The Newark journal., 1920-01-29
CONVICTED OF MURDER
 AND GIVEN LIFE TERM
JIM DAVIS CONVICTED OF KILL ING AGGIE TEACHER AT RUS-
 SELL LAST NOVEMBER

Searcy, Jan. 28.-After about an hours deliberation, the jury at 11:30 I last night focnd Jim Davis guilty Of I the wilful murder of Dean Kohonkee and fixed the penalty at life impris- onment in the penitentiary. An :r1- mense crowd heard the arguments d the night session and although the case did not go to jury until 10:30 half the crowd waited for the verdict. Davis is only 21 years old. For a case of such importance the trial was put through in record time. A half day was consumed in securing the jury, A talesmen being examined. At one o'clock the defendant was ar raigned and pleaded not guilty to the charge of first degree murder. Four teen witnesses were examined, eight
 
 The testimony for the state tended to show that Dean Kohonkee lost his life as result of his calling to ac- count the defendant for using pro- fane language in the presence of wo- men and that he was stabbed without warning. The defense attempted to show that young Kohonkee was the aggressor and that the defendant slew him because of certain threats which Kohonkee was alleged to have made against the defendant short time before the former was killed.
 The interest in the case has at tracted many hundreds, who listened intently throughout the five hours of questioning and rigid cross examin- ation.
 The leading witnesses for the state were Miss Georgia Ramey, the fiancee of Dean Kohonkee, Miss Agness Sin- gleterry, assistant depot agent at Russell and J. L. Talley, who wit messed the tragedy
 Miss Ramey testified in a clear, straightforward way Though visibly affected she recounted the tragedy in which her betrothed lost his life, she controlled her emotions. She tes- tified that as Kohonkee lay dying Da- wis said if he did not die at that time he would get him later.
 The killing occurred on the night of November 30, when Dean Kohon- kee, an instructor of the State Agri- cultural School, was returning to Jonesboro atfer having spent the Thanksgiving holidays at the home of Miss Ramey in Russell. Miss Ramey, who is teacher in the public school at Moro, was leaving also. After buying their tickets they were invited by Miss Singleterry to come into the ticket office to avoid crowd of men, among whom were Davis and Hyler. Davis attempted to follow them into |
 the inner office, and when Kohonkee refused to let him enter the fight en- sued.
 Davis sat throcgh the trial without exhibiting any emotion whatever, and showing an attitude of indifference and unconcern. When called to the stand to testify in his own behalf his manner was rather defiant. In re- ply z question during his cross examination he hurled at the lawyer the counter question: Wouldn't you care if anybody threatened your life?" When asked if he thought the knife thrust would kill Kohonkee, he replied that he didn't know and didn't care. He said that he believed his life was in danger and stabbed ko- honkee to prevent his own life being taken. Later he admitted that when he made the fatal thrust Kohonkee was standing with both hands in his overcoat pockets and was making no move toward him.