The Mena weekly star., 1910-10-27
CAUGhRON CASE UP
 IN CIRCUIT COURT
W. N. Martin Acted as Special Judge in Absense of Judge Steel-Leor- ard Acquitted of Hog Steal
 ing Other Court News.

SOuiS Hdu olOduy BAlltu MOuudy anu Tuesday Pole McPhetriee was elect ed special judge for the trial of cases in which Mir. Martin was interested. Wednesday it was expected that Judge Stell will be here to again take up his duties as regular judge for the trial of the Coughran murder case which come here on change of venue from Mont gomery county. The charge against Coughran is first degree murder for the killing of Allen Stacy on the 10th of last July near Red Bird in the west ern part of Montgomery county.
 According to the reports the follow ing are some of the details bearing on the killing: A few days before July 10 Coughran married Mrs. Curtis Stacy, who had only a short time previous secured divorce from Curtis Stacy a relative of Allen Stacy. After liv- ing with Coughran a few days she wanted to go back to her old home to see after some of her things and to this Coughran objected. Allen Stacy, who lived near Coughran and was on friendly terms with all parties up to that time, offered to take Mrs. Cough ran on the trip but this caused some feeling and finally Stacy's son went on the trip with Mrs. Coughran. It is said that Couehran was still angry over the matter and said that he would have nothing more to do with his wife. Following this, on Sunday July 10, Allen Stacy was riding a mule past Coughran's house when, according to the statements of his 15-year-old son and 12-year-old nephew, who were with him, Coughran called out, Il am going to kill you, Stacy replied, T don't think I would do that" when Coughran, who was standing on the porch of his home reached inside the window and drew out shot gun and fired.
 The shot struck Stacy in the side and as his mule whirled a second shos was fired which struck Stacy in the back. Death followed at once.
 It is undersonnd that the defendant will plead self defense. claiming that at the time of the killing, Stacy came to the Coughran home and rushed up threatening and cursing Coughran. who on the spur of the moment grabbed his gun and fired the fatal shots.
 The trial is going to be hard fought. Prosecutor Pinnix will be assisted by J. s. Lake, former prosecuting attor- ney of this circuit.
 The defense will be represented by Senator Clip Witt and his son Earl, of the firm ofWitt & Witt of Mt. Ida, and Pole McPhetrige of this city.
 The case against c. M. Leonard charged with stealing some hogs was the most important case tried Mon day. The Leonards bear good rep ntation in the eastern part of the country and the case was given con siderable attention. It seems that Leonard had been given some hogs which were out on the range by his father-in-law. In getting them up he got hold of some hogs belonging to Will Faulkner. Faulkner traced the hogs to Leonard who paid him for them. It was shown in the trial Mon day that Leonard had gone out among his neighbors inquiring for his father-in-law's hogs and had found these and driven them home along the public road, where he met and talked with one or more parties and hac turned them out in his field.
 Evidently the jury did not think this looked like hog stealing, for after it was out just few moments it returned a verdict of not guilty Tuesday the only case tried was that against Charles Holt charged witt making an assault with intent to kill upon w. P. Stewart.
 These parties live near Vandervoort It seems that Stewards two daugh- ters and Holt wife had some trouble and hair pulling a year ago this fall All three were arrested and fined it i. said. Following this according to th' evidence given at the trial Hol stood behind a tree with a 38 Win chester and fired three shots at Stew art as the latter was walking througl his own field on the morning of No vember 9, 1909. All shots missed ex cept one which cut through Stewart clothing. After the third shot the man behind the tree ran away but wa recognized by Stewart as Charles Holt The case went to trial Tuesday witt Holt trying to prove an alibi but th' ievidence against him was so stronl