The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-20
COURT IN FRANKLIN
JOSH xOACUM, A PREACHER, IS
 C0NvICTED.
Found Guilty of AssauIting G GirI-- Jury In Lincoln Harris Case
 Makes . Mis-

Russellville. Nov. Is.--(Special. )---- The last or criminal week of Circuit Court. closed last night at midnight. as jury on . murder case was opt till few minutes before that time, when they were brought in and dis until Monday. December g. When 1t convenes again for special term of four weeks in order to clear the badly crowded docket. M~
 Juries were ordered summonsed for the first two weeks of this special term. A number of convictions and pleas of guilty were had for misde- meanors Josh Yoacum. postmaster at foacum. magistrate and a Baptist preacher. was convicted by a jury on the charge of assault and battery, the victim being an orphan girl of excel lent character. His punishment was fixed by the jury at three months in the county jail and a fine of $250.
 The facts as detailed showed that young woman. who was sitting up with his sick father.
 Public feeling was pretty strong in the case against the defendant. The most important case tried was that of Lucien Harris. who last July shot and killed his brother-in in law. Zo- phus Jackson, in the west end of the SOdhNys inCdf Ikbu Da4.s Auc AucLtnSc in this case was 'self defense'' and "in- sanity The defense claimed that sev- erai months previous to the killing Jackson had gone to Harris's home late one night when he knew that Harris was absent. and by personating Har- ris had abused Mrs. Harris; that it was not discovered by the woman until Jackson left. and that the husband on his return home later in the night, found his wife almost crazy from what had occurred. la
 The defendant was urged by his mother and stepfather to leave the matter to the grand jury soon to meet the wife urging that he at once avenge the wrong with a gun. The grand jury met and refused to indict. His mother continued her pleadings to leave to the law the righting of his wrong.
 The second grand jury met and like the first one refused to indict. The two men came together at a spring near Jackson's house. Harris had his gun. Jackson had the tools with which he was building a pen. Harris claims that Jackson struck him with a plank and made at him with a hammer, when he shet him. The States claim was that Harris lay in wait for and shot his victim down without warning.
 The trial be gan Thursday and was foughc through ttll Saturday night. when 1t was given to the jury. which after three hours deliberation re- ported an agreement impossible. when they were discharged and a mistriai ordered.
 The jury stood nine for acqu,ttal, three for conviction for mansiaugiter. Bail was fixed today by the Circuit Judge. which was readily made.
 Tom Banks has been elected Road Commissioner of the county by the Beard of County Commissioners. and will assume charge January l.. when the new. road law for the county goes, into effect.
 The grand jpry returned ffty-nine true bills. almost all for petty offenses. Of these twenty-five were appeals or valves from the county and magis- trate courts. Exceeding forty cases of this kind were examined. constituting almost half of the grand jury's work.