Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1900-07-29
MIXED AFFAIR.
NEGRO, OFFICERS AND
WOuLD-BE OFFICERS
JAILED,
THEN ALL WERE RELEASED
Four of Peg Leg" Williams
Coons Caused all the
Trouble.
THEN ALL WERE RELEASED


accomplished IN official police cir.
cles 10 this city Saturday and for a
time it looked as if the Jeffer son
county jail would be the recipient
of several inmates, all in a bunch.
Officers, would-be officers and ne
groes were locked up and 1t was a
hard matter to get heads or tails
out of the affair. We finally secur-
ed the particulars and as correctly
as given to US, are reproduced
below.
]. NJ. Benae.t ard B. G. Little
page, Of Bosca Parish, La, came to
Pine Bluff recently and registered
at the Trul9ck. They said they
were officers of the law and were
here to capture and return with
them four negroes, who, they stated
were wanted for obtaining money
under false pretenses. At their
solicitation, Justice Vance ISSUE d
warrants for the negroes. They
went 'son hunt for the negroes
and found them in Arkansas county
near GtIett. The negroes fled when
they Saw Bennett and LittIepage
approaching. The two men pursa
ed them and fred two shots at the
black four. Nelson Hays, Que of
The negroes, was wounded in the
heel and was the only one captured
De was brought to Pine Bluff by
the supposed Louisiana officials,
Bennett ard Littiepage. and Judge
Vance committed him { lay. TO Jail
This happened Friday afternoon.
Early Saturday morning Fred
Kersch. who said he was an Arkan-
sas county officer, arrived here with
a warrant for the arrest of Messrs.
Bennett and Littlepage, as he
claimed that dhey were wanted in
Arkansas county on a charge of
assault with intent To kill Nelson
Hays, tho they brought to this city
and locked up 10 the county all.
Mr. Aersch said De was not able to
say whether Beanett and Littlepage
were Louisiana officers. All he
wanted was their arrest and war.
lants were issued from Garretts
court authorizing same OF the
charge made by Officer Kersch, of
Arkansas county. Bennett was
found and thrown behind the bars
but Littlepage coald not be found
at al. The Louisiana officer, which
he claimed to be, made complaint
in Jail and charged Kersch with
i'm personating an officer and carry
ing pis tol. A warrant was then
issued for Kersch's arrest. Kersch's
trial came up before Judge Vance
Saturday morning. He appeared
for trial with Attorney w. 7. Wool
bridge as his counsel. Prosecuting
Attorney Sorrells was present at
Kersch's trial and mol pressed the
Gaze. Mr.. Kersch was given his
liberty.
After court adjourned, the prose-
cutting attorney ordered Judge
Vance to issue writ to the sheriff.
directing him TO release Nelson
Hays, the wounded negro prisoner
in the county jail. Gen. White,
Hays attorney, objected to this
last order as he feared chat the
officers from Louisiana might
scheme around and get Hays back
to Louisiana. Gen. Whites objec
tons wers overruled, however, and
Hay release was followed.
Judge Garrett had Bennett re
leased from the jail and he soon
joined Littlepage on the street.
Llttlepage had never been arrest
ed, so the two left on the south
bound iron Noun tain passenger
train for their Louisiana home,
doubtless glad to get out of town
alive. Officer Kersch from Arkan-
sas county. soor followed them. en-
route 20 his home at Gillett.
It's not known whether any 81 |
The men were officers or not. a