The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1913-10-16
REVENGE ALLEGED INSULT
SLAYER CLAIMS DEAD MAN
MADE IMPROPER ADVANCES
TO HIS WIFE.

XII county, where he had been living
the past three years.
The story of the tragedy is told in
this mornings Arkansas Gazette, in
part, as follows:
Joe Coker, farmer living near
Olmstead in the northern part of Pu-
laski county, late yesterday afternoon
went to the home of DR.. John II. Har-
rod, well-known physician of Ohm
stead, called the physician to his gate
and, without speaking a word, emp
tied a charge of shot into the doctors
face and chest. DR.. Harrod lived just
long enough to tell his wife, who
rushed out to his side, that Coker
had shot him.
Coker, who is now in the Pulaski
county Jail, admits that he killed the
physician. He says that he commit
ted the act because he had learned
that DR.. Harrod had made improper
pIopOSdlS W MIS-. COkeT.
With composure equal to that he
displayed in the killing, Coker turned
from the gate where he had taken the
physicians life, and started to walk
to Jacksonville, II miles distant. En-
route he met farmer lad and after
telling him of his deed, engaged the
boy to drive him to town. He said he
was coming to Little Rock to surren-
der to Sheriff w. G. Hutton, but the
news of the shooting spread through
out the country and when Jackson
vile was reached Coker was placed
under arrest by Deputy Sheriffs
Quinn, Vaughter and George Mccain
of that town, who had learned of the
shooting and were on the lookout for
COker.
To the officers who placed him I'M
der arrest and brought him to Little
Rock he told the full story of the
crime and it's motive. According to
the story told, early this morning
Coker's wife, who is a first cousin of
the murdered physician, twice recent
ly, he declared, had been the victim of
attacks by Harrod.
"Once last August" he told one of
the officers, "the doctor attacked my
wife in field where she was work
ing, and again only two weeks ago he
tried to force her to take a drink of
whiskey at his home" Coker said
Harrod came to him and asked that
his wife be permitted to go to the
physicians home to assist in caring
for his children during the illness of
Mrs. Harrod. Coker said he let her
go and did not know until yesterday
afternoon that everything was not
right during her stay.
Mrs. Coker kept the secret from
him until yesterday, but he refused to
say how she sappened to tell him,
the officers declared Coker said. "He
says that when he learned the truth
from his wife he took his gun and
went to DR.. Harrod's home. AS he
approached he saw the physician sit
ting on the porch. He called him out
to the gate. When the doctor was a
few feet away, he says he shot him.
then turned away"
Coker did not know that the physi-
clan was dead until told by the deputy
sheriffs at Jacksonville.
Coker, according to the officers, is
one of the best known farmers of the
northern end of the county. He has g
reputation, according to them, foI
sturdy habits and never previously
has been under arrest. He is about
40 years old and is the father of sew.
eral children.
DR.. Harrod was born in 1880 near
Vilonia. His father was the late Dr.
George Harrod, who died 20 years
ago, one of the oldest practitioners il
Arkansas at the time OF his death
Two brothers, George Harrod ane
! James Harrod, the former residing
three miles south of Vilonia and the
latter in Denning, also are physicians
A half-brother, Grover Harrod, nov
is studying medicine.
DR.. Harrod was second cousin o
the late James H. Harrod, well-knowI
Little Rock attorney, who was kille'
here during the summer when strucl
by an automobile. DR.. Harrod is sur
vived by three sisters, all of whom
married brothers. They are Mesdame
Benjamin, James and Mathew Bostie
who reside near Vilonia. He is SUI
vived also by his wife, who was Mis-
4 Beulah Burgin of Saltillo, whom h