Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-12-07
4 BIG STORY
Clipped From the Helena World
 About Brannon and Smith.

uC oldpulC Sitpo ouC iOilOWtuS interesting item from the Helena World, which says:
 The World doesn't care 10 under take to convict District Attorney w. B. Sorrells of Pine Bluff of malfeas- ance in office-in fact has no partic- ular interest in the case in hand (the release of Simon Smith and John Brannon), except that this paper does object to Jefferson county criminals being turned loose upon Phillips county.
 Recently, when Brannon was tried here and bound over to circuit court World reporter had something to say in news way about the rotten ness that existed in Pine Bluff, bas- Ing bis article upon the hints thrown out at the trial and upon numerous conversations which occurred at the courtroom. The facts in the case are just exactly as follows:
 During the month of December, 1899, the store Of Voss Bros. at Pine Bluff, was burglarized. Simon Smith and John Brannon were ar rested and part of the stolen pror- erty found in their possession. These are the ident tical men the cases against whom were nol pressed by District Attorney Sorrells.
 But the rottenness lies here: Con- stable A. J. Stewart, of Pine Bluff, reputable citizen aud formerly cbief of police. was sent to Green vile, Miss, and there took charge of Smith. The prisoner confessed his crime in Greenville, and on the way back to this city stopped with Con- stable Stewart at Lula and told the officer where to recover part ofthe stolen property. Arrived in Hele- DO, Smith was taken to the city DO lice station, and there, in the pres ence of Constable Stewart, of Pine Buff, Chief of Police Clancy, Ser geont Ruane and two other members of tbe Helena police force, he reiter ated his confession, telling every dt. tail of the burglary committed by ht and Brannon, aud giving informa tion that led to tue recovery of tht pistols and razors stolen. Some O the goods had been disposed of 1T Helena. some i'd Clarendon aud som' in Pine Bluff, and all of them were found by Constable Stewart and re turned to voss Bros.
 f Attorney Sorrells rushes int print in the Pine Bluff Graphic o' Sunday and challer ges any man or earth to show that he received cen for nolle pressing the cases against Smith aud BrannoH. He says the story about something being wrong in Pine Bluff is absolutely without foundation, that it is utterly false, l etc.
 Now let it be understood, Attor ney Sorrel.s is not on trial for eithel malfeasance or incompetence, but il is a remarkable statement which be makes over his own signature when he gives out the following: "l en. tered nolle prosequi in his cast because in my judgment conviction could not be had from the testimony 1 mad before me-" Here we have the spectacle of prosecuting attorney 1 in Arkansas declaring bis inability to convict burglar after the pris onor has confessed and returned the stolen property. But Constable Stewart of Plne Bluff declares thai he was never even summoned into court nor asked Ques .ion about the case except by the grand jury. Chic Clancy and Sergeant Ruane both ssl they were never called upon to testl- 1 fy in the case.
 Simon Smith, alias "Slick" k now in jail in this city on 9 charge of bringing the stolen property into l this county.
 ca yesterday be was asked the question: "How much did it cost you 10 get out of trouble in Pine