The Forrest City times., 1911-03-31
M'ALLISTER
 BEING TRIED
For Murder of B. F. Kirby Near His Home on Red Oak Plantation,
 Lee County, Last August.
LARGE CROWDS ATTENDING TRIAL
STATE FINISHES WITH WITNESSES THURSDAY MORNING AND REALISATION OF VII MISSES FOR THE DEFENSE IS cOa-
 nEscED---aANY TO BE HEARD

The second week Of Circuit Court convened Monday morning Judge II. N. Hutton presiding, and an im- mense throng in attendance. The case of c. ". McAllister, charged with the murder of B. F Kirby, near his home on the Red Oak plantation, in Lee county, last:August, which was brought here on a change of venue granted by Judge Hutton at the fall term of Lee county Circuit Court, was taken up.
 A special panel of thirty yeniremen had been summoned from which to select jury and up to the time court adjourned that afternoon three jury men had been selected, when the venire was exhausted. Before ad iourning court Judge Hutton ordered the sheriff to summon special panel of sixty yeniremen to appear the next morning at the opening of court, in structing the officer to go to the country after them, and to select the whole panel from the rural districts, which was done.
 The special venire Of sixty men ap- peared before the court Tuesday morning, and before adjournment was taken for dinner the following jury had been selected to try the case: II. B. Blankenship, B. T Hamilton, J. J. Bowdry, A C. Brown. J. A Roy, o. c. Bonner. ]. II. Ferguson, James Pounds, Will Taylor, A. L. Rich, s. L. Pettus and k. C. Smith.
 Immediately upon court reconyen- ing after the dinner recess the case was taken up, the witnesses called and sworn, and the prisoner arraign- jed, and entering plea of not guilty. Hon. II. F, Roleson. of Marianna, who is assisting Prosecuting Attorney R. J. Williams for the state, opened. making a strong case against the accused. Congressman Joe T. Robin son, Of Lonoke, opened for the de- fense in strong and eloquent speech, after which the examination of wit nesses for the state was begun, Mrs Kirby. widow of the murdered man, being the first witness called.
 The examination Of the state $ witnesses occupied all of Wednesday and part of Thursday mornings $ ses sion of the court, and before the dinner recess was taken on that day, between thirty and forty witnesses were examined for the state, the state had finished with its witnesses, and the testimony 0f five white wit nesses. all employees of Lem Banks, for whom the defendant was also working was taken for the defense These witnesses al testified that Kirby and Sullivan were both in tHe soqdan store seven mics from the scene of the killing. on the night on which killing occurred, and that it was impossible for any Of the defend ants To have been at the place where killing is said to have occurred
 At the afternoon session much time was devoted 10 the examination of Deputy SheritI Jim Franks, of this county, who handled the county blood hounds in the chase If the perpetra- tors Of the crime and other testimony as to the action Of tie dogs In this connection efforts were made by the defense to impeach Franks testimo- n.y. several prominent citizens of the city being called upon as character witnesses, and it Is believed that in this the defense scored a point.
 There are about two hundred and ten or two hundred and twenty wit nesses in all, and up to noon today
 had been examined The case is at tracting more attention than any case tried in St. Francis county in many year, and the courtroom is daily filled with spectators among whom are many ladies
 The city is faI of visitors. there be Ing probably a larger crowd If white strangers within our gates this week than ever before known. Friends and relatives of the murdered nan, and of those who are on trial for the murder. witnesses on both sides, and many who have been attracted by curiosity, help to swell the crowds. Among the yisi- tors are county officials from several of the counties of this section Of the state, most of whom have come as character witnesses, and nearly every county in Eastern Arkansas is repre- sented Besides there are relatives of the murdered man from Memphis,