Pike County GaArchives News.....Louis Henderson Acquitted of the Killing of J.L. Coggin. July 19, 1907
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Lynn Cunningham http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002535 January 8, 2007, 3:34 pm

Pike County Times-Journal, Zebulon, Ga. July 19, 1907

Committal Trial Held Monday

The committal trial of Louis Henderson for the killing of J.L. Coggin was held 
in the court house Monday. Henderson was placed under arrest on a warrant 
charging murder soon after the death of Coggin last Thursday.

The difficulty occurred in Mr. Coggin’s barn last Wednesday morning, when 
Henderson struck him four blows with a caralogue [sp] standard. He lingered 
unconscious until the following morning when he died.

Henderson remained at his home until after Coggin’s death when a warrant for 
murder was sworn out against him and he was arrested and placed in jail Friday.

The trial was held Monday before Justices T.J. Blasingame, of Zebulon, F.S. 
Drewry, of Williamson and T.Z. Jones, of Meansville. A large number of 
witnesses were subpoenaed on each side. The state began making out its case 
and only put up six witnesses. The defense relied on the state’s witness for 
an acquittal. There were no eyewitnesses to the affair. Mr. J.L. Bottoms came 
upon the scene immediately after the difficulty and said Henderson was leaning 
over Coggin’s body talking to him. The witness found Mr. Coggin’s open knife 
lying beside his body. He knew nothing of what had occurred previous. Several 
other witnesses were put on the stand, none of whom gave any light on the 
unfortunate affair. The state closed and the defendant made his statement. He 
said he was in the barn feeding the stock and asked Mr. Coggin for some money, 
to which the deceased replied and told him he would give him an order. He said 
he did not want the order (as there had been some misunderstanding about a 
previous order). He stated that the deceased began cursing him and advancing 
on him with an open knife using violent threats. He said he begged him not to 
cut him and not have any trouble but to no avail and seeing that he was 
determined to carry out the threats he reached for the wagon standard and hit 
him sevral times, he didn’t remember how many. He stated that he most deeply 
regretted the affair but was forced to act as he did in self-defense.

The state was ably represented by Col. J.W. Schell, a relative of the deceased 
and Judge E.F. Dupree, while every interest of the defendant was carefully and 
skillfully looked after by Cols. T.E. Patterson and J.M. Strickland, of 
Griffin. Each of the four attorneys made able and eloquent appeals for his 
side. The justices repaired to a jury room and in a few moments returned with 
their finding discharging the defendant.

A large number of people were here from Hollonville manifesting much interest 
in the acquittal of the defendant and for some time after the court discharged 
him he was crowded around by friends.

The defendant was raised near Concord, is a nephew of the late Dr. J.B. 
Mathews and is considered an industrious, quiet and inoffensive young man. He 
has a wife and two children.

The unfortunate tragedy is most deeply deplored by the community.

(Transcribed 6/11/06 Lynn Ballard Cunningham)


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