The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-03-03
DEATH OF RUFUS P. REAVIS.
Foul Play Suspected and the Case
Investigated.

This community was startled last
thursday morning at the announcement
that Rufus 7. Reavis, Il we'll known young
farrner who lived near BrookstOn, this
county, had been seriously hurt between
l and O'Clock the night before in what
Is known as the Farmers Restaurant
building in Henderson. He was in town
the evening before drinking, and re-
manned here that night. At late hour
he was seen playing pool and was said to
be comparatively sober. He played
good game defeating an expert player,
| and then went out. He got supper at
the restaurant, and the proprietor,
| coored man, said he was sober and be-
haved like gentleman. Supper finished
| he went up stairs with John W. Pierce,
his two sons James Z. and John W., Jr.,
| and William Fuller, from near Cedar
Rock, Franklin county, who had q room.
| Soon thereafter all came down and it was
! later in the night, when Reavis was seen
| playing pool. When he returned to the
room occupied by the Pierces, or went
| up stairs (there are three rooms in the
| building, two of which were occupied,
but none engaged by him) is not known.
A little after l O'Clock James Z. Pierce
and another man went out to tind a pO-
ilceman and reported to officer Dean that
a man named Reavis had fallen down
stairs and badly hurt himself. Mr.. Dean
went with them to see about the matter
and III the mean time the wounded man
had been taken up and carried up stairs
and put on the bed in the unoccupied
room. 1t WAS seen at once that he was
badly hurt and officer Dean went out to
get some one to dress his wounds. The
services OF a physician were considered
necessary, and DR.. Arch Cheatham was
sent for. He found the patient badly
wounded in the head, there being three
cuts or intentions, one on the upper
frontal bone, one on top, and one on the
back side behind and above the ear. The
skull was fractured, and either wound
was OF IA character sufficient to cause
death. Mr.. Reavis remained in an I'M
conscious condition throughout the day
thursday, and died about II O'Clock
that night
Friday an inquest ives held, Capt. j.
B. White acting special coroner. An
autopsy was performed and the nature
of the wounds found to be as above
! stated. There were no bruises about the
body and the circumstances were such
as to warrant a more thorough examina-
| ton and cause the arrest of the men
whose names are given above. They
| having gone home in the mean time an
officer was sent to Franklin armed with
! warrants and james p. Pierce, John W.
Pierce, Jr., and William Fuller were ar
rested brought here Sunday night. Mon
day Sheriff kearney, of Franklin, came in
with John w. Pierce, Sr, and the evil
dence was heard before Judge Bryan
Monday and Tuesday. The facts brougt
out were substantially as already sta
ted. Witnesses testified to having heard
quarreling or scutfiing in the room occu-
pied by the Pierces, and three small blood
stains wee found in their room. For
want OF space we can not Undertake to
give all the evidence in detail. Defen-
dants were represented by Capt c. NJ.
Cooke, and the State by A. c. ZOllicoffer
and w. K. Henry. After hearing all the
evidence the Judge decided to hold Jas
7. Pierce for trial at next term OF court
Bond was fixed at $500 which was
promptly given. The other defendants
were released.
4 Deceased was well known young man
addicted to drinking too much at times
but was good natured and inoffensive
He was not q regular drunkard, and his
8 greatest fault was the fact that he drank
too much at any time. Aside from this
Rufus Reavis was good man, an hon
est, upright citizen, an Industrious. hard
: working farmer, a dutiful and affection
ate son and brother, and a kind anc
obliging neighbor liked by all who knew
him. His sudden and mysterious takinG
off is quite sad.