Our Arklahoma Heritage: An Aged husband, new young bride, and jealousy led to a 1910 Montgomery County trial

In the early 20th century, the serene landscape of Montgomery County, near Mount Ida, was rocked by a scandalous murder that captivated the region. At the center of this storm stood A.J. Caughron, a 61-year-old farmer whose life took a dramatic and tragic turn.

Before the killing, A.J. Caughron’s life had been marked by toil and quiet routine. However, tensions arose when he married Belle Stacy, the much younger widow of an uncle of Allen Stacy, just a few days before the fateful event on July 10, 1910.

The marriage, which took place on July 7, went awry because Coughron believed Allen Stacy was showing too much attention to his new wife. A few days prior, the couple had planned a drive to Womble, 18 miles away, but A.J. protested.

This disagreement sowed the seeds of conflict.

Allen Stacy, a volatile figure, reappeared at Caughron’s home and began cursing and abusing him as he sat on the porch. In a heated moment, A.J. reached inside a window for a gun and shot Allen, killing him instantly.

The incident occurred around 6 o'clock in the evening, during a heavy rainstorm, with no warning given.

The case quickly escalated to the courts. A.J. was convicted on October 29, 1910, in Mena on a change of venue from Montgomery County, and sentenced to be hanged at Mount Ida on December 16.

An appeal to the Supreme Court delayed the execution, but the higher tribunal affirmed the lower court's decision, decreeing that A.J. must be hanged. However, Associate Justice Kirby dissented, arguing that the evidence did not justify execution, suggesting mitigating circumstances.

The courtroom drama unfolded with every seat filled, as the community grappled with questions of morality and justice. The prosecution painted A.J. as a jealous husband who took justice into his own hands, while potential petitions for commutation hinted at a defense rooted in self-defense or provocation.

No petitions had yet been filed with the governor, though it was anticipated they would be

.

On September 2, 1910, Governor Donaghey commuted A.J. Caughron’s sentence to life imprisonment after reviewing the case and receiving thousands of petitions from citizens.

The governor believed there might be mitigating circumstances, noting the altercation over Caughron’s wife and Stacy’s threatening behavior.

A.J., described as bent and gray, spent the rest of his life in the state penitentiary, his fate a subject of ongoing local debate.

Allen Stacy was buried in the Hillside Cemetery in Sulpher Springs (Montgomery County)

his death a tragic end to a relationship fraught with tension and misunderstanding.

The fate of Belle is unknown beyond she was married again at least once, and A.J. Cghron was presumably buried in a potter's plot at the state penitentiary.

The whispers of the case lingered long after the courthouse doors closed, leaving the community to ponder the boundaries of justice and mercy.