The log cabin Democrat., 1909-01-21
SAM SPENCE IS ACQUITTED
Jury Frees Alleged Slayer of
 Negro Girl.
Criminal Docket Now Practically Cleared with Exception of Milligan
 Murder Case.

Slowly but surely the big docket of criminal cases before this term of the Faulkner circuit court is be- ing cleared and at noon today there remained only two misde- meanor cases and the Milligan mur- der case to be tried.
 The latter case was set for trial this morning, but several of the witnesses were absent and the de fense announced that they could not go to trial until these witnesses were secured.
 Attachments were issued for several of the witnesses and this afternoon it is stated that all of them are either here or on their way to Conway.
 Milligan was indicted by the grand jury at fhe present term for murder in the first degree for the killing of J. C. Herring in Walker township a few months ago. Mil ligan is represented by G. w. and R. G. Bruce and the state is rep resented by Prosecuting Attorney Clark, Frauenthal & Robins and Sam Houston.
 Court Proceedings.
 State vs. Sue Johnston, keeping bawdy house. Jury trial, verdict not guilty.
 Isaac Vaughn vs. St. l.. l. M. & s. By. Co.,, continued.
 w. H. Duncan vs. George Rob- erts, continued.
 J. H. Crow vs. Moss Bros. x steele. Judgment of lower court affirmed and judgment on appeal bond entered.
 Sam Spence Acquitted.
 After deliberating only a few minutes the jury in the case of the state against Sam Spruce last night returned verdict of not guilty. Spence, who is young negro man, was indicted by the grand jury for murder in the first degree for the killing of Arrinda Golf, colored, I4 year old negro girl living in his neighborhood in Walker township, on February "A, 1908.
 The evidence against Spence was purely circumstantial. He was suspected of having been the father of an unborn child of the girl. On the morning of the trage- dyhe made two trips to her home where she was staying alone, and when her father returned at noon she was missing. Her body was discovered shortly afterwards ill we'll and it was found that her skull was crushed and a number of large stones had been thrown in the we'll on her body. Spence is also alleged to have told conflict ing stories in connection with the killing. The state, however, was unable to make out strong case against the defendant, while con- siderable evidence was introduced by the defense to prove an allbi for Spence and to show that he had no connection with the crime.
 Col. J. T. Harper assisted Prose cutting Attorney G. w. Clark fer the state and the defense was rep resented by C.. w. and R. c. Bruce.
 Justus Bowe Acquitted.
 Justus Bowe, local negro holi- ness preacher, who has enjoyed considerable litigation in the courts on account of his religious troubles, was acquitted of the offense of disturbing public worship late yes terday afternoon, the court in structing a verdict of not guilty after having heard the testimony of two of the states witnesses. The trouble arose over dispute between the tongue" and "anti- tongue" factions of the negro holi ness church here. Bowe, repre- senting the former element, was unable to secure the possession of their church building and set up tent nearby and proceeded to hold a revival. Members of the opposing faction had him arrested, claiming that the noise produced by Bowe's meeting was disturbing their worship. He was brought before Judge w. B. Wilson and fined S2o, the case decided yester- day being an appeal.