The Forrest City times., 1913-04-04
JUDGE JACKSON MAKES
 FRIENDS IN FORREST CITY
Holds Court Fourteen Days and Makes Record Casteel Acquitted smith
 Case Nenued to Phillips County

Chc opIItS term, lSio, or the St. Tdfl- cis Circuit Court was adjourned to re. convene again in adjourned session on June 10.
 The term Of court just closed ex. 1 tended over period of fourteen days, during which time the law docket was cleared Of seventy eight and the crim- 1 inal docket of sixty-hye lawsuits, which is new record for business dis 1 patched in this court during the past decade. It is to be understood, of course, that number of these suits were dismissed, some were nolle 1 pressed, others were continued 10 the 1 adjourned term in June, but still a greater number were threShed out and tried before tue court in the usual manner, with various verdicts. as noted i'll this paper.
 When Judge Jackson came 10 For rest City 10 hold court, the local bar's attitude toward him might have been considered critical. and he no doubt felt that the public eye was upon him, but when he returned to his home in Helena Wednesday morning he left friendly bar in Forrest City, and also quite large number of warm friends among our citizenship, with whom he had ingratiated himself by the prompt and business-like manner Tn which he has conducted the affairs of his court. His honor possesses the judicial perament-he has been uniformly courteous to all the attor- neys, and the feeling Of dis0uiet which the Judge met upon coming to For rest City, has been converted into es- teem, friendship and trust.
 During the late session of the legiS- lature the bar here petitioned that body to pass an act providing for tive judges in the first judicial district, but through his tact and alertnesS Judge Jackson has demonstrated his ability to clear the dockets of the dis trict, thereby obviating the necessity or desire for two districts and judges.
 The case of Spybuck Drainage Dis trict No. vs. St. Francis County, in which the Drainage District is suing the county for the sum of 5000 prin- clpal and interest, has not yet been decided by the court, who still has the case under adviSement.
 Just after the noon recess Wednes- day, the court appointed T. A. Buford, Linn Hurley and A. L, Stevens as jury commissioners for St. Francis county for the coming year. It will be the duty of these gentlemen to appoint the jurors, grand and petit, for the next two ensuing terms of the St. Francis Circuit Court.
 State vs Chester Osborn, selling mortgaged property. was the last law suit to be tried before adjournment Wednesday night. and resulted in a verdict as charged in the indictment. Motion in arrest of judgment was filed: motion overruled. exceptions saved appeal prayed and granted and ninety days allowed for bill of excep- tions; bond in the sum of 5000 was made for the defendant and accepted. Since the last issue of The Times the two most important cases that appeared on the criminal docket at the term of court have been disposed of-the CasteeI case finally, and the case of the State vs. Pug Smith, tem- porarily.
 The Casteel jury brought in not guilty verdict at 10 o'clock Monday morning after having been out since saturday evening, considering a yer dict, During the last day of this trial the circuit courtroom was packed by a curious throng. eager and anxious to witness the closing scenes and hear tbe afg"ments of opposing counsel
 ihrlr sing for the state, Hon E. J
 Williams, who assisted in the prose cutie made the most masterly expOsi- tlOn he reSpor abilities. the sover- elgn po""r and the farreaching intiu- enct of d llry. ever delivered before the bar lu Forrest City, or perhaps in the state. There were many ladies pres ent, and they listened with the deep est interest as did the jury and the other spectators, the Judge and the bar, as the siiver-tongued orator pour ed forth the most eloquent appeal for the vindication of justice ever heard here.
 For the defense notable speeches were made by Judge s. H. Mann and Judge NJ. B. Nortleet, and also Attor- ney j. w. Morrow. Despite the fact that the latter gentleman is one of the youngest members of the local bar he IS fast developing into a forceful speaker and his effort before the Gas teel jury brought forth many deserved compliments, While there was noth- ing rhetorical or tiowery about the speeches made by Judge Mann and Judge Noi fleet these two gentlemen tracked the law and the evidence and delivered impassioned pleas in behalf Of their client.
 Proceedings in the case of the State vs. Pug Smith, charged with the kill ing Of the late county treasurer, ]. E. Terry. were started Friday night when bali was secured for Smith in the sum of 5000 on writ of habeas corpus. The next move in the Smith case was made on Monday when the defendant was given change of venue to Phillips county and the case set for trial in Helena on Monday, May l9.
 In getting the case venued and SC curing bail for their client, the Smith defense has scored two successive vic. tories. The accused is represented bv Attorney Fred Harrelson of the firm of HargraveS X Harrelson, assisted by eX- Congressman R. Bruce Macon. of Helena.
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