On November 27, 1923, Deputy Sheriff Joe Wesley 'Wes' Allmon, aged 35, was fatally shot while attempting to arrest Sam Cole, a 25-year-old man wanted for gambling offenses in Jackson County, Arkansas. Deputy Allmon had been with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office for approximately one year. He was married and had four children.
The incident occurred around 9:30 A.M. in the Shoffner community.
Deputy Allmon encountered Cole walking along the railroad tracks and approached him to serve the arrest warrant. When Deputy Allmon ordered Cole to remove his hands from his pockets, Cole drew a pistol and shot Deputy Allmon twice—once in the center of his chest and once just below the throat—killing him instantly.
Following the shooting, Cole fled into the woods, prompting a major manhunt by local law enforcement agencies. The Newport Police Department and Arkansas State Police were involved in the search for Cole.
There is no information available regarding Cole's arrest or any subsequent legal proceedings. The details of his capture and trial, if they occurred, are not documented in the available sources.
