Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-09
GUN MAN TO RETIRE.
Bob Dean, Terror Of Criminals,
to Be Evangelist.
Arkansas 8hsrin 10 Determines te
Supervise Execution Of Man Who
-" Killed Marshal Before He
iTikes Up New Work.

st. Louis.-Bob Dean, known for
years as bad man" and q dead shot.
who has killed ten men In his time
and has himself been shot thirteen
times, who Is acting now as deputy
sheriff OF Mississippi county, Arkansas,
will soon lay aside his guns, give up
his duties as officer Of the law and go
forth into Mississippi, his native
county, and preach the gospel Of
peace and good will to the rough men
who have known him hitherto only as
3 man Ill to tribe with.
This change OF life and front Bob
Dean decided on Sunday night, Decem'
Der II. at the close Of three weeks
revival service conducted by Rev.
Chambers Mannering, w6os converted
Dean early in the meetings. 1t was
during the closing of the services that
the deputy sheriff arose and said that
he intended TO Ley down his pistols
and take up the Bible.
There is only one reason for the
delay. He Is not ready to assume his
role as preacher until he has closed
his career az an officer Of the law by
on ciating at the hanging OF Henry
Coates, now In jail at Osceola, Ark,
awaiting execution. Last April Coates
shot and killed Marshal r. L. Fergus
on OF this town, and so seriously
wounded Bob Dean himself that he
lay In a Memphis. Tenn. hospital for
three weeks, his life hanging by q
thread. By special dispensation OF
the governor. at the request OF SheriH
c. B. Hall, the latter oficial will re-
linauish his duty az sheriff on that &C.
casion and allow. Bob Dean to do the
banging of the man who wounded
him.
So soon az mis- ancient enemy" Is
hanged Dean will take up his ministra'
lions.
Coates was discovered few miles
from Osceola IN the act OF tying w
his boat and taking on cargo OF
whisky. Upon the officers demand 10
give himself up Coates had the boat
push off and replied with rolley Of
buckshot from his shotgun. Both Off
Gers returned the fire, their shots
going wild. The second Tolley By
Coats. however. felled Dean, and an
other and instantly killed Ferguson.
whose body pitched headlong into the
river.
Five days later the dead body OF
Ferguson was found % miles down
the river, and on the following day
came the news from the Tennessee
side that Coates had been captured.
During the trial Of Coates Osceola
cooler heads prevailed, but even after
he was found guilty and sentenced to
hang mutterings became so loud
against him that he was taken to the
state penitentiary for safe keeping
His sentence affirmed by the supreme
court and upheld by the governor, the
entire county seems satisfied that ven,
geance for the slayer OF one officer
and the serious wounding OF Bob Dean
will be properly melted out.
The declaration OF Dean that he Will
renounce his former life after spring
ing the gallows on which Coates Will
hang has awakened much local curl
osity. and that there will be an I'M
mense crowd present in Osceola when
the hanging comes of Is a certainty.
Dean declares that Arkansas shows
some signs OF returning conscience;
that the wave OF crime which has
passed over the state during the last
year has receded. and declares that
the time is ripe to follow this up, to
go forth and show people the error Of
their ways.