORONER: Any other question by the Jury, A.-What do you mean by a contact wound, A. Heavy concentration of powder on the immediate araa of the wounds themselves and the flesh into the wound with nojpowder at the point of penetration on the clothing over the wound, showing that it was all brown inside, @. Anyone else have a question ' concerning the ballastics examination, MR. DENNING: How do you arrive at conclusions that this was the gun that was used, A. I have no way of determining that. This was the gun brought to me. The difference between a revolver and this type gun, in a revolver you can say it came from a certain gun, but this one you can't. Q. How do you determine that it was placed across the body. A. To do gun powder test on the body and the visual examination of the material , in the wound, Qj. Did that tell you that it was placed across it. A. This says it was placed against.it. You can say this can be very accurately determined, almost within half inch as to the range of the weapon by the powder pattern on the clothing and heavy concentration of powder in the wound and charred flesh around the edge of the wound shows us that it was a contact wound. Q. Since you can definitely establish that he was shot point blank, that is, in contact, does that mean you can tell the gauge of the gun. A. You can get a very good idea as to the gauge. The hole in the piece of skinand wound itself was very much in favor of being the caliber of this weapon, but a larger weapon, Paulg evo di impossible for shot not to go through him that close. A. No, CORONER: CORONER: Mire Your Hane ana ABsHCLEQ"S*,, witiiam S. Best, analyst with S.B.T. Q. Did you examine blood specimen sent to you in the case of Benjamin S. Carlton, A. I did, I did a blood alcohol analysis and found specimen not quite one hundredths of one percent blood alcohol. Q. Were any other tests made by you. A. Just grouping of the blood and blood alcohol. Q. What would be the situation of the individual having a blood alcohol this type. A. It would have verylittle effect at this point. Q. Therefore, this wouldnot have any bearing upon the actions of the individual. A. Of course, I cannot give medical testimony, but I would think not, Q. Were the blood analysis that were sent to you the same type. A. I only examined one tube of blood. CORONER: Any q questions from the Jury. Q. What percent did you say. A. Slightly less than one hundredths of one percent, which isnot significant. CORONER: You are excused, MRS. ALICE MCDOWELL TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: GORONGR: Please give your name and address, A. Mrs. Alice McDowell, Route 7,Statesville. Q. Did you see Benjamin Carlton on the morning of April 23rd. A. Yes. Q. What time. A. Around about quarter till ten. Q. Where did you see him. A. I was in my front yard work- ing and TZ» happened to look up and he passed, He had one hand on the steering wheel and the other one on his chin and just throwed up his hand. Q. He was in hisown car. Is this the same car that you saw him in (showing witness photograph). A. Yes, Sir. Q. Did you notice anything unusual about him - you have seen him before I presume - how was he dressed, A, He just had on a white shirt with his cuffs up and necktie and that is all I saw. Q. Did he act any differently that day from any other time that you had seen him, A. No. CORONER: Does Jury have any questions to ask, JURY: Which way was he headed, A. Down Wallace Springs Road. Q. Was anybody with him, A. By himself. Mr. DeNNING: How fast was he driving. A. I would say he was going 35 mph. Q. You live outside the city limits. A. Just right outside, Q. How close were you to him. A. I would say about as far as (points). Q. And he waved at you. A. Yes, and he was driving with one hand on the steering wheel and picking at his chin and throwed up his hand. Q. How far is this from where the car was found, A. About a quarter of a mile from where I stay. Q.What time was it. A. 9:45. Q. Anyone else in the yard. A. My neighbor was in her yard, Mrs. Johnson, CORONER: You are excused, MRS. MARY JOHNSON TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: \ Page Eleven CORONER: Please give name and address: A. Mrs. Mary Johnson, Wallace Springs Road, Route 7. Q. Did you see Benjamin Carlton on the morning of April 23rd. A. Yes, I did, around quarter to ten. Q. Where did yousee him, A. I was cooking my husband's dinner and always listen to radio and that is how I get the time, and I went to the woodpile to get wood and he passed by, and he had his hand on his chin, driving slow, and he thre his hand up and I didn'tnotice himas happy as he used to wave and he did not smile this morning and wave happy. Q. Was this the car that he was in. A. Yes. ( looking at photograph). Q. How far do you live ffom the place where the car was f ound. A, about same as other lady. Q. How was he dressed. A. He had on a white shirt and I could see he was wearing a watch, @. Qnyone in car with him. A. No, I didn't see anyone in the car. If anyone in the car they may have been lying down. CORONER: Does Jury have any questions, Q. You never did see the car come back. A. No. I know him good because he had been in our home. Q. You didn't notice whebher the car kept straight ongoing. A. No. CORONER: Any other questions of Mrs, Johnson, You may be excused, MRS. LILLIAN PATTERSON TSSTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: CORONER: Please give name and address, A. Mrs. Lillian Patterson, Route 7. A. You \ were associated with Benjamin Carlton in business, A. Yes. Q. It has been said that both of you made reports to Winston-Salem on each Thursday morning. A. Yes, when we settle ! our accounts. Q. Could you tell us what happened on April 22nd and 23rd, please. A. On the 22nd, that is when we were in the office doing our reports, but on that parti- cular day Ben seemed to be a little slower than usual, He had some difficulty in his premium and I stayed and helped him to find the mistake, because it has just got to balance out, and so I left there in the range of 3 o'clock, but before that Mr. Booker called and he went to answer the telphone and after came back he seemed somewhat disturbed. Seemingly, Mr. Booker thought he should have already called our reports on account of they werehaving some type of outing and said it had been mentioned the Thursday before, but I didn't know anything about it. We sually call by 30'clock. So I had to go on to the beauty parlor and went about qusrter of four. After that I went home and cooked supper and my husband was there burning trash and after he finished we went by the office somewhere in the neighborhood of 10:30 and Ben was still there and I didn't see anything unusual in his actions, We left in the neighborhood of 11 o'clock. I said, "Ben, I'm going to leave here in the morning at 7 o'clock, what about the report?"He said that he would call me in the morning. I went on home thinking nothing else about it. On the 23rd of April about 6:30, Ben called and said he had decided to take his report to Winston himself because he wanted tot alk to Mr. Booker. I went on and got back in the neighborhood of 10 o'clock or it may have been shortly after 10 o'clock. I stopped at the mail box and then went on to the office and when I got to the office the book and report was lying on the desk, That didn't bother me, I just thought he had gone out a few minutes, so I stayed up there and read my book and then went on down to the cafe to get a sandwich. I went on back at past 10:30, still looking for Ben to come in just any minute by office on way to Winston. I just sat there and forgot about Ben until the man on the radio said 11:22. I got sim somewhat shaky then, because he could never make it to Winston-Salem by 12 o! clock. When the radio said 11:22, I got up and opened Ben's book and the report was not completed, I became somewhat disturbed and told my husband I wasn't going to worry about it. My hasband came in and I told him that I was going home, because I didn't want Mr, Booker calling me about his report. We went to the cafe and had dinner and went on to the A & P, and on my way I saw Mr. Chambers and he said he hadn't seen Ben all day, and I told him about His report on his desk. Shortly after I got home, my husband came and told me the news that he had heard, and that is all I know, Q. Any questions from the Jury. JURY: During your association with Mr. Carlton, have you ever noted he was in depression. A. No. Ben to me was a happy go lucky fellow, He never seemed to have problems, always smiling, kidding. CORONER: Any other questions. Q. Has he ever been late in filling out is report. A. Not too often. He has made mistakes on that premium before, but it is easy to write the wrong number, and if you make a mistake, it is not easy to find , MR. DENNING: Did anybody complete the report that you know of —- how didit check out. A. I don't know. CORONER: You are excused, MR. L. A. HARRIS TESTIFISD AS FOLLOWS: @ORONSR: Please give your name and position: Latney Harris, Northwestern Bank, Q. Did Mr. Benjamin Carlton have a loan at your bank. A. No, Sir, he didnot. Q. Did he \ Page Twelve have a bank account. A. He had a checking account. Q. Balance of account, please, A. The balance as of April 24th, $35.17. CORONZi: All I want to do is present a pict re of his finance account; however, if anyone wishes to question, you are free to do so, MR. DENNING: Did he make an application for a loan recently, A. No, Sir, not that I know of. He has never kept a large balance, the largest deposit was $125, During past year we have had approximately a dozen checks returned, I mean, that is, overdraft, not enough money to cover them, CORONER: You are excused, MR. C. P. DAVIDSON TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: CORONZR: Please state name and position: A. Exec tive Vice President, Bank of Statesville. Q. Mr.Benjamin Carlton had a loan at your bank, A. Yes, Sir. Q. Were his payments all made up to date. A. No.Q.What was the total amount of loan or balance, A. $524.06. Q. How many payments was he behind at time of death. A. ‘Two payments behind, Q. Any questions by Jury. JURY: How much were payments. A. $27.58 per month. Q. Had he been making regular payments on schedule. A. Not very promptly. CORONER: Any question fpom adience, MR. DAVIDSON: We had to write him a number of times about late payments, CORONER: You are excused, MR. W. J. CARSON TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: 7 CORONER: State name and position. W. J. Carson, representative, GMAC, Winston-Salem, Q. Did your company have a loan against Benjamin Carlton. A. Yes. Q. Tell me what the balance and character of payments was: A. Balance $959.58, and the payment about 30 days past due. Q.Was it true that he had asked you to hold a check at one time.A. Yes, and that check is still being held, CORONER: Any questions from the Jury. JURY: How much were payments. A. $53.31. Q. Was loan on this car insured. A. Yes. How much were payments, A. $53.31. QCORONER: You are excused, T. K. KNOX TSSTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: GORONERy Please give name and position. A. T.K. Knox, manager of Domestic Loans here in Statesville, Q. Did Mr. Benjamin S.Carlton have a loan with your company.A. Yes. Q. Would you tellme the balance, monthly payments, and if behind with payments. A. $590.19 balance, payments $26.50, two payments due, Q. What regularity for payments. A. I would rate him slow to satisfactory. MR. DENNING: Did you call him about this. A. We had called hin, but he hadn't been home and we left number. Q. Is this loan insured. A. Yes. CORONER: You are excused, ROB&RT RARY TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: CORONER: Please state name and position: Robert Rary, manager of Local Finance Company, Q. Did your company have a loan to Benjamin Carlton.A. Yes, Sir, we did. Q. What was the balance, monthly payments and was payment due. A. $521.01 balance, monthly payments $29, two payments due. Q. What was his regularity of payment. A. A little slow to satisfactory - that is the waywe rate accounts, CORQHER: Any questions. MR. DENNING: Did you call, A. I talked with Mrs. Carlton on the 21st late inthe evening. The last time I talked with Mr, Carlton wason the 4th of April when he came by my office. CORONER: You are excused MR. CHARLES D. WIGGINS TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: CORONER: Please state name and position: Charles D. Wiggins, Manager M & J Credit Co. Q. Did you have a loan with Benjamin S.Carlton. A. Yes, $66.10. He was behind at the time of his death one month. JURY. How much were payments. A. $12.00, MRS. JACJUELINE MAXWELL CARLTON: Do you give information as to whether ornot a person has an account if you received a call to this effect, say, "I am Mrs.___—s— and I would like to know if my husband has a loan." Would you have answered yes or no. A. Well, that depends on the circumstances. If I know the situation or know they are having trouble, I don't tell-to keep his good will. Q. Then, let me ask another question. Were you told in your ffice that someone called your office on Friday morning, April 24th, or do you know whether ornot your office received a call. A. You have me confused with M & J Finance Co, I got a call the 23rd, or a call was referred to me when she said some man was on the phone wanting to knowif Benjamin Carlton owed anything, and it was Michael, and I asked him the reason for wanting to know and he told me that Mr.Carlton wasdead. Q. Is your credit corporation listed in the Yellow Pages under Loan. A. No, Mam. CORONER: Isthere anyone who wishes to present any other evidence in this case. If so, we will swear in the witness, MRS. JACQUELINE MAXWELL CARLTON TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: | CORONER: Py ease state your name, A. Mrs. Jacqueline Maxwell Carlton. Q. Relation to \ \ \ Page Thirteen Benjamin Carlton. A. His niece by marriage. Q. What did you wish to present as evidence in this case, A. I want to ask because I have a statement to make relative to the reports that have been given by the representatives of the loan companies. On Friday morning we heard on the radio in an account of the death that a loan company had said that Ben owed than a debt of $550. This disturbed me quite much. It was irrelevant to me as to whether Ben did or didnot, but I don't understand how this personal infor- mation had come into the news media. I resented it very much because I couldn't stand to see my aunt humiliated and his name spread, Because I felt it quite personal, so being troubled, I had a woman friend of mine write down for me a list of every loan company in the city of Statesville, and we dialed every loan company that is listed in the yellow pages in Statesville and I asked if Ben had an account, All the loan companies that are listed in the yellow pages said no with the exception of Local Finance Company, Mr. Rary. Then I was still not satisfied, because I still wanted to know how did this infor- mation get into the public. Thcn after I had made the calls, I called back and told Mr. Rary that his was the only company that had said Ben owed them and I was ben's niece and was trying to get the information, and he said it was not customary and if the radio said it htat it was not true, because he had not made a statement. He told me that Michael called him on the afternoon that his father was found and asked if his father owed any- thing and thathe called back to find out why Michael would be interested and he told him that his father had been found dead. He further told me that Sheriff Rumple called him athis house and asked if Ben owed him an amount of money and he told Sheriff Rumple yes and Sheriff Rumple wanted him to tell him how much and he said he couldn't give him a definite amount and he asked if it was about $500 or more and he said yes, So then he said that he would be happy to call Mr. Allen at the radio station and find out the source of information, because he could understand why I was upset and I should be because iom= it was a personal matter, and he would try to get some information. This is the only reason I.. becaase I just worry about these other loan companies, why they did not receive a call, because I called them, CORONER: Any questions from the Jury. JURY: You heard this on the news, A. I heard it on the radio Friday morning. I imagine everybody in Statesville also heard it. CORONER: Anyone else who wishes to present evidence in this case, ! CORONER ADDRESS2S THE JURY as FOLLOWS: CORONER: I wish then to charge the Jury as to the eviience presented and then have them render a verdict. I think there is no question as to the fact that Mr. Benjamin S. Carlton's death was due to a gunshot wound in the chest. A decision mst be made as to whether this was self-inflicted or whether it was inflicted by a person or persons unknown. We have had no evidence or no other person involved in evidence presented, Now to show it was self-inflicted we have the following evidence: The deceased went to the place in which the tragedy occurred in his own car and he was last seen alone. Investigation has revealed no evidence of anyone else being in that area until reported by the first witness, The weapon which inflicted the fatal wound belonged to the deceased, It was proved that he had ammunition in the car and at his home, The weapon was carried in the trunk of his car, It has been shown that the keys had been left in his car. The medical testimony has shown that the wound was caused from the firing from below upward, as demonstrated, the actual injury being in the lung, causing hemorrhage and not immediate death, as would have been the case if the heart and large blood vessels been injured, With this type of injury it was possible for the deceased to walk 37 feet prior to death, The evidence further points to the fact that the deceased was sitting in the left front seat when the incident occurred, Analysis revealed that the muzzle of the gun was against his chest, the butt of the gun mst have been on the floorboard on the right. With the gun in this position, it has been showed that the deceased could have fired it in that position, It has also been pointed out the deceased's unusual business activities. The last person who saw him alive noticed a change in him and this could have been the result of distress over his financial situation, To support a verdict of death being at the hands of a person or persons unknown, we don't have any evidence, He was last seen alone in his own car, It would have to be assumed that he had made arrangements to meet someone at the scene or someone came upon him accidentally. There was no evidence Page Fourteen of a struggle, Since the evidence shows that in all likelihood the weapon was fired in the car, it is difficult to assume that another person fired it at an angle, as the person would havehad to be. If the weapon was fired from the outside, the direction of the wound would most likely have been traversed downward and inall probability would not have been a contact wound. A person is probably not going to stand still and let it be done and no evidence has been established to this effect, Please consider evidence as presented and return with a signed verdict as to the true opinion conerning the cause of death of Benjamin S. Carlton, JURY DELIBERATED FOR SIX MINUTES, VERDICT: DEATH CAUSED BY SELF-INFLICTED GUN WOUND. T.S. Kimbrough, Foreman Rev. O. D. Daniels George Tatum Walter Marsh George McCullough Joseph Chambers, Jr. py ia 29 April, 1964 We, the undersigned members of a coroner's jury, investigating the case of Benjamin S. Carlton, do hereby find that the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. OY, HI Chel 29 April, 1964 We, the undersigned members of a coroner's jury, investigating the case of Benjamin S. Carlton, do hereby find that the cause of death was due to a gunshot wound, inflicted by a person or persons unknown. IREDELL COUNTY OFFICE OF COUNTY ACCOUNTANT STATESVILLE. N. C. in the investigation in the death of George R. Carlton. He met death in a collision with a motorcycle and a truck which was standin. parked in the Northern limits of Mooresville. No inquest being necessary. ¢5,00 for investigation and $3.20 for transportation Yh Mire Ne. D, Tomlin Coroner North Carolina, Iredell County. In the matter of Mose Allen Carpenter, 3 #¢- decegsed. Be, it remembered, that on the 25th-day of November, 1944, 1, N. D. Tomlin, Cormer, of said county, attended by a jury of good and lawful men, viz.; J. E. Deitz, Sam L. Laws, R. W. McBride, Cecil “ackey, Ralph T. Holmes and E. M. Davis — by me summoned for thé purpose, according to hw, and after be- ing by me duly sworn and empaneled, at Statesville, N. C., did hold an inquest over the dead body of Mose Allen Carpenter, 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 jury find as follows, to-wit: Tat the deceased, Mose Allen Carpenter, came to his death as a result of a fall inside the jail when he fell against a hinge which struck out from the metal door and chrushed his Skull causing him to die almost instantly. The dead man had an open knife in his hand when his hand was removed from his pocket. This inquest was held at the Johnson Funeral Home and adjourned at 11 p.m., Saturday, November, 25th, 1944. — This the 27th day of November, 1944. Signatures of jury attached hereto. Inquest held and record signed in the presence of -_ a Med de oner of irede Witnesses; Carl Kirkman Sam Freeze Sam McCrary Je C. Shoemaker The Ab port d_ gt 11 ep i eRe Oe CHas. M. JOHNSON STATE TREASURER RALEIGH April 28, 1944 Mre Ne De Tomlin Statesville, Ne Ce Dear Mr. Tomlin; This letter is to solicit your active support and influence in behalf of my candidacy for renomination for the office of State Treasurer in the Democratic Primary on Saturday, May 27. Under the constitution, the State Treasurer is a member of the Council of State and the State Board of Education, and by law, he is Director of Local Government, Chairman of the Banking Commission, Chairman of the Local Government Commission, Chairman of the State Teachers and Employees Retirement System, and a member of several other boards and commissions, the function of which is of vital interest to the general welfare of the State. The Treasurer makes the investments for the State Sinking Fund, the Retirement System, the Postwar Reserve Pund and all other investments authorized by. law, all of which amount to several millions of dollars annually. I feel that my experience and knowledge of the finan- cial and investment field qualify me to continue to render real constructive service to my State. In asking your support for re-election I pledge to you and to the people of North Carolina the same untiring and sincere services as rendered in the past. noerely yo BE ia CORONERS REPORT IN CASE OF: R.C.CARPENTER, Deceased Sept.5,1949 Belmont Community, Statesville,N.C. Male ,Negro,Married,Age 29 yrs. FACTS IN THE CASE: The deceased was found by members of his family Sunday Sept.4,1949 laying on a cot in his bed room with blood coming from behind his left ear.He was taken to H.F.Long Hospital in an unconscious cond- ition,and the following day he died. Iredell County Sheriff's Dep't. confined his wife,Lola Mme Carpenter in the County jail charged with the homicide. FINDINGS: Elia Mae Rucker,who is employed at Mitchell College ,Statesville N.C. stated she was on the porch of the house when she and Bessie Rucker, and her husband R.T.Rucker heard two dull “Thuds".They ruched into the room occupied by R.C.Carpenter and his wife and found the dec-— eased on the cot. His wife,Lola Mae Carpenter admi/ted to the Coroner and Sheriff C.B. King that she,"Had a funny feeling in her head and just wanted to hit something.I took the hammer and hit R.C.on the head but did not mean to hurt him.* OPINION: The wife of the deceased has been a mental patient in Middlesville, Georgia and has spent about a year in that instatution. As she admitted the act,no inquest was thought necessary,and she was ordered held in jail without bond,for Grand Jury action in the next term of Superior Court. The body was released to Rutledge & Bingham eral Home Statesville, H.C. Ze anes E.Me ,coroner Iredell County 16 June 1954 State of North Carolina. County of Iredell. Mrs. Ruth Anne McDaniel Carpenter, 38, 525 East Broad Street, Statesville, H.C. came to her death at Baptist Hospital, Winston Salem, N.C. at 7:30 PM 14 June 1954 due to Bilateral Subdural Hematoma caused by a fall in her home at 11:30 PM Wednesday night 9 June 1954. Dr. F.L. Carpenter, M.D. and Surgeon, husband of the deceased, and Mrs, E.S. MoDaniel, mother of the deceased stated that Mrs. Carpenter fell in her bedroom striking her head on & night table. Dr. J.B. Henninger, M.D., and family doctor of the Carpenter family ordered Mrs. Carpenter removed to the Baptist Hospital for treatment and Dr. Eben Alexander, M.D. and Surgeon attended her there. An autopsy on the deceased was observed by the undersigned at the Baptist Hospital, Winston Salem, N.C. on 14 June 1954. No inquest was necessary and death was due to home accident. Mbt r Coroner, Iredell County. Jum ivce Fertu riMe = GLE Re CK WARS State of North Carolina. County of Iredell. Paul Revelle Carr, c/m, 53, 226 Charlotte Street, Mooresville, N. C. came to his death at 1:00 PM this date in the west yard of his home, death being due to myocardial failure. Members of the Mooresville Police Deaprtment were present, and the undersigned was called by Cavin Funeral Home. Sheriff J.C. Rumple and the undersigned investigated, and no evidence of foul play noted, and no marks were upon his body, just lying upon his back in the yard next to the wood pile. No inquest necessary. Marvin W. Raymer Coroner, Iredell County. February 9, 1960. State of North Carolina County of Iredell. Robert Daniel Carr, 3 months, colored male, 628 Ashe Street, Moorgsville, N.C. came to his death at about 4:00 AM this date due to pneumonia. The parents, Robert Lee Cary, and Dorothy Carr, stated that the child had a history of a common cold for two days, was unattended by a Medical Doctor, and was found dead in bed at 8:00 AM this date. Chief Lloyd Shumake called the undersigned, and no marks or evidence of foul play noted. No inquest necessary. Marvin W. Whi ym Coroner, Iredell county. - December 20, 1959 State of North Carolina. County of Iredell. Reece Carruth, 44, colored male, Rt 7, Box 359, came to his death about 8:30 AM this date due to a coronary occlusion as ob- served by Dr. W.M. Summerville, Pathologist. Sheriff J.C. Rumple and the undersigned investigated, and found that Carruth was brought to Iredell Memorial Hospital DOA by Johnson Ambulance, that the deceased was found at the coroner of the colored cemetery by James Pearson, who fouhd the deceased in the mud ditch on the west side of the driveway next to the SW corner telephone pole. The Sheriff and undersigned were of the opinion that body should be autopsied for cause of death, due to community and circumstances. No inquest necessary. HPbvioas Lt af Marvin W. Raym Coroner, Iredell County. Report of the Investigation of the death of Nora Catheri ne Yarson Nora Catherine Carson, age 4 months, was found dead at the home of her parents at avout 4 o'clock Saturday morning, March lst. The child had some kind of bronchial troubdle but the parents did not think the chile was any worse than it had been. They had not had a doctor with the child. No inquest was held as there was no evidence of any foul play. This call came from the Johnson Funeral Home. This the 3rd aay of March, 1947. Investigation of the death of Mary Elizabeth Carter. Mary Elizabeth Garter, 7 years of age, who was crushed to death under the wheels of a truck driven of Eric C. Seaman of Henderson, N. C. There was a half dozen or more who were eye witnesses the scene. It seems that the little girl and several other girls were playing ball near the Rowan line on the Ed Powers farm, when the little girl ran out into the road after the ball and under the truck. Officer Rarl Rimmer of Mooresville made an investigation of the accident before I arrived in Mooresville. © accident occured about 12:15 Octover Srd. From all of the evidence and after talking with Mr. Seaman he did all he possible could to avoid the accident and - Mr. Seaman was allowed to go on home. An inquest was deemed unnecessary. Thks the 4th day of October, 1938. Wolo, a Coroner of Iredell County. Repert ef the Investigation ef the death ef Mrs. S. S. Carter Mre. S. S. Carter, Reute #1, Salisbury,N. C., suffered a Streke abeut seven years age. Yesterday she was breugkt te the Davis Hespital fer treatment but was dead upenm ar- rival. Ib was reperted that she had had gnether streke abeut twe heurs befere gke'was:breught te the hespital. Tae abeve infermation was furnished by her sen, P. Le. Carter ef Reute #1, Salisbury. Ne inquest was deemed mecessary and mene was held. Tais the 29th day ef Nevember, 1946. Fore Na. § CORONER'S REPORT OF PERSONAL INVEST IGaTIOL County: Iredell CaRe to. AF-A. eee as NPE Ae! emep Stee BOT Date: 7-6-1968 ONE Le NO OR APTS oN nD Ee Report of death was received vy we at 11245 PM o., July 5, 1968 _ oe. ‘vem _Inedel1 County Sherrift's Department _ ai a ce ae rane who Teperted the following Lacts condensing thedebhhs- es That a beat accident had eccured en Lake Nerman Near Brawley's Scheel in the Seuth End ef Iredell County and that ene persen had been killed. (Four e riding in a 14ft Larsen with a 65HP Mercury Meter traveling from eet Fish Camp West teward Goat Island én lake Norman, struck the secend piljas frem the seuth side which egeer oe abeut 30inches at the water level. (Four Pilings suppert the bridge) The driver ef the beat James Alfred Cartin was killed instantly. The ether eccupants received cuts and brusies and enly ene was aidmitted te the hespital at Meeresville, The bedy was pinned in the beat which was surmerged except fer the bew end. Upon inquiry and investigation, I found tue following: (4) Mune of deceased James Aitred Catia sgn hD 6-15-1928 Aditresa: __P. 0. Bex 62, Landis, MW, C, ex: Male Kacey Mhite Nex’. of kin? Mrs, Bya Miller Cartin 2 AVIS AR OTS PRR Fo ry 86> OR eo Ue Apne cman Acdiwsns Py O, Bex 62, Landis, Be ee ee Tite aud: phate of deathy 10250 P.M, Bridge of Rural Paved Read 1109 a ern se a pertion of Lake Norman Names and addresses of eyewitnesses: or Uw me pe Relationship: Wife ae ee Latah tiated he ahh att hee Pieke wad Pate ea tithe Te i ee P90 OIE IY AAU NORA? NeaP' 8s WL MAW Cramton: 4 Ions A? AEE ODENSE RAS CIBTSEND PR & AAI HU" AUR REE » AER AR ene O10? =): ONE OOOO CPR EF AAMT SLUMDOG PED CADE OE Erie OL OEe 1 OOnd 10! Meese 4 +e {s) Names and addresses of athar peragne: who can give information concerning the death: Mr, & Mrs, Homer Maxwell, Beute Two, Cen -.ov= Me Clyde Bassett, Route One, Peyiden, 6, (2) Conctvton of the Rody: Seymre Head. Injuriee, Chest Insurion on the Right, Side and a cempeund fracture ef the right leg. tn eee. = OORT SY SRN mk ta. Pe emne e -eOpebEe Ets $i cantante ace arrtmentt oe. rn a san seis ine Ss ona ccs os aera erin tee 20 EDA OED ECLA TY NEN DY IBA 8 AOE Ree Wh RMN O HIER BEE AIT Wt On Gretemes eee ere Gare 0 01a Or FO ACRE Ot EOE Hat nF FP ine ~* Form No. 5 (2) .Bxact location where body was found’ Under bridge abeut 15. Leet. frem where the beat hit the bridge piling. | eC, OG AN ONE Ne SF ON NO NE LR Co ee Sy Rg gs ae ee oe fh) Apparent cause of death: Massive Head Injuries ~ noe —* Pe A I pn me ee (1) Names and addresses of persous admitting criminal act or defaulsu, if any of OF OOO Oe TE LN LOONIE OT I AA ty NORE OE le tt ee ee OE ay ea EL REE ETON NE AN NE NO REE CN EY FE Ni i cay et mR te and adcresses of suspects, if any’ ata atinn etait eetitieidit ndetaiinan a died naan den ted Lanai tient iaateateal attend atin eee Laetitia idea eae a hee, ae * upon the foregoing iovestigation; I find (MEMERY {no cause (Strike ane) inquest. The inquest will be be]d on the day of__ OF 6 ew 0’ clock, at SO CE OE ORT ee os Opes — ae eee eee te reer ee ¢ _ foastiuk& county Coroner OFFICE OF THE CORONER IREDELL COUNTY, N. C. HARRY B. UNDERWOOD, M. D., CORONER 1. NAME OF First Middle DECEASED Jerry... Lynn. M W 8. PLACE OF DEATH " (a) COUNTY (b) TOWNSHIP 9. USUAL RESIDENCE ~_ilredeil Mooresville (a) STATE (b) COUNTY _ Iredell i es DOA Lowrance Hospital (c) CITY or TOWN Mooresville (d) STREET ADDRESS OR RFD. NO. 351 Kelly Street 10. CAUSE OF DEATH INTERVAL BETWEEN PART I. DEATH CAUSED BY ONSET AND DEATH PART II. OTHER SIGNIFICANT CONDITIONS 11. WAS AUTOPSY PERFORMED? YES NO_x 12. REPORT OF INVESTIGATION: Report of R., L. Warren, police officer, Mooresville: “Jerry Carver W/M/13 was in the back yard of 351 Kelly Avenue playing with his little sisters when he went off behind the garage and got onto a stack of xl's under a pecan tree, this being approx. 18 feet behind the garage building. The tree has a low hanging limb to which there was a rope (cotton) 3/8 inch tied to same. On one end it was frayed and was tied in a simple overhand k not around the boy's neck. Being on this stack of loose x's it looked as if he might have lost his footing when some of the stack shifted, the boy lost his balance and fell from the stack of hx\'s with the rope around his neck. The attending (Dr. Taylor) physician pronounced the boy dead at approx. 4:50 p.m. at Lowrance Hospital. Death resulting from suffocation, having a fractured neck and rope burns. Dr. Underwood was notified by Sgt. Barlow by telephone." I viewed the boy's body on 10-3-66 at Cavin's Funeral Home. It was evident that he had rope burns around the neck. There did not seem to be any evidence of foul play as determined by the investigation. Death was ruled as accidental. arry nderwood, M. D. March 3 » 1960 State of North Carolina. County of Iredell. Noel E. Casbier, 43, white male, came to his death at about 5300 PM this date due to lacerated brain due to shotgun blast to head, death being sudden, Sheriff J.C. Rumple, Deputy Marshall Maness and the under- signed went to the Compton Motor Company, Mooresville, N.C., where the deceased committed the act in his own auto at the back of the parking lot on the front seat of his car. The deceased, an insurance agent of Lenoir, 350 South Mulberry Street, had $59.00 dn money upon his person, and same was given to Courtney Cavin, Cavin Funeral Home, witnessed by Chief Lloyd Shumake, Sheriff J.C. Rumple and the undersigned. The deceased had auto trouble out highway # 150, and a wrecker had pulled his auto to the garage. No inquest necessary, and death was due to self infliction. Marvin W, Lo Coroner, Iredell county. Feceived of marvin y raymer coroner pf siredell county $$$$ $59.00 removed from the body of noel elwood casbier, 350 s mulberry street Lenoir, 3NC 3rd march 1960 —-2-3-GO + LEOEE cavin | | PEO Ca STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 30 August 195) State of North Carolina. County of Iredell. Tony York Cash, 17, 439 South Tradd Street, Statesville, N.C. Came to his death this date at 2:15 PM this date due to Acute Ischemic Infarct of right ventricle, and right main coronary artery congenitally stenotic as checked by Dre FeWe Dick who performed the autopsy. Coroner's dury consisting of CM. Gabriel, Fred E. Herrin, Curlee S. Thomas, John D. Kyles, Dwight Myers, Mack We. Sharpe stated "We the Coroner's Jury in the case of Tony York Cash at Statesville, NeCe 30 August 195) hereby find that Tony York Cash came to his death due to a congenital heart disease and that James’ Franklin Perry did not cause his death by slapping him three times. We hereby find no probable cause for grand Jury action. Enclosed is the followings Incl # 1 — Statement of Grady Eugene Roland Incl # 2 © Statement of Lewis Edward Kale Incl # 3 — Statement of Janes Franklin Perry. Incl # = Autopsy report of Dre FeWe Dick. r Coroner, IredellCounty. ORGANIZED 1847 STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 30 August 195) Grady Eugene Rowiland, 212 East Bell, son of Frank James Rowland stated — "I didn't see it, Tad Kale told me he handed gun to Frankie Perry, then Frankie could take it to Mr. Kale's home, gun was Jack Kale's to spart with. Frankie tried to hand gun to Tony Cash and Tony wouldn't take gun and he laid it on his shoulder. Tony put his hands on stock to Jay gun down and when he did, ti hit Frankie Perry on neck and cut his neck and then Frankie sort of jumped at Tony Cash. Tony said he didn't mean to scratch him and then Tony walked up street to Mr Kale's porch and Frankie walked up to Tony and grabbed his shirt and ask what he had said regarding remarks. Tony said don't stretch my shirt md Frankie would not let go and asked e slapped Tony two 0; three times. Tad said he laid down across the street. Tony was crying after he laid down and we thought he was playing. Tad, Frankie and myself, we waited about 5 minutes, Tad and Frankie went over and he was real white ami lips were odd color. Tony said nothing after he cried. /s/ Grady Eugene Rowland Witnessed: Marvin We Raymer Nathan Ne Smoot, Jr. Ralph Me Hoovers ORGANIZED 1847 STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 30 August 195) Lewis Edward Kale 15 1/2, 146 East Bell, Statesville, NeCe sm of B.Be Kale, Stated — We four, Kale, Frankie Perry, Gene Rowland and Tony Cash were down at branch shooting BB rifle. Brother, Barner Clark Kale's rifle, came up to top of Mr. Kale's driveway. I handed Frankie the gun, now you can go put it upe He ananded, 346g Fone Fe A oe atSs Eoin pin aomiand PE nie PPahiee SR ths” necke This made Frankie mad and he gumped up at Tony and Tony said he did't mean to hit Frankie. Then Tony walked up the walk to the street and he said something, but I did not understand what he said. Frankie went up and got him by the shirt and asked him what he said and Tony told him to quit stretching his shirt. Frankie did not turn loose of Tony and asked him what he said againe Tony started hitting Frankie. Then Frankie slapped Tony about three times and Tony said to get out of his way. Then Tony walked across the street amd called Frankie a dirty name and then he lay down and started crying. He aayed there a little while md we decided to go over and see what the matter was. When we went over, Tony was face down and we turned him overe We thought he had fainted and had seen him faint before and thought we could bring him too. Then Gene went dom and got Mrse Cash and Tokie came up, that's Tony's sister. We carried Tony down to her house and put him on her couch. We tried to make him come too, and found out that he was not breathing. Laid him on floor md gave him artificial respira~ tion. Dre FeWe Dick came. /s/ Lewis Edward Kale Witnessed: Marvin We. Raymer Nathan Ne Smoot, JYe Ralph Me Hoover STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 30 August 195), James Franklin Perry, 1), 217 East Bell, Statesville, NeC. son of Frank Perry, Jr. Stated — "At the beginning, me, Tad, and Tony were walking up Mr. Kale! driveway and Tad handed BeBe gun to me and told me to t&e it up to the house and then I offered it to Tony and he didn't take it md I set it on his shoulder and Tad said he pushed gun back towards me and gun cut me across necke Then I jumped at him but I didi not hit him, because he said he didn't mean to hit me with the gune Then Tony walked up towards Mr. Kale's porch and said he should have knocked — and that's all I heard of sayinge Then I ran up to him and grabbed his shirt and ask him what did he say? Then Tony told me to take my hand off his shirt. Then he hit me with his fists, only time I felt it was on my shoulder. I slapped him two or three timese Then he said get out of dam way. Then he walked across street and he said another curse word. Then he laid down on curb and started crying. We three thought he was just acting. Then we waited 3 or minutes on Mr Kale's porch and we went over where Tony was layinge Then Gene went to tell Tony's sister, came up there and then she called for her mother. Then she came up and ask us to carry him down to the Cash home and we laid him on couch, then we laid him down on floor to give artificial respiration. Dre Dick came, called ambulance and it had not any oxygen, called Rescue Squad and Police. I knew the Cash Boy was sick and this fainting has happened two or three times before. I was mad this afternoon, but not mad enough to loose my head and hit him with my fist. /a/ James Franklin Perry Witnessed: Marvin W. Raymer Ralph Me Hoover Nathan Ne Smoot, Jre OFFICE OF THE CORONER IREDELL COUNTY N. C. _ HARRY B, UNDERWOOD, M, D., CORONER NAME OF First Middle Lrst Year » DECEASED__ Stella Williams Cashion DEATH 22 64 SEX 4, COLOR OR RACE 5, MARRIED. NEVER MARRIED. . 6, DATE OF BIRTH 7. AGE Bs We WIDOWED "x DIVORCED le 51 891 73 PLACE OF DEATH (a) COUNTY (b) TOWNSHIP 9. USUAL RESIDINCE Iredell Statesville (a) STATE (b) COUNTY iwsCe-. iredell Davis Hospital (c) OTT Yor TOWN Troutman (a) STREET ADDRESS OR RFD NOs Route .1 F CAUSE OF DEATH INTERVAL BETWEEN PART I, DEATH CAUS=D BY ONSET AND DZATH IMMDIATE CAUSE (a) Rupture of mesentery of small 26 hours ; intestine ANTSCEDENT CAUSES DUS TO (b) Abdominal injury. DUE TO (c) PART II, OTH2R SIGNIFICANT CONDITIONS Occlusion of right iliac artery is \4AS AUTOPSY PERFORMED? YES R=SPORT OF INVESTIGATION: The deceased was brought to Davis Hospital on November 20, 1964 at approxi- mately 5:00 p.m. I attended the patient while she was in the hospital. “he was treated for shock and observed for internal injuries. Within 24 hours she developed an occlusion of the right iliac artery. Since this seemed to be life threatening and she also had some abdominal pain, the patient was operated upon to try to relieve the occlusion of the right iliac artery. This was not possible. The patient's condition gradually deteriorated and she expired. Autopsy was performed and it was found that in addition to the acute obstruction in the right iliac artery the patient had multiple lacerations of the mesentery to the small intestine with intraperitoneal hemorrhage. Police investigated the accident. The deceased's car was struck by a car driven by Johnny Mack Brown as he backed out of the driveway onto the road way, the car striking the right side of the car driven by Mrs. Cashion. Her car skidded off the highway and crashed into a tree. Police were hold- ing Johnny Mack Brown for failure to yield right of way and manslaughter. No inquest necessary. 1B. faalecer M.D. OFFICE OF THE CORONER IREDELL COUNTY N. C. HARRY B, UNDERWOOD, M. D., CORONER NAME OF First Middle ost 2. DATS of Month DECEASED John Henry Cass DEATH ... + 2g SEX 4, COLOR OR RACE 5, MARRIED x NEVER MARRIUD. 6, DATE OF BIRTH 7. AGE Male White | |§_ WIDOWED___ DIvorceD a Pat 509h 2 268 PLACE OF DEATH (a) COUNTY (b) TOWNSHIP 9. USUAL R&SIDSNCE _Iredell =—=——<—s—sés<‘ nic Gre )~=s (8) STATE (b) COUNTY N.Ce. Iredell ve OR RFD NO, Route 1 CAUSE OF DEATH INTERVAL BEYWEEN PART I. DEATH CAUS2D BY ONSET AND D2ATH IMIDIATE CAUSE (a)__ Laceration of the brain. ____.. _ immediate ANTSCEDENT C.USES DUE TO (b) Gunshot wound DUE TO (c)_ PART II. OTHSR SIGNIFICANT CONDITIONS »» WAS AUTOPSY PERFORMED? YES R=SPORT OF INVESTIGATION: I was called at approximately 9:30 p.m. eG euee tte Charlie Rumple to pec ceee to the home of John Henry Cass. en I arrived the body of - Cass was found on the kitchen floor with the haad blasted open. There were brains and skull scattered around the kitchen as well as blood. There was even a piece of skull in the ceiling. The wife, Mrs. John Henry Cass, stated that Horace had come home about 7:30 p.m., as he usually did once a week, and the family was talking. Mr. Cass was drinking and he kept going in and out and became more under the influence at all times. He argued with his wife, called her nasty names and threatened her to leave home. Horace told his father he was being a little rough and said he guessed he would go and the mother said, "I'll go along with you." Horace went out the screen door of the kitchen first and the wife next. John mumbled and reached for the gun. His wife said, "Lord, Horace, he's got the gun." Horace turned and grabbed the gun and the gun went off. Horace then called the law and the second time called the ambulance. The son, Horace, corroborated the story of the mother. A Coroner's Jury was a hener ec? including the following men: F. M. Speece of Union Grove; Clifton Stack, Route 1, Olin; James White of Union Grove; Harper VanHoy of Union Grove; Eli Osborne, Route 1, Union Grove; and HKoyal Wooten of Union Grove. The Jury observed the scene of the crime, talked with Mrs. Cass and Horace Cass. They then went into conference and returned the ruling that the death was due to a gunshot wound accidentally inflicted. nderwood, M. D. 1 June 1956 State of North Carolinas. County of Iredell John Marvey Cass, 24, white male, Union Grove, R.i.D. 1, came to his death at 6:00 All 5/27/56 due to broken neck and brain Jecera- tion due to auto wreck. Deceased was driver and onhy psssenger of vehicle, 1951 Ford coach NC CZ 3544 going north on Warren Bridge Road about 1 mile north of Union Grove. Deceased was killed instantly. Deceased had right arm and right leg in cast due to motor- cycle wreck in Arkansas about one month before. Deceased had been to auto races in Winston Salem night before and was returning home. Sheriff J. C. Rumple and State Highway patrolman C.E. Gaither and the undersigned investigated end found that the deceased was driving at a terrific rate of speed, skidded out of control 714 feet, thrown over three or four times, threw victim clear of auto about 100 feet from where euto stopped. Leslie Templeton heard wreck and found deceased, slso brother eee Cass found who was travelling behind in auto left at Union ove. Reavis Funeral Home picked body up and ordered to bury. No Inquest Necessary. Coroner, Iredell county. Report of the Investigation of the death of Odos Cass of Union Grove Township. ( Odos Cass, age 31, of Union Grove Township, died from loss of blood as the result of a knife wound he received while schuffling and fighting in a ditch with Radford Cass, his brother, and R. G. Lawrence near Grassy Knob Chur ch. Deputy Sheriffs Henry Shuford and W. W. Woodward and Patrolman Reeves were with me on this investigation. We were unable to determine which of the two fellows cut Odos Cass. There were no other witnesses to the tragic scene. We deemed an inquest unnecessary and none was held. Dry Myers was called but Odos Cass died before bhe doctor could reach him. Dr. Myers said he died from loss of blood as the result of the wound he received. This happened on Sunday afternoon, May 25th, at about 5 o'clock. This the 27th day of May, 1947. bs pL~N\ Coroner Report of the death of Otho Cascaddon, of Shiloh Township Otho Cascaddon, 15 years of age, and son of A. A. Cascaddon of Shiloh Township fezl from a tree in the woods near the home, and broke.his neck killing him instantly. Two or three other boys were with the Cascaddon boy when he fell. The accident occured - Saturday afternoon, October 6th, at about @:3S0 o'clock. Sheriff Morrison was with me on this investigation and we deemed an inquest unnecessary as it was a clear case of accidental death. This the 8th day of October, 1945. li. 12. OFFICE OF THE CORONER IREDELL COUNTY, N. C. HARRY B. UNDERWOOD, M. D., CORONER Noe 66-1] NAME OF First Middle Last 2. DATE OF Month Day Year DECEASED Otis Clifford Cass. DEATH 1 2 66 SEX 4. COLOR OR RACE 5. MARRIED NEVER MARRIED x 6. DATE OF BIRTH 7. AGE Male White WIDOWED _ DIVORCED SS 9-12-6 19 PLACE OF DEATH (a) COUNTY (b) TOWNSHIP 9. USUAL RESIDENCE redell Statesville (a) STATE (b) COUNTY Iredell Iredell Memorial N.G, Hospital (c) CITY or TOWN Union Grove (d) STREET ADDRESS OR RFD. NO. Route 1 CAUSE OF DEATH INTERVAL BETWEEN PART I. DEATH CAUSED BY ONSET AND DEATH IMMEDIATE CAUSE (a) Gunshot wound of chest 2_hours ANTECEDENT CAUSES DUE TO (b) DUE TO (c): PART II. OTHER SIGNIFICANT CONDITIONS WAS AUTOPSY PERFORMED? YES NO_x REPORT OF INVESTIGATION: I was called at approximately 3:45 a.m. on 1-2-66 by Dr. Wesley Palmes at Iredell Memorial Hospital, who reported that the deceased had expired at Iredell Memorial Hospital in spite of emergency treatment. According to the report by Iredell County Sheriff Charlie Rumple, the deceased and a companion, Phillip Samuel Nicholson had allegedly been tossing firecrackers at the home of George William Pegram, 26. Pegram emerged from his home and after numerous firecrackers had been tossed at his home, he found Cass and Nicholson hiding in a clump of bushes. When Pegram approached the two with the shotgun, Cass jumped out and said, "Don't you point that gun at me, George." Then Cass began wrestling with Pegram for the gun and it discharged, wounding Cass. Pegram ran to the phone and summoned the ambulance and rode with the unit into Statesville. The body was examined at Reavis Funeral Home, | Harmony. There was a gunshot wound point of entry in the left axilla. The wound apparently involved the chest and cause of death was listed as above. No inquest necessary. The B Sti heey Wy. Harry/ B. Underwood, M. D. CORONER'S REPORT STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, 0 COUNTY OF IREDELL, q CODDLE CREEK TOWNSHIP. Archie Eugene Cathey, age 46, of 114 N. Broad Street, Mooresville, North Carolina, came to his death this date due to self inflicted gun- shot wounds, in craniel caviety through oral caviety. The accident occured at 1:20 A. Me. Mr. Cathey used a 32 Revolver Pistol, and was holding the pistol in his right hand when found. He was lying on the floor of the bathroom of his heme, and was dressed in the top of pafama's, without the pants. On April 16th, 1952, Mr. Cathey was taken to the Lowrance Hospital, Mooresville, N. C. for treatment, due to an intozicated condition. Dr. Creighton examined him at this time, and also after his death he was examined by Dr. Wrenn. Mr. Cathey returned home on the afternoon of April, 17th, 1952. Archie Eugene Cathey was the owner of the Cathey Auto Supply Co., Mooresville, N. C.. He was single, and made his home with his sister, Mrs. Connelia Kendrick. On the morning of the 18th of April, 1952, Mrs, Kendrick, gave her brother, Mr. Cathey a glass of milz. She nothiced at this time that Mr. Cathey was very nervous. She left the room, and heard Mr. Cathey enter the bathroom, and heard him lock the bathroom door, she went into the bedroom next to the bathroom, and heard a shot. The door to the bathroom was locked, and she dould not enter. Mr. Kendrick called the Police department of Mooresville, Ne Ce, and M Marshall Sherrill, night policeman, accepted her call. W. L. Hudspath, night policman, investigated the call. On apriving at the home, he forced the bathroom door open, and found Mr, Cathey lying dead on the floor. 3 Sheriff Rumple of Iredell County, and Coroner Marvin W. Raymer of Iredell County were called immediately, and after investigation ruled that no inquest was necesary, as the accident was a clear case of sucide.