Ky Coatney was born in April, 1897 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. He married his cousin, Lydia Lucille Coatney (she was called Lee) the 14th of May, 1920 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. They apparently divorced since they remarried the 20th of December, 1928 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. She was born the 20th of June, 1901 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA to Jonathan W. Coatney and Manerva C. Kenner. Ky Coatney, Earl Long and Albert Howell robbed the Farmers and Merchants Bank the 1st of April, 1932 in Prairie Grove, Washington County, Arkansas, USA. They took approximately $4,168 before leaving the bank. Howell was arrested just days after the robbery and Long was arrested in Holdenville, Hughes County, Oklahoma, USA. Ky held out and was finally captured in July of 1932 near Van Buren. He was supposed to meet his brother, Sy, at a designated spot and the police found out somehow. There was a shoot out between Ky and the officers. According to the authorities Ky was shot in the knee and died from shock The family tells the story differently. They say Ky was shot by Crawford County Sheriff Albert Maxey and was brought to Van Buren. While they had him laying on the Court House Lawn, he asked for water and was refused. He bled to death while lying on the lawn of the court house. Ky died the 14th of July, 1932 in Cedarville, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. He is buried in Morrison Cemetery, near Rudy, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. Lee married 2) D. W. Griffith (name may be W. B. Griffith) after 1932. He was born the 22nd of March, 1898. He died the 26th of February, 1974 and is buried in McCurry Cemetery, Rudy, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. She died the 4th of July, 1984 in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, USA and is buried in McCurry Cemetery, Rudy, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. Ky and Lee had two sons.
Ky Coatney married his first cousin, Lucile Coatney, daughter of his father's brother, Jonathan Coatney.
According to Book of Burials, Volume Two, by George Julian Hawkins, Ky Coatney, divorced, was shot by Sheriff Albert D. Maxey. Other resources say that the sheriff denied having shot him, that he was shot in the leg and died sometime later due to complications in healing.
Letter from Cliff Bowlin (c.bowlin@@worldnet.att.net)
"I did a check of the SSDE files and found Lucille Griffith listed. Birth dates, death dates and location matched, so that confirms the headstone. I found a Dee Griffith in the SSDE also. Again the record matched. That would seem to confirm the D.W. Griffith name."
(Ky Coatney's widow Lydia Lucille Coatney, married D.W. Gritfith.
For the information of all, these are the three records as I have them now, July18, 1997:
Ky Coatney, Male
Father: William Loransie Dow Coatney (10 Nov. 1853-30 Sep 1927)
Mother: Julietta "Aunt Dade" Reynolds (21 Dec. 1858-5 Nov. 1930)
Ky Coatney birth April 1897 in Crawford Co. AR.
Death 14 July 1932 in Crawford Co. AR
Burial: In Morrison Cemetery, Hobbtown, Crawford, AR
Marriage to Lydia Lucille Coatney 14 May 1920 in Crawford Co. AR
Divorced in between 1920 and 1928
Marriage to Lydia Lucille Coatney again 20 Dec. 1928 in Crawford Co. AR (age 31)
Source: Letter from Jenny Garner to Cliff Bowlin.
Ky Coatney,Earl Long and Albert Howell robbed the Farmers and Merchants Bank, April 1, 1932 in Prairie Grove, Washington Co., AR. They took approx $4,168 before leaving the bank. Howell was arrested just days after the robbery and Long was arrested in Holdenville, OK. Ky held out and was finally captured in the fall of 1932 near Van Buren. He was supposed to meet his brother, Sy, at a designated spot and the police found out somehow. There was a shoot out between Ky and the officers. Ky swas shot in the knee and died from shock. There is an article in the Washington Co. History Book by Allen M. Hardt. Also article in the Fayetteville Daily Democrat. "
Letter received from Kathleen O"Kelley:
"The family here (Arkansas) tell the story of Ky's different. In general they say: Ky was shot by Crawford Co. Sheriff Albert Maxey, and was brought to Van Buren. While they had him laying on the Court House Lawn, he asked for water and was refused. He bled to death while lying on the lawn of the court house. Information given to Kathleen by Elsie Bowman Coatney."