The Mena weekly star., 1911-10-26

afternoon before a verdict wa
 reached. Tine jury found the de
 fendant guilty and assessed hi
 punishment at a fine of SiO an, ten minutes in jail.
 Bob Burke was tried for violatin.
 the liquor law This case was on,
 Of the oldest on the docket. II
 1858, according to the states wit.
 ness, z. P. Fraziee. Burke sold hin
 quart of whiskey at Grannis. Or
 the trial of the case 1uesda,
 Burke claimed he simply took
 trazier's money and went to John
 sons drug store at Grannis anC
 got the whisky because Johnson would not sell it to Frazier. The
 Judge instructed the jury that this
 did not relieve Burke. Under the
 law he was as guilty as anyone if
 he had any part in the deal of get ting whiskey from Johnson, who had no license to sell it. Burke was lined $50.
 The third trial Tuesday was Of two cases against w. Il. Spencer
 for assault and battery on F. M. Cecil and his son, 0rin Cecil. It resulted in a verdict of guilty and Ia fine of S25 in the first case and Ia verdict of not guilty in the second case.
 The sensational case of Jesse Fox, charged with carnal abuse, in which he is accused of mistreat- ment of Phoebe Bissell. a young sister of his wife, went to trial in Circuit court Wednesday. The indictment was found by the grand jury two years ago. The defendant was arrested this past summer in Oklahoma, returned to Mena and placed under bond. The prosecut- ing witness IS a girl of unusually attractive appearance. She is now between l6 and 17 years of age. At the time the offense was said to have been committed she was Iiv- ing with the defendant and his wife, her sister, and several other sisters and brothers. Sine was then between i3 and 14 years of age. To prosecute the case the young wo- man was brought here from d res- cue home at Pilot Point, Tex. She Is accompanied by the lady super Sitting by the side of the defendant during the trial of this case is Mrs. Fox, the wife of the defendant, with their year-old baby in her arms. She is taking the side of her husband and against ler sister The defense is at to prove Phoebe Bissell s making an effort to lay the blame against her brother-in-law jccause he had refused to care for Ter after she had charged him with being the cause of her trouble.
 The case was given to the jury ate Wednesday afternoon, and ar CT being out a short time it re- turned a verdict of guilty and as essed the defendants punishment tt two years in prison.
 The case of the state against 5eorge Petty, charged with violat- ng the cotton weighing law, went o trial late Tuesday. It is a test If the right of private individual o weigh cotton which he is buying 'ather than have 1t weighed by the county weighef. Judge Bowling gave peremptory instructions to the ury to return verdict Of guilty. There was no conflict as to the facts, and Judge Bowling ruled that he law was very clear in providing that private scales for the weigh ng of cotton were not permitted. Mr. Petty was fined Si0.
 The case of the state vs. J. B. charged with selling property, was tried Tues lay afternoon. The states case was almost a farce. Watkins, who lives down near Nandevoort, had given a mortgage on mule to se- cure a loan to a friend. Later he was told that the note had been paid off, and sometime later sold .he mule. It then developed that .he note had not been paid and the mule was attached As soon as \ Watkins :sttks heard of this he hustled ID the money and paid the note. Later he learned of his indictment. 1t seemed from the evidence in the case that Mir. Watkins had done all m honest man could do and the jury acquitted him of the charge, just as quick as they could walk to the jury room and write out yer diet.
 Lee Frazier, who has been in jail charged with horse stealing, was released yesterday on his own re- ;ognizance and the ease was con- |inued to the next term of court.
 Other cases disposed of are as follows:
 State vs. Bert Branham, violat- ing liquor law; plea of guilty and fine of $50.
 State ys. Bert BraniIain, gaming; iiiiiits; Dlea of guilty and fine of $50.
 State ys. John Branham, violating iquor law; plea of guilty and fine )f $50.
 State ys. John Branham, gaming; )lea of guilty and fine of Si0.
 State vs. Bill Allen, gaming; plea if guilty and fine of Si0
 State vs. Will Smith, gaming; ,lea of guilty and fined Si0.
 State vs. Ebert Barnes. gaming; ,lea of guilty and fined Si0.
 Sfafe vs Ben Mckinney gaming.