The Forrest City times., 1913-05-23
spTIC SMITH FREED
 OF TERRY MURDER
Jurv st Helena Returns a Verdict
 of Not Guilty.
CELEBRATED THREE HOURS
Was Tried on Change of Venue From ,t. Francis County COurt-PrO- ceedings Occupied Practi-
 cally All of One Day.
c nocial to The Times.

snecial to The Times.
 HELENA, Ark, May 20.-The jury [, the murder case of Pug Smith re- turned verdict of acquittal at S:30 tonight
 Following an afternoon devoted to able argument and brilliant oratory m the part of counsel for both state and defense in the case of Pug Smith, of Forrest City, charged with the killing of Banner Terry, former county treasurer of St. Francis County, the case was handed to the jury just be- fore the afternoon recess at o'clock.
 The case was transferred from the St. Francis County Circuit Court to Phillips County Circuit Court, under change of venue proceedings. Up wards of D witnesses and others from St Francis County arrived in Helena yesterday for the purpose of partici- hating in the hearing, or as friends of those involved. Rarely in local court annals has there appeared more brilliant array of legal talent secured from all parts of the country. NJ. B. Norheet, of Forrest City, delivered an able plea, on behalf of the state during the early afternoon. Among other at torneys for the prosecution are Hons. R.J. Williams, s. H. Mann and o. B. Rollwage, of Forrest City, and F. R. Andrews of Helena. The defense is represented by Hon. R. B. Macon of Helena, and Fred Harrelson, of For rest City.
 Judge Jackson did not charge the iury until after the noon recess, the hours of the forenoon being occupied in examining witnesses. Judge Jack son assigned 30 minutes to each coun- sel.
 In the evidence tbis morning the state endeayored to show premedita- tion in the killing of Terry by Smith. The former was shot on the afternoon of February , in the rear of the pre- miSes of Smith, by the latter, and died shortly afterwards. The defense ayerred that the defendant on the afternoon of the tragedy was prepar- ing to leave town and had gone home to pack his belongings; that while packing he found his pistol and stuck it in his pocket, On his discovering the deceased in his Smith 's) backyard scufe is said to have ensued and but one shot fired from the fatal weapon, which struck Terry and later ended his life.
 Judge Jackson's charge to the jury was brief but comprehensive, and his honor on ordering recess for supper, announced that he would reopen tonight to receive their verdict, pro- vide they had reached one
 Dispatches from Helena earlier in the week stated that the court ex- perienced very little difficulty in securing a jury in the Pug Smith murder case, and the trial proceeded without delay. About 50 citizens of Of this county attended the trial, some as witnesses and others as spectators and friends of the principals. The evidence was all in, the instructions given and arguments made by , o'clock Tuesday evening, when the Jury took the case and retired for deliberation, The unwrltten law was the main defense of Smith, he also claiming self-defense. The jury was out only three hours, when they returned a verdict of not guilty, and smith is free man.
 Prosecuting Attorney Rachaels was assisted by Hons. R, J. Williams, > H. Mann, Q. B. Rollwage and M. $ Norileet, of Forrest City, and r. k. Andrews, of Helena, and the de- Tense was represented by Mir. Fred Harrelson of this city, and Hon. k. B. Macon, of Helena.
 The family and friends of deceased believe that the law has been outrag- ed by this decision, while many others, believing the story of the des- ecration of Smiths home, think that the verdict could not have been Otherwise.