The Van Buren press., 1904-09-10
DR.. L|GRILE CONVICTED
Another Chapter Of Famous Alleged
Insurance Fraud.
ultetD CRIME WAS VIOLATING 6AAVt
searey Physician Must Pay q Fine
Of $1,000 and Serve Six Months IN
White County JaiI.-case Appealed
10 Circuit Court.-confessio OF
Gregory.

Charged with violating the grave OF
Ed 'Pitts by removing his body from
The Searcy cemetery to his barn, where
il was afterwards burned, DR. Richard
G. Lightle was found guilty at his
Trial before Justice Of the Peace w.
e. Harlan, at Searcy, September 3,
and his punishment fixed by the jury
at six months in the White county
jail and to pay a fine Of $1,000. An
appeal was taken and the bond fixed
at the amount of the fine, which was
made. The deIense offered no tesu.
mony. and the star witness for the
state was Walter Gregory, who told
IN detail of the grave robbery. Grave
robbery is only a misdemeanor in
Arkansas This disposes of the
charges of conspiracy against DR..
Lightle until the White County
grand jury begins its investigation of
the charges of arson and conspiracy
on which Dr. Lightle has been bound
over
The trial of eI-MayOr John v
Roberts, OF Searcy, will be held at
Judsonia on a change of venue Sep
tember 80, The charge against him
is also grave robbery.
The evidence of Gregory was the
sensation of the trial He turned
states evidence and told the story Of
the robbery of Ed Pitts grave and
ihe substitution of the body for chat
Of DR.. Lighte, who had planned to
leave the state in order that life in
surance amounting to $4,000 might
be collected on the representation
that the body of Pitts was that Of
Lightle. Gregory implicated both
Roberts and Lightle
The case was called at 9 o'clock,
at II o'clock the jury was completed
II was composed principally of far
mers residing near Searcy, and was
as follows: j. n. Norwood Carroll
James, c. b, Hooks. CASTOR Quick,
John Parker, Tom Carter, w, A.
Holston, r. A. Warner A C. Smith,
s c. Knickles, NJ S, Doyle and John
Weeks
Dr Lightle entered a plea of not
guilty and the trial was begun
The following witnesses were exam.
ined: S. NJ. Powell, of Little Rock,
state agent for the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co.; Henry A. Janson, of
New York, representing the Mutual
Life Co.. II. c. Bright and Mrs. Ed
Pitts, widow of the man whose body
was taken from the grave,
Walter Gregory was the next wit.
ness, He said that he had known
Or Lightle for the past twelve years.
He knew Ed Pitts, who died IN April
Of this year and was buried at the
cemetery. He attended the burial,
and so did DR., Lightle, DR., Lighue,
JNShn Roberts and witness had
scheme on foot to secure a body and
burn IL in Dr.. Lightles Office Dr.
Lightle told witness to come to his
ONCE. The doctor told him he had
2l 200 life insurance, and they could
collect IT, John Roberts and Dr.
Lighte said they would try to get a
body from Little Rock This was
Two or three weeks before he pitts
died Witness told about the three
going to the grave OF Ed Pitts, and
how they saw Dandrige Neoley and
Kay Doener. They had Roberts
buggy and spade, and got one spade
from DR.. Lightle. The witness
watched first after they got to the
grave Of Ed Pitts, and the three took
II time about delying into the grave
The coffin was not removed, but wit
ness and Dr. Lghue got the body
and wrapped It up in a quilt and set
the corpse up in buggy and DR.
Liphtle drove the buggy to his rest
dence and witness and Roberts
walked. They reached Or Lightle's
residence and found the doctor there
and the corpse was in the buggy A
uow grave was already dug in Dr.
Lighue's barn, and the body was re-
buried
They took up the body Of Ed PITTS
On Tuesday night, after he was buried
on Sunday Witness had conyer
sauon with Kay Deenor next day on
the street. and Doenor asked witness
what they were doing In the Gene
terry last night" and II they were
buryiug a corpse or taking one,
Witness reported this to the doc,
tor, who said he would see Decncr
Dr. Lghte told witness how he was
going 10 leave his watch, thermom
eter and Keys on PITTS body and how
ho was going to walk TO Bald Knob
and would wear false whiskers and
mustnchc lie saw the doctor put
them on, and the defendant asked u