Deputy Constable James Green

James Green

Deputy Constable James Green was shot and killed as he and another county constable escorted two prisoners to jail. The men had been arrested for robbing the post office at DeKoven several weeks earlier.

As the group neared DeKoven, the two suspects fled into the woods and ran to a nearby cabin where they previously hidden a Winchester rifle. As the constables were approaching the cabin one of the men opened fire, killing Deputy Green. A posse surrounded the cabin but the two men were able to escape. They were apprehended three months later. Both were charged with murder.

One suspect was tried and acquitted. The other suspect, a cousin of Frank and Jesse James, was never tried for murder but did receive a 15 year sentence for several robberies. He escaped from prison in July of 1898. A year later there was a unsuccessful attempt to capture him in North Carolina. It is not known if he was ever captured.