The Mena weekly star., 1920-11-04
CONDEMNED MAN TALKS OF QUARREL
Alvin Hughes, Who Killed Ellis Man kins. in Interview Presents Fea- ture That Was Not Touched
 Upon at Trial.

Upon his arrival at the death cell at the state penitentiary at Little Rock, Alvin Hughes, condemned mur- derer of Ellis Mankins, gave an en- tirely different account of the crime for which he is to forfeit his life on December 28.
 While in Mena the prisoner was markedly reticent concerning the crime and would not even talk to his 1attorney. Col. McPhetridge. At Lit tie Rock he told the prison authorities he and Mankins had quarreled about a horse and that the Scott county man had attempted to strike him just prior to the killing.
 Hughes is the only white man held in the death cells at the stateprison. i The Arkansas Gazette has this to say at his arrival at Little Rock;
 Ready to Die or Do Anything" Hughes is one of thos unfortunates whose struggle for existence has re- prived him of many of civilization's advantages. He barely can read or write. He says his father died when he was small boy and he had to work to sopport his mother. He appears to regard his fate coolly and stoically.
 I'm ready to die or do anything the law says for me to do" he told Gazette reporter last night. "I killed the man, but I don't know why l did lit. 1 am sorry 1 killed him" He talks in curious, hesitant man. ner. Altho he does not seem worried by the near approach of death, he gives the impression of being ab- sent-minded. At times he appears to have difficulty in recalling recent events that have happened to him and he would pause and mediate before answering simple question.
 Dispatches from Mena credited him with saying that he killed Mankins to get the young farmers wagon and team of horses. But last night Hughes told quite different story. He said that Mankins had first struck him with club.
 Clearly the doomed man has very little idea of the process of the law. Asked why he admitted his guilt on the witness stand, he replied that "my prosecuting attorney told me to"
 He was unable to employ lawyer and the circuit judge at Mena appoint ed an attorney to defend him.
 Don't Know Why I Did It."
 Pm ready to die, or do anything that the lay says for me to do," he said. q killed the man, but don't know why l did it. I'm sorry 1 killed him, but it's too late now. think I'll deserve whatever the law gives me- When asked whether he thought he received a fair trial, Hughes said, Well, wouldn't care to say. You know they run the court and after the trial the jury did what they thought was right. I have no i'll feeling against any man who assisted in con- victing me.
 He said the first trouble between him and Mankins occurred when he observed Mankins beating horse that would not go to spring for drink. q told him l wouldn't beat the horse like that, and he told me to shut up and mind my own business, as it was his horse that was being beat. That made me mad and one word brought on another, but we separated. Later we went out squirrel hunting and l thought the trouble was ended, but he walked up behind me with a stick or club. 1 then shot him. He died day or so later.
 "I went home and remained there that night. The next day left. They arrested me at Murfreesboro three days after the shooting and I've been in jail since"
 Hughes said exery one treated him as we'll as possible and if he died he will not die with any hatred in his heart for any one.
 | Hughes is married and has wife and two stepsons living near Mena. He has son by his first marriage at the home of friend in Hot Springs His mother and stepfather, Mir. and Mrs Joseph Dunbar, lived in Idabel, Ok. the last time he heard from them, he said. He said he has brother, but does not know where he is at present.
 According to officials Hughes has a previous penal record. It is said he was sentenced from Johnson county several years ago for stealing a mule He was released in July, 1919.
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