Early Governors' Papers

Sevierville 28^th octr 1816

Sir

Enclosed is the verdict of a Jury of Inquest held on the body of John Compton By which It appears that said Compton was murdered by a certain Ellis Thomas of this County and he having fled from Justice I have thought it adviseable to forward ^it to you to enable you to determine whether it will be proper to offer the Reward authorised By law for the apprehension of said Thomas this I have delayed untill the present under a hope that he might be taken But that not being the Case & the citizens of this as well as the adjoining Counties as far as I am advised expressing some surprise that no executive notice is taken of the Case Induces me to forward the a coppy of the Inquest without further delay

Ellis Thomas is of a Dark Complexion with Black hair & Beard with Blue Eyes & a fine lot of teeth has a scar on his throat occasioned by a Cut with a Knife from a man whom he assaulted Begining under the left Ear & extending across the thoat and is quit large also a scar on the left Cheek a peice having been Cut out and one on the Right Cheek not far from the temple occasioned by the bursting of a gun has a halt in his walk from his [space] leg Being Broke which bulges Considerably on

State of Tennessee Sevier County

An Inquisition indented taken at Sevierville in the same county the 13th day of October int he year of our Lord 1816 Before me Stuard Owens Coroner of the County aforesaid upon the View of the body of John Compton then and there lying Dead upon their Oath Thomas Price, Alexander Preston Jeremiah Mathews, John Clabaugh Sentr, Thomas Locke Sentr, John Williams, Robert Lawson, John Common, William Common, Jonah Rogers, John Reed, and Anthony Lawson Good and longest men men of the said County who being sworn and changed to enquire on the part of the state aforesaid when, where, how, and after what maner [sic] the John Compton, came to his Death, do say upon their Oath that one Ellis Thomas of theaid County yeoman not having the fear of God Before his Eyes, But being moved and seduced by the instagation [sic] of the Devil on the twelfth day of October 1816 immediately after dark in the night of the same day with form and arms at the house of Stuard Owens in Sevierville in the county aforesaid in and upon the said John Compton then and there being in the place of God and of the State Feloniously Voluntarily and of his malice of forethought made an assault and that the aforesaid Ellis Thomas there and then with a Certain knife made of Irona nd steel which he the said Ellis Thomas then and there held in his right hand, the aforesaid John Compton in and upon the left Grind Joining, the lower part of the Belly of the said John Compton then and there voilently [sic] feloniously voluntarily and with malice of forethough struck and pierced and Gave to the said John Compton then and there with the knife aforesaid in anpon the left Grind Joining the under part of the Belly of the said John Compton one mortal wound of the bridth [sic] of two inches and a half, and of considerable

Depth of which said mortal wound the said John Compton then and there instantly died and so the siad Ellis Thomas then and there feloniously killed and murdered the said John Compton against the peace and Dignity of the state.

And the said Jurors further say upon their oaths aforesaid that Ellis Thomas yeoman of this county as aforesaid did wilfully [sic], maliciously, voluntarily, and with malice of forethought murdered the said John Compton in manner and form as aforesaid at the house of Stuard Owens in Sevierville in [the?] County aforesaid on the night of the twelfth of October 1816

In Witness when of as will the aforesaid Coroner as the Jurors aforesaid have to this inquisition put their Seals on the day and year, and at the place above named -

Stuard Owens Coroner (seal)

Thomas Price (seal) foreman Alexander Preston (seal) Jeremiah Mathews (seal) John Clabaugh Sen (seal) Thomas Locke Sen (seal) John Williams (seal) Robert Lawson (seal) John Cannon (seal) Josiah Rogers (seal) William Cannon (seal) John Reid (seal) Anthony Lawson (seal)

I Stuard Owens Coroner of the County of Sevier do herby [sic] Certify the foregoing [copy?] [illegible] ^is a true and correct coppy [sic] of the inquisition held on the Body of John Compton on the day and year therein specifyed [sic] Given under my hand this 28^th day of October 1816 Stuard Owens Coroner

Coroners Inquist on Jn Compton

proc. p^d. for Thomas the 1^st Nov. 1816

$100.00

said John Compton said John Compton

John Levore