The Mena weekly star., 1912-02-01
TWO MEN PAY THE
MURDER PENALTY
Osceola Has Double Hanging--John
McIlvain, Who Killed Employer,
and Henry Coates, Who Killed
Sheriff, Go 10 Gal0lws.

Osceoa. Jan. 26.--John McIlvain
and Henry Coates were hanged
here this afternoon at 2
o'clock, Sheriff Hall springing the
trap for both men.
Yesterday McIlvain's father and
mother came TO see him and were
admitted to the JAIL The scene was
very affecting. They departed IN
the afternoon for their home in the
country. unable to remain in the VI
entity as the time of the execution
approached. Formerly Mcllvaln
came from Kentucky, and most OF
his relatives lived there until with
in the last few years. He was UNI
married.
Relatives of Coates also visited
him. His wife and four children
came to Osceola as soon as the con-
demned man arrived and remained
as near him as possible up to the
hour Of execution. Mrs. Coates
was with her husband in the little
river launch when he shot Deputy
sheriff Ferguson. Two Of Coates
brothers, who reside near Wheat
ley, were also at Osceola.
History of Crimes.
The crime for which John Me-
Twain was hanged was the killing
of Jake Thomas, a farmer, living
near Waraall, in Mississippi coun-
ty. He had been out hunting and
when he returned he stopped at the
barn to feed the stock for the
night. Thomas was splitting some
stovewood. McIlvain fired at him,
the shot taking effect. This was
followed by another, and Thomas
died before he could be removed TO
The house. Mrs. Thomas came To
the door Of the kitchen just IN time
10 see her husband fall. McllNain
claimed that he shot Thomas IN
self-defense, and that the latter
was advancing upon him with an
axe al the time, but the evidence
tended to show that Thomas never
got away from the wood-block
where he was at work. The trou-
BILE grew out of request made by
Thomas, who had asked McINain
to move his bed TO the second floor
McIlvain had refused to do SO, al
though he was working for Thorn
as as farm hand.
Coates Riverman.
Henry Coates was q riverman
and owned a little gasoline launch
plying between an island i'll the
Mississippi river and the Arkansas
side OF the river, in Mississippi
county. There had been frequent
complaints of illicit liquor selling
from this section, and Sheriff Hal
sent Deputy Sheriff r. l.. Ferguson
and Deputy Sheriff Bob Dean te
serve some warrants on persons
supposed TO be engaged in the bust
ness.
They went to the customary
landing on the river and founc
Coates just pulling up in his launch
He was accosted by Dean, who
knew him quite well, and was ask
ed to surrender. He declined anC
insisted on hearing the warrant
read. He said he was not the mar
wanted and began to argue Will
the officers, at the same time main
tanning reclining position IN ms
little boat and smiling at the depu-
ties.
ut looks like storm, anyway,
he said To the officers, and | mus
not leave my wife out here in TIN
river in this boat. | must take hel
back.
Ferguson told him he could no
go hack; that the warrant called
for his arrest, and he must come
He started to step into the boa
where Coates was reclining. A
this instant Coates flashed a gur
and fired the bullet striking Fer.
guson in the abdomen. He role,
from the side of the boat into thu
river and finally sank. His bod.
was not recovered for weeks.
He hurried back across the river
His ground of defense was that h'
had to shoot to protect his fam
ily."
Deputy Sheriff Dean, who wa
shot at the time Ferguson wa
killed, was taken to hospital il
Memphis, where he afterwards re.
anyapnd