The Van Buren press., 1900-07-21
Circuit Court.


Circuit Court.
The grand jury completed its labors
last Friday evening, having been IN
session, altogether, nine days. They
returned 65 indictments and examined
1d2 witnesses. They were q very pains
taking body as the result OF their laDors
shows. In their report as to the con-
dition of the Jail and the handling OF tne
prisoners they took occasion to comph'
ment Sheriff Branson and his deputies.
They also complimented some OF the
road overseers on the excellent work
done by them with the very limited
means at their command and took
occasion to severely censure Others who
had been derelict In their duty as such.
At the time of our going to press last
Friday the case of VIM. Morelock vs..
School District 1O1 was on trial. The
plaintiff was in this action trying to re-
cover $3.50 claimed as due for labor and
material used In building the new school
building there. A counter claim was
made for $500 alleged damages by the
contractor having failed to use as good
material as specified in the contract.
The jury found for the plaintiff In the
sum Of 800.
Another case tried was that of Henry
Morelock VS. Dix Hamm suing for 81 900
damages for personal injury done him
by defendant striking him and knocking
him down, while plaintiff was employed
in the construction of the new scnool
building. The jury found for the de-
fendant.
The case of Douglass vs.. Stahl, the
first trial of which, at the beginning of
the present term Of court, resulted in
hung jury, was tried again last Satur-
day and on instruction from the Judge
decided in favor of the defendant.
Douglass had been falsely imprisoned
in the U. S. Jail at Fort Smith for q
murder committed in the Territory by Q
man of the same name and released
when it was found he was the money
man.
atian for the charge.
The case Of the state VS.. Boley
Kuykendall indicted jointly with France
and Glenn for grand larceny came up
next. The jury returned a verdict of
not guilty Clem was found guilty the
previous Thursday Of the same charge
and given penitentiary sentence OF two
years,
Frank Cooksey's case against the
Frisco railroad company for damages
by being scalded by hot water from an
engine of the company while walking
along the depot platform, was taken up
next. Cooksey sued for $500 damages,
and was awarded $3.50 by the jury.
Monday large number of gaming
cases were taken up, some plead guilty,
others stood trial and still others were
thrown out of court.
The case of l.. France the third Of the
trio indicted for grand larceny was taken
up. The jury failed to agree and was
discharged at 8 P. M. Tuesday.
The perjury case against j. S, Rowe,
one of the witnesses In the Plymale
seduction case was the principal case
tried Tuesday and resulted in verdict
of acquittal.
Several more gambling cases were
Of Tuesday.
Wednesday morning was taken up by
the attachment suit of the l.. R, & F.
5. r y. company against Frank Cooksey.
The railroad company had attached a
lot of timber at Cooksey's mill, which
its representatives claimed In the at
tachment had been cut from railroad
land. The case was stubbornly con
tested for the defendant by Chew &
Fitzhugh, the Fayetteville Wagon COM
pany was made party to the suit, 1t
being the purchaser Of the sawn timber
The verdict was for the defendants.
Cooksey being given $3.50 damages for
the tying up Of the mill and the Fayette
vile Wagon company was given judg'
ment for 81 82s.
The case Of Russell, charged with the
killing of Durr Kennedy was also taken
up Wednesday, and Judge j. V. Bour-
land and j. r. Brown were appointed
by Judge Evans to defend Russell. The
state was represented by Dist. Attorney
Mathes and Hon. r, L. Rogers. The
trial occupied part Of Wednesday and
the basis for defense being
justification and insanity. The case
was given TO the jury at Pm. and at
Pm. they brought In q verdict of
manslaughter, leaving 1t with the Judge
TO assess the penalty. Judge Evans had
Russell brought before him yesterday
and sentenced him to two years
In the penitentiary.
The case of the State vs.. Roy Camp.
bell, indicted for hog stealing, was tried
Thursday, and on instruction from the
Judge the jury rendered verdict Of
acquittal from the box.
The case of the State vs. John Mer
rill, indicted for maintaining u gamb
ling house and nonfeasance In Office,
was brought up and was thrown out Of
court, the Judge sustaining all the de-
of the defense to the indict-
ment.
Yesterday was taken up In hearing
civil and divorce cases.
The negro Ross, who lost his leg as a
result of trying to escape from Con-
stable Martin, will be tried today.
The Judge stated yesterday that he
hoped to clear the docket today.