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Submitted: 10/4/19 • Approved: 10/4/19 • Last Updated: 4/27/20 • R209678-G209677-S3
Louisa Jane “Jane”
Feb 27, 1878 - May 20, 1959
Father: James Stafford
Mother: Kathryn Stafford
James Daniel
Jan 26, 1973 - Feb 16, 1918
Father: Henry M Coffee
Mother: Katherine Elliman
When James Daniel Coffee was born on January 26, 1873, in Illinois, his father, Henry, was 26 and his mother, Katherine, was 21. He married Louisa Jane Stafford in 1900 in Vernon, Texas. They had seven children in 15 years. He died on February 16, 1918, in Vernon, Texas, at the age of 45, and was buried in Fargo, Texas.
Cause of death;
Gun Shot Wounds.
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The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial
101 Years Ago
James Daniel Coffee-Deputy Sheriff
Wilbarger County, Tx Sheriff's Office
Between 5 and 6 p.m. on Friday, February 15, 1918, Deputy Coffee and Fargo (TX) Constable Jim Edwards went to the Oklahoma side of the Red River at the Webb Crossing in an attempt to stop and arrest bootleggers who were reported to be bringing whiskey into Oklahoma from Wichita Falls, Texas at this point. Soon after arriving on the north side of the river a car approached with it's curtains drawn. When the car stopped to pay the toll, Deputy Coffee stepped to the car and drew back a curtain. The two men in the car opened fire on the officers. Deputy Coffee was shot in the abdomen with a double barrel sawed off shotgun by Charlie Holden, who escaped. The other man in the car was arrested. Deputy Coffee, age 45, died at 3 a.m. the next morning, February 16th. Deputy Coffee was survived by a wife and five young children.
Charlie Holden, who was out on bond for the killing of Cleveland County Deputy Sheriff Grover Fulkerson, was later captured and pled guilty to Deputy Coffee's murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.
Note;
Holden's car contained 288 half pints and 120 quarts of whiskey, and one dozen bottles of beer.
Photo;
Mrs. J
EMAIL CONTACT
sharry_j@hotmail.com
Contributed on 10/4/19 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 209678