Subj: Your James Arthur Watkins who died 1926 in OK
Date: 7/26/03 1:38:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From:    aeberlin@texhoma.net (Nita)
To:    prsjr@aol.com



Hi
Don't know if this guy was the same guy as your James Arthur Watkins, but
the death year and county are the same. Thought someone could figure out the
Finley woman this Art was married to. There's another Watkins/Finley
combination in Missouri.

Thanks
Appreciate any information.
Nita in OK


Watkins Killed with Own Gun, Says Finley

Oct. 6, 1926 Wilson Weekly Democrat
Wilson, [Carter Co.] Oklahoma

Elmer Finley, who shot and killed Art Watkins here on Thursday morning,
broke his silence Tuesday morning for the first time since his arrest on a
charge of murder… his version of the tragedy which was enacted in the lobby
of the Mobley hotel…assertion of Finley that Watkins was shot with his own
gun. The witness declared that he and the victim … met in the lobby of the
hotel and that Watkins grasped him by the throat. Watkins then reached for
his hip pocket and drew a revolver. In the struggle over the fun, Watkins
was fatally shot, dying without making any statement. There were no
eyewitnesses other than the two participants.

Mrs. Minnie Waidner, mother-in-law of the slain man and operator of the
Mobley hotel, was the first witness…she testified Watkins and Finley engaged
in a quarrel at the hotel caused by Watkins’ abuse of herself and Mrs.
Watkins… she had called C. S. Dunavant, night watchman, to put an end to the
wrangling. Mrs. Waidner is Finley’s sister… Finley informed the court that
he had but recently returned from a hospital at Norman… susmmoned by Mr.s
Waidner on the night of the tragedy… to assume duties of night clerk,
replacing Watkins… heard sounds of scuffling upstairs… found Watkins in a
savage temper, threatening Mrs. Waidner and Mrs. Watkins… the battle, the
revolver, a .38 calibre, identified at the hearing as the property of Mrs.
Waidner, was discharged and Watkins toppled to the floor dead.