The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-03-20
cORONER'S INQUEST
upon THE body OF JOHN RUCKER.
TESTIMONY, AND FINDING OF THE
CORONER.
The State Of Ohio. Monroe County:


body of John W Rucker, who was sup
posed TO have come to his death bv VIC
.Ience, the undersigned, John Beardmore
j. p, in and for the Township Of Wash
in2ton in said county, then and ther,
acting as Coroner, there heing no Coro
ner within ten miles Of the place wher,
said dead body was found. The follow
ing is the testimony Of the witnesse,
then and there examined before me:
David Dougherty, OF lawful age, be-
ing duly sworn, testified as follows:
State voui name aud occups'; IN and
age and place Of residence.
Dsvid DIugberty, age. ffty-three
wears, farmer. Washington township
Monroe county, Ohio.
If you were present at Mr.. Wilcox't
store in the town OF Graysville on the
9Th day OF March, 1883. and saw any
di i'cnltv between Mr.. Wilcox and John
w. Rlcker. you may state all that was
sal and oil that wa7 done by either Mr.
Ruckpr or Mr.. Wilcox.
/ Monday, the 9th, l was ius Isaac VIII
fcox's store ting on aschair and Daniel
Cump on sitting bv my sile talking and
| Wilcox was o. the ether side stand.
ing against the counter when John
Rocker came In and walked up to Viii.
cox and asked him why he did not let
him have that corn came after, or sent
alter. Wilcox said he had prom ised
Mrs. Fisher a certain amount and would
not let any body have any corn until she
had her amount Rnckor said, have
no corn to feed, always dealt With you
and paid YOU and you might let me have
some. Wilcox said, / told you | had
none to sell. Rucker said 10 Wilcox,
you are a damned liar Wilcox says,
don't tell me that again for won't take
that Of any man, and grabbed the poker
in his right hand. stepped back about
two steps, Rucker said again, you are q
damned liar, and the words was hardly
out OF his mouth when Wilcox struck
Rucker above the left eve and above the
ear with the poker. Rucker sank down
almost to his knees and in little while
he raised up rubbing and feeling OF his
head and then stopped down and picked
up his hat, in little bit he walked up to
Wilcox and askei him wnas he struck
him for. Wilcox SAID, because you
abused me and calle me damned liar /;
| il you hal come to me and said you had
no corn would have given you corn
Rucker then said, don't want you to
give it to me, can pay for it. Rucker then
walked out. This occurred about five
O'Clock in the evening OF the 5sh day OF
March 1888, 10 the town Of Graysville,
Monroe county, Ohio. In about half
hour after the striking Rucker came
back in the store and asked Wilcox what
be struck him with the poker for. Will
cox says, you abused me and called me
liar tbres or four times and said he
would leave to people in the house.
Rucker said. you did not hurt me bit.
Wilcox said, am glad Of it and sorry
that it took place. Rucker said, II you
give me cigar We will make it up
Wilcox gave him cigar and they shook
hands and Rucker went out.
Would you know the poker with which
Wilcox struck Rucker il YOU would see
it?
think / would
Is that the pokerp (showing the Wit
ness poker
II that is it it is longer than ! thought
| IL was and the head round,
Daniel Cumpson being duly sworn
testified as follows:
State your name, age, occupation and
place OF residence.
Daniel Cnmpson, thirty-three years, s
farmer, Washington township, Monroe
county. Ohio.
Were you on the 9th day OF March,
1888. az qiainted with John W Ruckel
and Isaac A. Wilcox or either of them
Acquainted with both of them.
II YOU saw any difficulty between
Rucke, and Wilcox on the 9th day oi
March, 1883, you may state where It was
who was present and all that was SAID
and done by Wilcox and Rucker.
I did in Isaac Wilccx's store in Gravs
vile, Monroe county, Ohio, David
Dangherty for one, there might have
been more but don't remember; the frs
part of the conversation that remem.
ber any thing about Rucker. came in and
wanted to know why Wilcox did moi
sell him that corn, as near as can re.
member Wilcox said be had not it tc
sell; they went on with conversation
cannot remember: Then Rueker called
Wilcox a liar, Wilcox was sitting down
and as he got up he grabbed the poker
and told him not to do that again and
ordered him out Of the store; they wen
on with conversation don't remember
until Rucker called Wilcox liar and
then he struck him with poker on the
left side OF the head II | remember
right Racker sunk hack against the
counter, after the lick l thought tha
Rucker was kind Of crazad or stunned
after the lick. Rucker sat by the stove
and said, Isaac there is poker betweer
you and me-; after a while Rucker go
up and went oat OF the store and came
back and walked back to where Isaac
was and asked him II he bit him will
the poker. Isaas said that he did, Ruck
er wanted to know what he bit him for
Isaac said, because he thought be need
ed it or words TO that effect They made
up and Wilcox gave him stogy anc
then / went cut.
What, il env thing, was Rucker doin!
at or about the Time the blow was struck
He was talking to Wilcox is all that
remember
What vas the character of the blow
was it violent or otherHise7 State ful
ly:
It sounded like as If it WAS pretty
hard lick, don't know how much b
exerted himself in striking it.
What effect had the blow on Rucker
noticed it bleeding after the poke
! struck him. DANIEL CUMPsoN.
Charles Massie being sworn testi6et
as follows:
State your name, age. occupation an
place of residence.
Charles NJ Massie, twentv-two years
school teacher, Graysville, Washington
township, Monroe county, Ohio
/ Were you on the 9th day Of March
IQ29 arnnainta6 with John W Rncke