The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1912-12-12
hARLANS HOLD
OPEN SESSION
FEATURING MOCK TRIAL
CASE OF JENNY BRICE" GIVEN
EXCELLENT SETTING BY
HENDRIX SOCIETIES.

The Harlan Literary Society of
Hendrix College held meeting in the
college auditorium last night. In
stead of the usual program,
the feature of the evening was
the trial of Philip Ladley, charged
with the murder of his wife, Jennie
Brice. The Case of Jennie Brice" is
a mystery story running as a serial
in Everybody's Magazine. The pub
fishers have offered number of
prizes to the school, college or society
having the best moot court trial of
this case, also for the one having the
best solution of the mystery. The
Hendrix boys made a fine showing,
and conducted their court like expe-
rienced jurists. Following is re-
port of the trial:
Eve, the jury, find the defendant,
Philip Ladley, not guilty" The above
/ is the verdict rendered last night by
the jury in the case of the state
against Philip Ladley, who was in
dicted by the grand jury for murder
/ in the first degree. Ladley was
charged with having stabbed his
young actress wife, Jennie Brice, to
death.
Court was convened at O'Clock and
the work of securing the jury was be-
gun at once. A large number of
talesmen were examined before the
jury was completed, owing to the fact
that great many of those sub
poenaed had heard witnesses discuss
the case. The following jurymen
We're selected; P. w. Echlin, who was
appointed foreman; j. F. Allinder, /.
N. Fields, r. NJ. Nelson, Sam Heili-
gers, Sr., G. W. A. Wilson, H. c..
Mode, f. Raynor, ] G. Dayton, L. l..
Reed, 7. c. Harmed and l.. N. Bolls.
After securing the jury, the wit
.nesses were brought before the bar
and sworn by Jas A. Anderson, Jr.,
clerk of the court.
Prosecuting Attorney l. c. Neil
stated the case to the jury in behalf
of the state Mr.. Neil pictured to the
jury the details of the crime as he
understood them. Mr.. Neil was fol-
lowed by the Hon Paul H. Millar of
the defense, who declared that the
case was one of persecution rather
than that of prosecution.
The following witnesses were exam
ined J. T. Alexander Oh. A.
Stroupe), j. NJ. Harvey (J. 7. Erwin,
JrD, Ellis Howell (Clyde Ellis), Eli
"a Schaffer I'll. c. Johnston), and
Philip Ladley f. S. Lide), for the de-
fense, and Mrs. Pitman Garter Jen-
kins) D. F. Reynolds Ca L. Millar)
Miss Hope tE. b. HarwelD, Mrs.
Smith 81. w. Hughes), Timothy
Seth (Ross McCormack), G. A. Bron-
son (Grover Cleveland), Mrs. Murrey
/ tW. Walton), Dr. Littlefeld (William
MitchelD, j. H. Holcombe q. NJ.
Peace, and l.. r. Brown stamford
Roberts, for the state
Following the testimony, the court
read the instructions to the jury.
They We're lengthy and covered the
entire case. The court allowed 30
minutes to each side to review the tes-
+ timony.
Mr.. Purkins opened the argument
for the state. He held the jury spell
bound as he detailed the hideous crime
the defendant was charged with. He
declared that a man who would COM
nit such crime should not escape the
electric chair
Mr.. Millar opened the case for the
defense He declared that the state
had absolutely failed to establish 8
single point He also cautioned the
jury about accepting eircumstantial
evidence.
Mr.. Sage, chief counsel for the de-
fense, followed Mr. Millar. In very
forceful manner he reviewed the tes-
timony of both the defense and the
state. He stated that the defense
could admit all the testimony of the
state and still the jury would be con-
vinced of the innocence of the defend
ant.
Mr.. Neil was the last speaker. He
declared the case to be like that of
Richeson and Beattie He reread a
portion of the instructions bearing on
circumstantial evidence, and explained
to the jury the meaning of circum-
stantial evidence. He declared cir
cumstantial evidence to be as good as
any other kind of evidence, provided