Randolph County AlArchives News.....Elbert Cofield arrested for the murder of Jim Allen May 26, 1926
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 January 11, 2023, 1:58 am

Anniston Star May 26, 1926
Elbert Cofield, young white man of Randolph County being held in the Calhoun 
County jail on a charge of first-degree murder it being alleged that Cofield 
shot and fatally wounded Jim Allen, negro, of Randolph County about five miles 
southeast of Oxford Sunday afternoon. According to the story told by Reuben 
Allen, brother of the dead negro, three negroes. Reuben and Jim Allen and the 
latter's wife, had hired Cofield to bring them to Anniston. When Cofield asked 
for whiskey, Reuben Allen stated, they refused to give it to him. Cofield, it is 
charged by the negroes, then stopped the car and attached Jim Allen with a 
knife. After Cofield had knocked the negro to the ground, he pulled out his 
pistol and shot him, the surviving brother declares. The negro was brought to a 
local hospital about 1:30 o'clock and died about 5:30 o'clock Sun. afternoon. 
The bullet entered the lower abdomen from the front. Cofield was arrested by 
State Law enforcement Officers W. J. Linch, John H. Draper and Chief of Oxford 
Police H. M. Burrows on the Horseblock Mountain Road going in the opposite 
direction from Anniston. A warrant was sworn out Sun. afternoon before Judge J. 
B. Holman, charging Cofield with assault. After the negro bad died that warrant 
was withdrawn and one charging first degree murder was issued. The date of the 
preliminary trial had not been set this morning. The negroes are said to live on 
the Cofield farm in Randolph County. They are corning to Anniston, they said 
because an uncle of the Allens had died in this city.

Additional Comments:
James H. Allen born ca 1892 was the son of Sam Allen & Margie Henderson. 
He was buried in Oakie Woods Cemetery, Randolph County, AL. 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/elbertco1956gnw.txt

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