The Forrest City times., 1912-11-22
GROSS COUNTY SENSATION.
wood Hammett, Ex- official and Po;- itleai Leader for sixteen Years. Missing Special Grand Jury ordered to Investigate Dis.
 graceful Charges Against
 Ex-Treasurer.


 Tn Cross county are in considerable of muddle. It is claimed that the county has no funds with which to pay oa the teachers, and it is likely to become necessary to suspend the public schools of Cross county. These rumors reached US last week. but With charity, We awaited develope- ments, before giving publicity to q were rumor.
 ouch embarrassing conditions have been brought about, 1t is said. through the oefalcation of MT. A. II. Wood hammett, former treasurer of Cross county, who has failed to make his settlement with the county, and has leit Tor parts unknown without turn Ing the funds of the county over to his successor, Forrest Hamilton. The authorities say they do not know where Hammett can be found. but ms friends say they can produce him at any time, and that when certain matters are cleared up that effect the county, Hammett will come for ward and settle.
 In some quarters it is claimed that political spite work, and a desire to make a scapegoat of Hammett. is re- sponsible for the rumor that the missing man is "in bad. The as sertion has also been made that other officials of the county are as deep in the mud as Hammett is in the mire, and as to what all the true details are, leading up to the present rumpus in Cross county, the public will no doubt be kept in the dark for some time to come
 Hammett has been leader in Cross county politics the past sixteen years. He served four years as sheriff, four years as clerk, and four years as treasurer. He has always borne the reputation of being white" and
 square IL is hard for his friends to believe that he has absconded at this late hour with the funds of the l people who have trusted and honored him. Wood Hammett also has a le- zion of good friends in Forrest City and St. Francis county, who, even in the face of the damaging rumors that are being circulated to his disgrace and discredit, stand up in his defense aad stoutlt proclaim that he is an l honorable man, at the same time de- claring themselves willing 10 help l him, and expressing the belief that when the time comes, Hammett will cosle up and settle like a man, and i like the true servant of the people he has always heretofore been sup posed to have been.
 The sum of money which Hammett is accused of having embeZZled is va riously estimated at from S35, ,0Ge 00 to sSeJ600 00.
 MT s. s. Kirby, former deputy sherik, but at present coroner of Cross county, in company with his friend. Mir Willie Cook, passed through this city Saturday, and upon being interviewed by a Times man stated that Judge Gwatney had or dered the empaneling of a special grand jury. which met on Monday of 1 this week 10 investigate the charges against Hammett Coroner Kirby in- timated that this grandjurv' deliber ations might in all probability result in a house cleaning in Cross county, i in which I1ammett's record would compare faYorably with some others that no doubt would come Tn for con siderable airing. The Cross county coroner said that Hammetts friends were going To stand by him, and that the missing man was going to settle up according to law. At least, such was his opinion. and the opinion If a number of other citizens of Gross county who knew Hammett well. Another report that has been cir culated here and which makes Ham mett's side of the case lock somewhat dark. is to the effect that all of Ham mett's property has been made over to one of his sons, but The Times does not know whether there is any foundation or not for this story.
 It is also stated that his bond is practically worthless, and judging from the many yrumors We have heard, the people of Cross county have been yillainously imposed upon,not only by Uammett. but by others high in au- thority. We hope MT Hammett will justify the confidence of hls friends, and come forward and make Ills set tlement.