Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-12-24
CAMP VERDE NEWS
Examination of John \. Smith on a Charge of Murder Is
 Concluded.
Great Interest Manifested in New Literary Society Recently
 Organized.

Camp Verde, Dec 2O.-John H.
 Smith, who shot and killed August
 Raymond at COldwater Springs on
 December 8th was given a prelim-
 mary hearing at Camp Verde begin
 ming on the 17th and lasting two days Attorney J. E. Morrison appeared for the territory, while Attorney Gibbs of
 Jerome appeared in Smiths defense. The testimony of some fifteen or twenty witnesses was taken a few of
 which made the case look much bet
 ter for Smith. The circumstances
 which led up to and surround the case are most peculiar and the case
 bids fair to be one of rare interest affording an opportunity for some very fine work for the lawyers. Pub lie feeling was rather strong in favor of Smith as he bears a very faiJ repu- tation, especially in Jerome, where he was quite we'll known, while Ray mond was known as a bad man in some ways and was thought to be not quite right in his head at times. In the progress of the case an admission from Smith that this was his third man did not help his case in the pub lie mind. The trial closed with the judges decision on the morning of the third day. Smith was released without bail to appear before the dis trict court. This case discloses the weakness of our laws concerning wit ness fees. Most of the witnesses came from the most inaccessible part of the county and can only attend trial under an expensive loss of time and money. Yet they are required under the strong hand of the law to appear and tell what they know of a most serious case, bearing all their ex- penses while so doing. If required to | attend the trial at Prescott it may mean a loss of $500 to some of them, | yet we all want and expect sto see | justice done to all concerned. Some thing needs "fixin'
 We note by the last Journal Miner | that "Camp Verde has a literary so- ciety." It would have been putting it mild to have added it is also "a hummer. While it has been in op- eration but six weeks the crowds have increased with each successive meet ing until the climax was reached on the evening of Friday the 18th inst, when between 200 and 300 people packed our large school room to its utmost capacity. A short program of music and recitations was given, after which the Kangaroo Court of the Camp Verde Literary Society, tried the case of Miss Sarah Ann Slocum. vs. Frank Wingfield for breach of promise in marriage contract, Judge c. B. Bell. Mesrss. Hotchkiss and Wright were the attorneys for the defense while Ben Eaman acted as at torney for the plaintiff. Mrs. Eaman acted the part of the 'said Sallie'' to perfection while the expert testimony of Drs. Ketcherside and Palmer was very interesting. The audience was kept in a roar of laughter for at least found judgment against the defend ant for the sum of S20, COG. The pro- grams thus far are the best thing in ( the way of a social event given here for years and seem to be getting bet ter with each successive meeting.
 The frequent storms have well nigh DaralyZed the freighting interest of he valley. Some of the roads be- ,ween us and the railroad has been z for a loaded team several times this winter. We may not need , railroad but we think we do. :
 Christmas festivities are in prepara- ion. Lower Verde and Clear Creek t 'chools will unite in an entertainment V md Christmas tree at the new church. z Camp Verde will also have a tree Ne also expect a slight trimming out n the bachelor ranks in the general 2 and hilarity of the season. V
 c. V. R. |