The Mena weekly star., 1908-02-20
Widely Known for Their Integrity They Rightly Resented the Presence of
 Those Deemed Undesirable.
PROSECUTION A SURPRISE
Accused Men Have the Deep Sympathy of Their Neighbors, Who Pray
 Their Trials May Soon End.

It but seldom happens that any good citizen of a free country is, through no intentional wrong-doing, brought into Federal court to meet charges that threaten heavy fines and his liberty.
 T.. is much more rare, if not un- heard of, that nine times one of the best citizens of a religious, God fearing, law-abiding community should be called into court under in dictments for an act that no one of them thought was wrong, and which each maintains that he believed was a deed of charity-the kindest man. ner of dealing with an evil.
 But it is just such case that is worrying orle of the very oldest com munities of Western Arkansas, that of Egger, better known perhaps, as Cherry Hill, located about eighteen miles east of Mena.
 The Men Under Indictment. 
 Those against whom indictments have been found, with something of the standing of each are:
 J. w. PHILFOT-By occupation a farmer; Mason and Odd Fellow, sec retary of both lodges, and steward of M. E. church, South; born at Cherry Hill.
 w. w. PHILPOT-The leading merchant of Egger; noble grand of Odd Fellows and member of M. F. church, South; born at Cherry Hill.
 I.J. GARRETT Farmer; Mason and steward in M. K. church, South; lived 25 or 30 years in Cherry Hill.
 FRANK GARRETT-F c Farmer; mem- Der of M. E. church, South: lived 25 or 30 years in Cherry Hill.
 F. w. THORNTON Farmer; Ma son, trustee in NJ. E. church, South; has been a justice of the peace and has held many offices of trust in the community; lived 25 or 30 years in community.
 MONROE LEONARD-F a r m r: senior warden of Masonic lodge; steward in M. E. church, South; born at Cherry Hill.
 w. J. MORRIS Farmer; man of good moral character who has earned the respect of the whole community during residence of six years.
 J F. FURR-Farmer son of F. H. Fur, justice Of the peace; member of the NJ. E. church, South.
 MARION FISHER Farmer; dep uty sheriff and man well spoken of by his neighbors.
 These are the men under indict- ment by the Federal grand jury on a charge of conspiracy and intimi- dating homesteader. They have twice been taken to Fort Smith, once to face the United States com missioner and once to be brought before the grand jury. They are all under bond to appear for trial be- fore the Federal court in Fort Smith in June.
 The Origin of the Trouble.
 When the first step was taken last summer The Star told of the troub e, and has later printed brief news items as it developed. The history of the case, as gathered by repre- sentative of The Star from number of the leading citizens of Cherry Hill is as follows:
 In December, 1906, William Me Gee and wife, three sons, the oldest of whom was about 20 years, and three smaller children, and Louis Cleaver, wife and two small children, were moved from Mena to Cherry Hill by Wesley Philpot. McGee had taken homestead at the foot of the mountains near that place and it was the apparent intention of the people to there make a home. Mrs. McCsee and Mrs. Cleaver were sisters.
 The entire party was moved into a house belonging to 5. J. Philpot, more generally known as Uncle Sebe," who has long been the patri- arch of the settlement. This was done to give time to build a house