MADISON COUNTY, NC - OBITUARY - John Coates, 7 Feb 1930
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Asheville Citizens
Newspaper Date: 2-14-1930
Microfilm page 145

Madison Man Kills Nephew
Slayer Surrenders Friday

After being hunted for several hours on a charge of slaying his nephew, John
Coates, 33, who died in an Asheville hospital at 2:30 o'clock Friday
morning, Cornelius Higgins, 55, surrendered to Marshall officers Friday
afternoon at 3 o'clock.

Coates, a farmer of the California Creek section near Mars Hill, did not
regain consciousness or make any statement after being cut by a knife,
according to nurses and others.
According to Marshall officers, Higgins appeared unexpectedly near the jail
here and stated that he had "come in to give up."  Police chief Willard C.
Rector said Friday night that the aged farmer refused to discuss the affair
except to state that he cut Coates with a knife after his nephew had
threatened him with a cross-cut saw.  Officers stated that it was a story of
self-defense.  A hearing Monday resulted in his making bond in the sum of
$3500.

Witnesses say that the two men met on the highway near their homes Thursday
evening at 6 o'clock and after a quarrel engaged in a fight.  Higgins is
reported as having used a small pocket knife, stabbing his nephew just below
the heart.
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