Black male, born about 1875. Died at the age of about 50 on 16 March 1925 at Pensacola Hospital of a fractured skull. His last residence was Luke’s Alley in Pensacola (now under the Civic Center). He had lived in the city for 8 years at the time of his death. There was no occupation given, and no information on his parents. He was buried by T.M. Lloyd in the Escambia County Poor Farm cemetery.
While I can find little information on Louis [also seen as Lewis] Bragg’s family or origins, his name comes up frequently in the Pensacola newspapers. He was arrested, charged, and either paid fines or served time at least a dozen times between 1897 and his death in 1925, all for petty larceny, gambling, drunkenness, and the like. (It appears that – at least in 1916 – it was possible to be arrested for being a “dangerous and suspicious person.”)
His death stems from an incident involving a man named Ernest Crum [also Crumb, and Crumbs] on 14 March 1925, in which Crum alleged Bragg pulled a gun on him in an effort to rob him, and Crum responded by hitting Bragg in the head with a brick. Bragg was hospitalized but died of his injuries, and Crum was eventually sentenced to life in prison (he died after serving 7 years; see his entry here.)
I can find a Louis/Lewis Bragg in two records outside of the news articles: One entry in the 1921 Pensacola City Directory (he lived at 2201 Davis St., Pensacola); and a marriage record to Emma Jones on 5 Dec 1907. Neither of these records leads to anything verifiable regarding his life or relationships.
SOURCES:
Florida Certificate of Death No. 3630, Florida Deaths, 1877-1939. Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Regarding his death:
“E. Crum Held Without Bail: Negro Held for Attempt to Murder.” The Pensacola Journal, 15 MAR 1925, p. 8.
“Crum Held for Death of Bragg: Negro Dies From Being Hit by a Brick.” The Pensacola Journal, 17 MAR 1925, p. 8
“Death Inquiry Today.” The Pensacola Journal, 18 MAR 1925, p. 6.
“Ernest Crum Held for Bragg’s Death.” The Pensacola Journal, 19 MAR 1925, p. 2.
“Escambia County Sends Up 66 Prisoners to State Pen During Year, Records Show,” The Pensacola Journal, 11 MAR 1933, p. 3.
Regarding his life:
“In the Courts: The Criminal Courts.” The Pensacola News, 27 JAN 1897, p. 2.
“The Police Court.” The Pensacola News, 29 JUN 1897, p. 2.
“The Police Court.” The Pensacola News, 5 JUL 1897, p. 1.
“Negro Arrested Charged With Larceny of Clothing.” The Pensacola Journal, 22 MAR 1907, p. 8.
“Harry Allen Found Guilty.” The Pensacola Journal, 6 FEB 1909, p. 8.
“Four Punished for Gambling.” The Pensacola Journal, 14 MAY 1909, p. 8.
“Ten Defendants Allowed to Plead.” The Pensacola Journal, 28 OCT 1915, p. 3.
“Plea Day Held in Court of Record: Negro Who Was Shown to Have ‘Peddled Liquor’ Was Fined $50 For Selling Without License.” The Pensacola Journal, 10 FEB 1916, p. 10.
“Half Dozen Negroes Caught in Police Drag.” The Pensacola Journal, 27 JUN 1916, p. 8.
“Defendants Plead in Court of Record.” The Pensacola Journal, 30 AUG 1917, p. 3.
“Vagrants Get Jail Sentences in Court.” The Pensacola Journal, 8 JAN 1921, p. 3.
“…Arrest … Negroes In … [Gam]bing Games. [page torn].” The Pensacola Journal, 26 FEB 1923, p. 8.
“Fisherman Fined Heavily for His Battle With Cop.” The Pensacola Journal, 9 JAN 1924, p. 2.
“Intoxicated Autoist Fined $100 and Cost.” The Pensacola Journal, 13 JAN 1925, p. 8.