The Van Buren press., 1904-12-24
Circuit Court


finish up business carried over from the
regular November term and to act on
the indictments found by the special
grand jury. Ii leaked ont that twelve
Of the indictments were for gaming and
{ that the complaining witness was Mack
3 Crawford, who had been convicted OF
, disposing of mortgaged property and
who asked to be taken before the grand
jury. and gave evidence against twelve
! residents Of the colony and its neighbor-
! hood, convicting them of gaming. In
order that his evidence might be used,
should the parties convicted stand trial,
he was pardoned by the governor, All
of them, however. plead guilty and re-
ceived u Sentence of $40 and costs. The
guilty parties We're: W. M. Bettis,
Elliott Snipes, Berno Maxey. Garfield
Cook Ramey Snipes, Chas. Posey,
| Tandy Ferguson, Clarence Hays, Claud
Mars Thos Kicks, Simon Shoop. Geo.
| Maxey, Sam Taylor, John Bettis, Jim
Chiders, Ben Wells and John Kendig.
In the cases Of Ferguson, Hays, Marrs,
! Wells and Kendig judgement was sus
pended and they were allowed to stand
under previous bond until first day Of
next term of Circuit Court. The case
against Jno Maxey WAS dismissed at de-
PENDANTS cost.
! Tuesday morning the case of Lon
! Peevey, indicted for murder in the first
degree by the special grand jury, for
the killing of Jas. Weese in saloon
row at Alma month since, was taken
up. The district attorney announced
that he would be assisted in the prosecu-
tion by Hon Berkeley Neal, the defend
ant being represented by W. IL Neal
and Sam r. Chew. There was some
delay in securing u jury, a special
venire being called, for quite a number
of these-in fact an unusual ber--
were excused on the grounds of being
opposed to capital punishment AS
finally selected the jury lined up as
follows:
Louie Speaker G c. Lemley,J P Fos-
ter, Frank Hatley 9 Cassidy Joe May
field Doc Lille, h. 7. Bailey, Joe Ham
mock, Sherd Hunter, M Ii, West and
James Hensely.
Shortly after o clock the taking of
testimony was begun and continued
until adjournment for supper, the court
announcing that after an hour recess
the taking Of testimony would be re-
sumed and an attempt to finish 1t up
made. 1t was II 0 clock before the last
witness left the stand. Before adjourn
ing the court announced that each side
would be given an hour and fifteen
minutes to present their case to the
jury.
At n. IN, Wednesday rs soon as court
WAS called to order Hon Berkeley Neal
for the state presented that side of the
case to the jury. He was followed by
W. II. Neal and Sam r. Chew for the
defense, the prosecuting attorney clos.
court having charged the jury, they
retired to their room for consultation
Nothing was heard from them that after
noon and when by seven o o'clock that
evening they reported they had not been
able to agree, the judge had them
brought IN and discharged them, The
jury, we learn, stood nine for acquttal
and three for conviction. After the jury
was discharged Judge Evans fixed
Pvevey's bond at 81 900, which he gave
Thursday morning and WAS released
From the evidence presented there re-
manned some doubt that the death OF
Jas Weese resulted from the blow given
him by Peevey. Witnesses testified that
after the fight Weese was taken to Nc
Neeley's drug store, where his head
was washed and only slight cut was
found, While they were washing his
head Weese, who was considerably
un der the influence Of liquor was carry
ing on considerably In n drunken way
and finally became sick at his stomach.
He was taken outside where 1t WAS coo
and sat down, the parties who had beer
looking after him returned to the store
not thinking he WAS seriously hurt, and
when they came out again found he wa,
gone, and II was three hours later ere
he was found and taken to the electric
light plant, where he died.
FROM the evidence Of Capt, Silt
Wright, city marshal Of Alma, who
deputized Peevey to assist him In quel
ling the disturbance, It would appear
Peevey was justified In striking Weese
| NJ the latter had started TO attack him
, and had remarked previously he had 4
gun on him and rock In his pocket
IL has been known ~ our people fol
"A long time that Alma was afflicted with
I n bad gang of toughs, but they wert
, not prepared for the statement Of Capt
, Wright, which indicated u fearful state
OF affairs IN that town, but which II
| born ont by the number OF seriou,
. ARRAYS which have taken place ther,
within recent months,
Granted New Trial.