Early Governors' Papers

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