The Sentinel=record., 1912-02-06

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 Justice of the Peace Courts. During Woods entire administration from October 3l, 1910. the time he went in office, until January I, 1912, the time of fling in the county court of the last reports of the justices. 495 cases were filed in J P courts in the city of Hot Springs, and there were practically none in her town. ships in the county Of these cases Wood and his deputy, most of this -tisele- his- son. Scot. flied oh,. 15 s5, leaving 520, almost two to one. filed by other officers and individuals.
 Was Wood on the Job?
 In these cases, filed by proseeut- ] ing Attorney Wood and his deputy the total fines assessed in punishment of all misdemeanors were S1,972. In these cases the fees of Wood and his deputy were $2,0S5. or SIS in ex, cess of the total fines imposed
 Wood seems to have gotten Che idea that misdemeanors are committed in order that the prosecuting attorney may get. fees.
 Many if not all of these fines. were the lowest that could be assessed un. der the law The prosecuting at torney's fees the highest
 Was Prosecuting Attorney Wood trying 10 prevent crime, or was he trying to get fees2
 Before the justices during the If months, to which I have above refer. red in the cases filed by Wood aud his deputy against the gamblers, the total fines amount to $S05, and the fees of the prosecuting attorneys of flee were SLIPS. They receiving $390 more in fees in the gambling cases than the fines amounted to-
 The number of gamblers fined were more than 40. and the fines assessed averaged less than s20 each for II months of almost daily violations ot the law
 Was that a terrible punishment for the gambler?
 Prosecuting Attorney wood, could anybody do worse?
 Were you trying to prevent gamb. ling or were you trying to get fees?
 Circuit Court
 Wood, after he went into office in October. 1910. finished some few cases set for trial during the latter part of the term of the circuit court beginning in September. 1910. i He then took ID the March term, 1911, which was really the beginning of his term so far as the circuit court business was concerned
 Record of March Term. 1911. There were only 19 crimina! cases coming over from the previous term. i6 appealed cases, and lS0 indict- ments, in which arrests were made. by the grand iury at this term. mak- ing 215 criminal cases pending at this term of the circuit court. What were these indictments for. and what was done with these cases? ?
 Wood tried only 20 cases out of the total of 2l5 and dismissed 24 four more than were tried.
 How many convictions did he get in these 20 cases? Only 10, and the other 10 were acquitted
 There were 29 pleas of guilty. most all of which were for misdemeanors. and the smallest fines were assessed.
 In 142 cases Wood took no action, which with 24 dismissed, made 166 cases in which no attempt was made 10 punish the yiolators of the law.
 How about his hoasted prosecution Of the gamblers at this term?
 There were LOG indictments against gamblers, none of these were tried Nineteen pleaded guilty 10 the lowest fines were assessed, 17 were dis missed on the motion of Prosecuting Attorney, and he took no action in 7d making S7 in which no attempt was made to punish the gamblers. or these 7o he has since tried only two cases with one convicted and one acquitted two have since plead guilty and four have been dismissed by the prosecuting attorney. leaving 62 now on the court calendar for al most year Record of September Term. 1911.
 At the September term last year there were l42 cases coming over from the March term, 26 appealed cases and 40 Indictments returned, in which arrests were made, making n total of EOS cases.
 What was done with these cases? Of this numher. Wood fried 2f cases with nine convictions and l2 acquit tals, he dismissed 22. one more than he tried. and 22 plead guilty. mostly misdemeanor cases. with small fines He did not try 445 Of these cases, and they are still on the coprt nalanaar