Sherman Daily Democrat
Monday evening, August 14, 1916
pg. 1

SUDDEN DEATH OF HON. JOE P. COX
One of the Leading Criminal Lawyers of Texas Passes Away at Home Here

Joe P. Cox, Sr., one of the best known criminal lawyers in North Texas, was found dead at his home, No. 1504 North Travis street this morning at 6:30 o'clock.
Death had evidently come several hours before, for his body was stiff and rigid.  The discovery was made by his wife, who went into the room about the hour named.
The news of his sudden death flashed quickly through the city, and has caused widespread sorrow, for Mr. Cox was well known and well esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout Sherman and this section of the state.
The funeral arrangements have not been announced, but it was stated this morning that it will be some time Wednesday.  Several of the children are in Sherman and the arrangements will not be completed until they are heard from.
Mr. Cox was in his usual health yesterday, and was in the best of spirits.   He had eaten heartily, as was his wont, and after a pleasant day with his children and grandchildren had retired in a room by himself, as was his custom during the warm weather.  Some time during the night he had left the bed and occupied a pallet near the window.  Evidently he was stricken while on the pallet and attempted to arise and had fallen back.  His right elbow was badly skinned and bruised, where it had come in contact with the floor.
The members of the family were greatly shocked as were also their friends and the towns people generally.

SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Joe P. Cox was born at  Wellington, Lafayette county, Missouri, November 27th, 1850 and therefore he would have been 66 years of age on his next birthday.  His father was Nathan Cox and his mother, Ann Parker Cox, pioneers of Missouri.
After completing the course in the local schools of his section, he studied law in Wellington for some time, and then went to Lexington, Missouri where he attended McGee College, completing the course with honors.  He moved to Texas in 1877, and for 41 years he practiced his profession in this city.
He had been twice married.  He was married first to Miss Mary Price, August 24, 1881, at Wellington, Missouri.  His first wife died in January 1886.  To this union were born 3 children: Nathan A. Cox, Joe P. Cox, Jr., and Miss Ethel Cox, all of Sherman.
On February 27, 1888 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Parker at Kansas City, Missouri, and to this union the following children were born: Mrs. L.P. Sproul of Ft. Davis, Texas; Edwin P. Cox of Ft. Davis; Mrs. T.J. Grady of Paris; and Jerome Cox, now with the Texas National Guard on the Mexican border.  His second wife and all his children are living.  He is also survived by one brother, N.H. Cox of Headsburg, California; and two sisters, Mrs. C.R. Jackson of Kansas City, Missouri; and Mrs. W.G. King of Salisburg, Missouri.
On July 16, 1916 Mr. Cox attended the funeral of his aged mother.  Mrs. Ann Barnhill who had lived to the ripe old age of 98 years.

WAS EMINENT CRIMINAL LAWYER
Joe P. Cox was an eminent criminal lawyer.  At his best he was the peer of any man in the Southwest.  Of fine personal appearance, a natural orator, trained in all of the intricacies of the law, he made a worthy foeman of any man who crossed lances with him in the court house.
About 20 years ago, the late Judge P.B. Muse appointed Mr. Cox council for Bob Smith, Negro who had been indicted for killing a white woman in Sherman.  He begged to be excused from the case but Judge Muse told him that the Negro was unable to employ counsel, and as he was in jail on a serious charge and entitled to a fair and impartial trial, that he, Judge Muse, also believed the Negro was entitled to the best counsel procurable, and therefore no excuse was accepted.
The jury promptly found the Negro guilty and assessed his punishment at death.  It was then that for the first time in history the constitutional right of a Negro being tried for his life to have Negroes on the jury that tried him was injected into a case.  Mr. Cox took the case through the various courts, being turned down in all of them until he reached the Supreme Court of the United States when the case was reversed and remanded.  Later the case was moved to Dallas on a change of venue, and the Negro plead guilty and accepted a life sentence.
Mr. Cox's free hearted disposition precluded any idea of him ever obtaining to great wealth.  He was generous, never refusing to contribute of his means to the poor or those in distress.
He had never held public office but one time, and had never aspired but once.  In 1904 the Democrats of Grayson county elected him county chairman, his name having been put on the ticket without his knowledge or consent.  He appreciated the honor very highly, and made the county one of the best chairmen it ever had.
The family have the sympathy of all in their bereavement.
The funeral will be conducted at the home tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock