The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-12-07
CIRCUIT COURT
The Franklin Brothers
Spring a Surprise BY
Pleading Guilty.
ONE TO MURDER IN HILSON CASE,
THE OTHER TO MANSL SLAUGHTER
IN CASE OF HENRY LIST.
Other important Developments in
White Cap Cases Expected.
The Grand Jury Still DIGGING Up Vic.
IatOrs Of the Law.

4 After Saturdays Leader went
to press the trial of Oscar Frank
lin for the murder of Eli Hilson
Lin December, 1908, was set for to-
Iday and a special venire drawn,
and the trial of Will Franklin,
lcharged with the murder Of Hen
Try List in November, 1903, was
set for next Friday and a special
lyenire drawn.
Ever since the preliminary
trial of Oscar Franklin before
Justice Daughtry, it has been
known to those in possession of
inside facts that the FrankIins
were weakening. Yesterday fore
moon, while court was in session,
Judge Wilkinson was notified by
Mr.. James Cassidy, attorney for
the accused, that Oscar franklin
was willing to come into court
land plead guilty to the Hllson
murder and accept a life sentence,
land that Will franklin was will
ling to plead guilty to manslaugh-
tier in the List killing and accept
whatever sentence the court might
see fit to impose. District Attor-
lney Webb and Mr.. Brady, for the
State, signilied that this would be
acceptable to them, and the pris-
oners were brought in and enter
ed their pleas accordingly.
This sudden termination of
these two important cases was a
great surprise to the public gen
erally and has been the chief topic
lof conversation since. Other i'm
lportant developments in the white
cap cases, equally satisfactory to
the State and the friends of law
and order, may be looked for in a
few days.
The grand jury has returned a
number of important indictments
|since The Leaders, last report and
is still busy with the important
| work DeTOre IL.
After the Franklin Brothers
we're returned to Jail they inform
ed Detective A. j. Hoyt that they
we're willing to go before the
lgrand jury and lay before that
body some important facts within
their knowledge, and late yester-
| lday afternoon each of them was
before the jury for quite while.
Following are cases disposed Of
since our last report:
/ State Us. Win Walls Plea of
guilty to carrying concealed wea-
pons and fined $50 and costs.
State VS.. VIII Walls Plea Of
guilty TO assault and battery and
fined $3.50 and sixty days in coun-
lty Jail.
State VS.. Lum Phillips, charged
with unlawful retailing Jury and
verdict of guilty as charged and
fined $3.50 and sixty days in Jail.
State of Mississippi VS.. John
lSmith Jury and verdict of gull.
ty and sentenced to the peniten-
tiarY for life. 1t will be remem-
lbered that John Smith killed two
]other negroes, Joe Weathersby
land Cowboy Z at the conclusion
lof card game between crowd
lof negroes. Considering the reck-
Eless manner in which this defend
liant was using his pistol at The
thine these two negroes we're kill
led By him, il is thought that life
Imprisonment In the penitentiary
lis none too light a punishment for
/ John Smith.
State vs.. Henry Butler MOL
1 pressed.
State us. Celia Bullock. charg-
ed with assault and battery with
Intent to kill Plead guilty to an
assault and was fined $40 and costs
Iinclnding costs of conveying de-
lfendant from Louisiana.
j State rs. Alphonse Garner
i llessat processus ordered.
i State vs.. Oscar Ross, charged
with carrying concealed wespons
Mistrial
State rs. Martin Dplaughter
charged with white Gaping Ju.
Try and verdict OF not guilty,
State Of Mississippi Ts Oscar
4