. . . I was called to examine the two bodies that were found dead on the Seaboard track just below Gilespie's Siding. I made a superficial examination and advised the removal of bodies to the morgue for a post mortem. This was done and on Monday morning October 13, 1931 I examined the bodies. Both heads were crushed, practically all long bones were broken. The bodies of bother were so mangled by the train that had run over them that I could not say definitely anything other than the train had run over them. Later they were identified as Luke Smith and Fred Chewning. Signed O. H. Purvis, M.D.
S. T. Fountain being duly sworn, says: I am the train conductor . . . He said there was a man on the track. We went back together and discovered one man lying between the tracks with his head west. I noticed that his pickets had been turned wrong side out and remarked that thus man had been dead for some time. I then put my hand on his body and he was about cold. . . I am positive that we did not kill these men as the blood was not fresh. It was cold. . . One of these men had his arm cut off and there was no blood running out. Not Blood wad running from either body. One had a very badly broken leg and one a foot cut off, and there was not blood running.
C. D. West . . .In company with Mr. Melton and Sheriff Douglas, Special Agent Long and myself in questioning Simon Boan, Lacy Putrell, John Perdue, Sidney Purvis, Ben Purvis, and John Heustess . . .stated that they met Smith and Chewning at a negro man's house by the name of McNeil. That was the early part of the afternoon. They later went up the railroad crossing and in the meantime Simon Boan had sold Smith and Chewing some whiskey that he had poured out of a half-gallon fruit jar. . . . They went to this crossing and one of the Purvis boys got unto an argument with smith and Chewing. One of them said that it was in regard to whiskey and the other stated it was about a cigarette. There was some words passed and they claimed that they did not get together they were parted by Simon Boan and Lucy Putrell. . . All of these men with the exception of John Perdue stated that they had drank out of this fruit jar. They also started that John Perdue had drank out of it. . .
Etree Cuffee Witness My Father is Paul Caffy now in Chfield jail. I was at hang out last nite. Paul Cuffey shot Elle Smith cause I seen him when he done it & ran toward the cemetery I was in the door front door of the building he was shot. When pistol fired I jumped out & ran to under door. I saw Paul Caffey & Kid Gaskin Roosevelt & Gaskr and a man I did not know. Paul Caffey had wine. . . .