Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-05-01
Judge Grace Grants Change of Venue and Sends Case
 to Star City.
IS SET FOR SEPT. 1e
Judge Grace Says There Is Strong Feeling Against The Defendants
 In This County.

The trial of Ed and Cullen Mcvay under indictment on first degree murder charge in connection with the killing of J. w. Ethridge, of Fall Back, Mississippi, who was shot down as he was leaving the circuit court room in the court house here on November 20, last year, will be heard at Star City, in the Lincoln circuit court. on September 16
 Judge Grace granted the application of Attorneys Lewis Rhoton and J. M, Shaw, counsel for the defendants, Tuesday morning. when their cases were called. asking change of venue on the ground that the sentiment in this county was so strong against the accused men that they could not get 3 fair and impartial trial in this city. The motion for a transfer of the case to another county in the dis
 
 twelve residents of this county, who testified that they knew the feeling to be strong against the McVays in Jefferson county and in their opinion they did not think the defendants could get an unprejudiced jury to hear the case in this county.
 The affidavits were filed by s. l.. Bobo, T. F. Sorrells, I. Reed, J. R. and Q. H., Schultz, J. H. King, J. s. Barra- que, Julius Leitner, B. s. Brannon, 1T. F. Spires, s. D. Wilson and Jeff Wallace.
 About fifty witnesses were in court to testify in the case and the two defendants, who have been in the county jail since the day of the Eth ridge killing, and their families, were also present. With their wives were their eleven small children, not one of whom is over ten years of age. w. A. Ethridge ST, father of the slain man, and many other witnesses came here from Monticello to give testi- mony Attorney J. c. Knox, was also ready for the trial.
 The action of Judge Grace in send ing the case to Lincoln county came as no surprise as it was generally known that Judge Grace would grant the change of venue if it was sought. Judge Grace said there were two req sons why the McVays should be tried in another county. One of them, he said, was that the defendants were en- titled to a fair and impartial trial By the examination of more, than 200 tall ismen at the trial of John M. McVay, a few months ago, who was convicted of 8 charge of murder in the first degree for the killing of Ethridge and whose case is still pending in the Supreme Court, he said he found that there was considerable feeling against the and that the newspaper ac- counts of the trial of John McVay gave the cases additional notoriety. The statute requires onlyi two affida-
 
 wits of reputable citizens to warrant a change of venue, but in this case, there were twelve. The court express ed belief that jury of men could be secured from the remote localities who have expressed no opinion in the case.
 Judge Grace said the trial in this county would mean an expense of several thousand dollars and that in another county the expense of the hearing would be greatly lessened.
 The attorneys for the defendants will likely make an effort within the next few days to secure the re- lease of the McVays on bond. AL though MT. Rhoton stated yesterday chat this matter had not been discus eed by counsel, it is known that the are anxious to get their free dom from the county jail during the summer months and will insist on their lawyers taking some action with that end in view