The Forrest City times., 1899-01-13

On account vi '"S
W -. N Isaaes has been connected
,,hs bnrning of his house at Haynes
. ~" the following from the Mari
,sners is OF special interest:
fn" .asrable interest was conferred IN
Vnrsliminary examination before Il NJ.
ne r, on Tuesday. of Wyatt Nash,
~" ~ negro charged with the burning OF
~ y" asidenee of NJ. Isaaes at haynes a
ie osts ago. The trial was had at the
P,ho,se and cutie n crowd was In at
ou,u witnesses aud spectators. The
e'uam If the proof against Nash was the
pu ,us of Sheriff Williams, of Forrest
Es,r and his deputy. negro named Haw-
v Hawkins. whom, it seems. is Some.
gus of detective, or claims to be, testi-
pa ,hat several days before the fire Nash
"a him that he intended burning the
t"~ss--tIlat Mr. Isaacs had agreed to give
~ s,e for the job-and that after the
ming Nash told him that he had done
~ Nash was arrested about ten days or
" week, after the burning and after he
| "A made the alleged confession to Haw-
w. aud after his arrest Sheriff Williams
',sad that Nash confessed to him in
I'm Nash denied that he did the burning
that he had made the confession. The
4, ocro claimed as a reason for his having
ot,en the confidence of Nash, that Nash
,sd heen acting as sort of go-betwecn
En- him lhawkns) in some of his liasons,
u which he pleaded gnilty on the witness
{,apd Hawkins is regarded as somewhat
u a" slick duck " and little credit was
L,,ached to his testimony generally by
[bose who heard it. There were some
[,ronr circumstances connecting the de-
kepdaut with tie burning, proven by two
Iromen from Haynes, all OF which NASH
HIausby explained in his testimony, but
bis own statement was not corroborated
kycept By the woman at whose house he
E,ayed the night OF the burning. Accord
ms TO her statement it was improbable
sbs, Nash could have done the burning.
ksouire Hays required Nash to give bond
10 appear before the grand jury to answer
hhe charge, Nothing was developed in
|be trial rejecting upon Mr.. Isaacs except
hhe testimony of Sheriff Williams and the
negro Hawkins as to Nash's statement to
them, and few in this locality, where MIR.
|Isaacs has lived for an ordinary lifetime,
|beieye for moment that he had anything
Ito do with the burning of the house or
HAT he is capable of being party to such
deed and it Is a matter of regret to his
|many friends that his name should have
been brought into the prosecution OF this
hold negro in this way. The building was
Ensured BY Messrs. Geo z, Taylor a. Co.,
kf Forrest:City, for Si70O in the Etna In.
(saranee Co, OF Hartford. Conn. 1t orig
|may cost about twice this sum. and it is
bot supposed that there will or can be any
Hesitation GA Tie part Of tile company in
|tbe adjustment Of tie loss. Mariana
Index.
The above account, from the Index, of
|this cause celebre, as it has become in this
land St. Francis counties, Is true state
|ment Of the facts as developed at the trial.
VERY few, II any. give credence to the
"a eyed story of Wyatt Nash. as detailed
|by the negro deputy sheriff OF ST. Francis
|ceunty so far as it concerns Mr.. Isaacs.
|He has been known by the people of Lee
|and' ST. Francis counties-about thirty
Eeas-and has character for pr0bity and
|lchesty too well established among them
pm u TO be successfully besmirched at this
pate day by one OF the viiest of negro
criminals. Wyatt Nash, and sensation
FoyIug negro deputy sheriff. Oh, no the
k'ory Is too disgusting and fareical to be
entertained for moment. 1t won't wash.
Lee County Courier.
We desire to say In this connection that
lWhlle II is unfortunate that Mr.. lsaacs's
pane should have been dragged imo'this
Fha'ter, so far as Sheriff Williams Is con
|eerned he (Williams) is to be commended.
he has honestly tried to get at the truth
III Tue matter, as lie is bound to do by bis
|Oa'h OF office. In performing this duty he
f"ou'a nave the moral support of every
|SO'u eulzen. None, perhaps, are more
|auS'ous than Mr.. Isaacs that Sheriff Will
'a'lS should 90 to the very bottom of this
EE'u"lr. Therein lies his vindication. if
Vlndcation is needed.
hwlIl require stronger evidence. how.
H'' 'nan that Of this trifling, unreliable
negro NASH to convisce thinking men
'aa' Mr.. lsaacs, who has been among us
'U 'n'rty years with clean character.
A"' al 'llls late day fallen into arson as a