The Big Sandy News July 10, 1925
MEMBER OF POSSE IS BULLET VICTIM
Alleged Moonshiner Wounds Five Others, Report Says:
One man was killed, two were wounded, and three women were reported shot in two separate days in Martin County by Millard Jenkins, an alleged moonshiner. Frank James, a member of a sheriff’s posse, was shot and killed on Big Creek, Martin County, by Jenkins Tuesday afternoon when the officers attempted to arrest him. James was an unmarried man, about 23 years old, and the son of Allen James, an employee in the Martin County oil fields. On the day preceding the killing, Jenkins is said to have shot five persons, two men and three women, in a night finding its origin probably in whisky. Sheriff James Fletcher organized a posse consisting of his brother, Joe Fletcher and his son Joe Fletcher Jr., and the slain man, for the purpose of arresting Jenkins in connection with the shooting. When the fugitive was encountered, he opened fire, killing James. Jenkins was captured and placed in jail at Inez.(NOTE: The man in question, Millard Jenkins, was born about 1891 and lived in Long Branch, Martin County, KY. The 1920 Census shows him living with his wife, Bessie and a stepson, Albert Adkins. The 1930 Census shows him as a prisoner in Frankfort, KY.)
The Big Sandy News July 17, 1925
Millard Jenkins, alleged slayer of deputy sheriff Frank James on Long Branch, Martin County Tuesday night, was brought to Pikeville jail for safe keeping Thursday. Jenkins, it is reported, shot and killed James, who was a member of the sheriff’s posse who went to Jenkins home in an effort to arrest him on a charge of shooting and wounding the Sunday before.
(NOTE: The first article shows the location as Big Creek but this article shows the location as Long Branch.)
The Big Sandy News August 14, 1925
Inez, KY – Circuit Court is still in session here and will probably hold a part of this week. Commonwealth’s Attorney John W. Wheeler was called away by the illness of his wife and his place is being filled by Attorney W. R. McCoy. Millard Jenkins, who was tried last Thursday for shooting and killing Frank James while the latter was acting in the capacity of a deputy, was sentenced to the penitentiary for life. Another man, giving his name as Frank Smith, was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary for helping to rob a store on Buck Creek belonging to Mrs. Eveline Copley.