Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-05-19

the chaneery court room, and the only persons present at the time were my attorneys, Rousseau and A. B. Grace, Judge Elliott and myself l was also present on Main street in front of Hanf's old stand when Mr. A. B. Grace told Mir. E. H. Plummer, reporter for the GRAPHIC, that Judge Elliott had stated, in response to an inquily y, that if We got another verdict he (the Judge) would set it aside. This necessitated a change to another judicial district, and my attorneys asked that it be sent to Pulaski County, to which Judge Elliott assented. |. l.. THOMPSON
 Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day of May, 1897. M. E. BLOOM, N. F.
 SEAL My commission expires
 February 3, 1898. SWORN STATEMENT OF THE GRAPHIC S
 REPORTER.
 I, E. H. Hummer, reporter for the GRAPHIC, do solemnly certify that ln asking about the change of venue in the case of Thompson vs. Murray;
 II met Mir. A. B. Grace in com pany with MT L. l.. Thompson, on Main Street in front of M. Hanf's old stand. When I asked Mr. Grace did Judge Elliott tell you that in case your client gained another verdict that he would set the verdict aside? Mr. Grace replied that he did; that Judge Elliott said that, under his construction of the law he would be forced to set aside any verdict that MT. Thompson might obtain E. H PLUMMER.
 Subscribed and sworn to before me this 19sh day of May 1897
 NJ. E. BLOOM, N. P.
 sEAL] My commission expires
 February 3 1898.
 In an interview with Commercial reporter on the 17tb inst. MT. A. B Grace, attorney for the plaintiff, used this language, which is prac- tically an admission of the GRAPHlc's statement:
 'In reference to the action Of of Judge Elliott in the case of l.. l.. Thompson vs. Arthur Murrayl have to say that when the matter of a change of venue was being dis cussed, and before the motion was made, general conversation took place in the Juage's chambers which was participated in by Mr. Rous- seau, Mir. J. M. Taylor, Judge Elli- ott and myself. In the course ol this conversation it was suggested by some one that the case might be sent to Lincoln county, said to Judge Elliott It would be useless for us to go to Lincoln or any other county in this circuit, because, with your views of the law in this case, you would be bound to set aside any verdict we might obtain. MT. Rousseau then said: Gin substance. 'of course, he could not do anything else. Judge Elliott's reply was, Gin substance), Well, gentlemen, yor know my views of the law in this case; it is no use to go oyel that again; my convictions are settled" :" cannot recall the ex act language used and every woro spoken by all parties, but 1 under stood Judge Elliott to assent to mJ assertion that be could not allow verdict to stand.
 It seems also that the Judges re ported declaration became q subject fer universal comment among mem bers of the bar, and while some ex pressed the belief that ethe eonyer sation as reported in the GRAPHIC never occurred, there are others who do not share in that belief 0 info. matlsn. Attorney J. w. Craw ford heard of it, as is instanced D. his interview with a Commercial re porter, as follows:
 .sI understand that on the hrs ,, trial of the case Judge Elliott hel' that under the undisputed facts | the case it was barred by llmlta