The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1897-11-19
Another Killing.

Inc news reached town Saturday
morning that Brown Fakes had killed
L. Nj. Williams. seven miles north of
this city. Rumors soon tegan to cir
culate as to the cause of the difficulty,
aid there is wide range of conflicting
reports. Brown Fakes, himself, how
ever, claims that Williams was init
mate with his wife; that he heard
them make an engagement to meet at
certain place at a certain time for
purposes of lust. and that lie procured
gun and waylaid them, and when he
had witnessed with his own eyes the
unfaithful wife in the arms of the de-
speiler of his happy home, he pulled
the trigger and sent his hateful soul
into eternity. He used shot gun
loaded with No. 3 shot, at about forty
PAGES, and after the killing came to
town and surrendered to the sheriff
and was placed in Jail, awaiting trial,
which is OH to-day before Squire Mel
son. At the coroner's inquest Mrs.
Fakes admitted the intimacy between
herself and Williams, and corroborated
Der husbands statement made to par.
ties here.
There are other rnmoTs; one OF which
says the circumstances clearly prove
the falsity of the claims made by
Fakes. That there were no tracks in
dlcatiDg the presence of the woman
upon the spot, and That the victim was
in bad health, and it was because Of
sickness that he was at home.
Fakes rented land from the father
OF the man who was slain, and another
rumor is to the effect that there was
bad feeling between them Oh account
OF the rent, Williams claiming $50 and
Fakes that only $50 was due him.
This latter story is being circulated by
the father of Williams, who says he
does not believe that there was any in.
timacy between his son and Mrs.
Fakes.
THE TINES does not wish to preju-
dice the public either for or against
the defendant. The accounts of the
affair are very conflicting. and it is ex-
ceedingly difficult to get at the facts, but
we want to say that these killings are
occurring with great regularity or at
least with great frequency, and that
they are shame and disgrace upon
this county. If Brown Eakes' story is
true. and he had happy, virtuous
home before Williams entered and
despoied it, the unwritten law will
justify his awful deed. But the witt
ten law must be indicated. He must
prove his excuse for taking the life of
his neighbor.
Ii he can do this THE TIMES will be
satisfied, the public will be satisfied.
The law will be indicated. at least to
all intents and purposes of justice.
Ii, on the other hand, he has deliber-
ately taken the life of another because
of petty quarrel, or through the say
agery Of his low nature, then he should
receive the penalty of the law, and
there should be no farce about it.
If st. Francis county expects to hold
her claim to civilization and respecta-
bllity it must be through the prompt
putting down" of these too frequent
murders, aud this can best be done by
serious, business-like and impartial
enforcement of the law, furnishing
those who willfully and maliciously
break them, and are naturally and ir.
revokably bad and beyond the pale of
civilization.
We want Brown Fakes to have the
benefit of any reasonable doubt, but if
he is not justified, then let him be pun,
ished.