James Coker was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on November 8, 1892. He finished the fifth grade before leaving school, at which point he worked as a freight handler and in steel mills; as a porter and a sailor on a fruit ship. He enlisted in M Co, 3/24 Infantry in February 1915. He was tried and convicted in U.S. v Nesbit; he did not testify or make a statement during the trial, but maintained his innocence in all interactions with investigators and prison officials.

In early 1919 Coker wrote to Senator James W. Wadsworth, Jr., requesting his help in obtaining clemency. On April 21, 1919, Congressman W. E. Cleary of New York wrote to the Secretary of War’s office on Coker’s behalf, “All I can ask for him is mercy which would be particularly appropriate and pleasing to every Christian heart at this season of the year. If this is pleasing to you and you should take some action to reduce his punishment you would oblige.” Clemency was denied.

On his prisoner evaluation form in 1920 the recorder wrote: “States that the night of the Houston Riot was lined up. Men were ordered to turn in rifles by Lieutenant Jack. He fell out and went to his tent and got his rifle. It was raining. Before his rifle was turned in some one in I Company’s direction yelled ‘A mob was coming.’ The camp stampeded, there was lot of noise and yelling ‘give me my rifle’ etc. After the shooting first stopped he was near his Company rear about 100 yards away. Stayed there some time. Had a rifle but no ammunition. Had not fired. Then someone hollered ‘Form a skirmish line back of M Company, established a line. Lieutenant Jack and Captain James were there forming a skirmish line. Prisoner stayed there until daybreak. Little lightning that night, but not much thunder. Denies any part in the shooting and says that if the check had been made correctly they would have found him present in the skirmish line. Conduct in confinement is reported as Excellent.”

In April 1924 the Examining Board recommended that his life sentence be remitted to 23 years. In 1931, the JAG wrote a memo to the AG confirmed that Coker was still serving the remainder of that 23 year prison, and concluded, “As Coker was convicted of participating in the murder of fourteen people and assault with intent to kill either other persons, this office does not feel warranted in recommending any further extension of clemency than he has been granted.”