Ray County MO Archives News.....No Title September 21, 1839
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Kimberly Morgan http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000826 August 27, 2025, 6:58 am

Newspapers.com Online September 21, 1839
Cold Blooded Murder.—The last Jefferson Enquirer says—“Henry Coatmire, one of 
the convicts in the penitentiary, was shot down on Monday morning last by Henry 
Lane, one of the guard.  The ball entered Coatmire’s head just above the right 
eyebrow, came out at the back of his head, and produced death in a few minutes.  
Lane, we understand from the witnesses in the case had – no provocation at all 
for committing the said act.  He was immediately taken and tried before Justices 
Harrison and Kerr, and sent to jail to await his trial in the Circuit Court.  As 
this case has to undergo an investigation there, we forbear making further 
comments.”

Transcribed by Kimberly Taylor Morgan—Cold Blooded Murder, The Weekly courier-
Post, Sat, Aug 24, 1839, Page 2, 
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1029375818/?match=1&terms=henry%20lane, 
accessed 26 Aug 2025

A most horrid murder was committed in this city on Monday last (12 Aug 1839), by 
Henry Lane, one of the Penitentiary guards, upon the person of Henry Coatmire, 
one of the convicts, who was taken from his cell as usual and brought into the 
passage leading to the place of labor, and there without any ceremony or 
provocation shot through the head with a pistol.  Lane was immediately committed 
to jail.

Transcribed by Kimberly Taylor Morgan—A Most Horrid Murder, Jeffersonian 
Republican, Sat, Aug 17, 1839, Page 2, 
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1002048271/?terms=henry%20lane, accessed 26 Aug 
2025

Henry Lane, the Sergeant of the Penitentiary who shot a convict by the name of 
Coatmire, has been tried, and sentenced to be hung on the 14 Oct 1839.

Transcribed by Kimberly Taylor Morgan—Tried and Convicted, The Weekly Courier-
Post, Sat, Sep 21, 1839, Page 2, 
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1029375867/?match=1&terms=henry%20lane, 
accessed 26 Aug 2025


Additional Comments:
Henry Lane is the 12th civilian person to be executed in Missouri.  Articles in 
the public domain as they were written 186 years ago.  Some sources show he was 
executed on 14 Aug 1839 but he killed Henry Coatmire on 12 Aug 1839, it's more 
likely that he was executed in Oct 1839.  There are 3 articles, the date of the 
latest article is what I used.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/ray/newspapers/notitle281gnw.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mofiles/

File size: 2.8 Kb