The Sentinel=record., 1913-01-12
SPECIAL GRAND JURY IS
 OFFERED BY JUDGE GOTHAM

mand that something be done to cor rect the conditions as they prevail. and following this, the officers are spurred to an activity that has seldom been seen here before.
 Circuit Judge Gotham returned yes. terday from Little Rock, and he auth orized the following public statement of his attitude in the matter:
 Tt could not have possibly escaped my notice that recent revealments of conditions here in Hot Springs are injurious to the city and to the peo- pie. The circuit court is now in ses- sion, and the circuit judge has the authority to call on the sheriff to sum- mon special grand jury at any time there is no grand jury in session, and when the court is in session.
 T will say to the sheriff or to the prosecuting attorney, that 1 will is. sue the authority for a special grand jury at any time it becomes neces sary. l will cooperate to the end Of law enforcement in Hot Springs in every way.
 ''I will add further that the machin- cry of the law is sufficient for law enforcement in Hot Springs, and if the present officers, aided by a spec ial grand jury, if one be deemed nee essary, found themselves unable to meet the conditions, there will be found a grand jury at the next regu- lar term of court, sufficient to meet the exgiencies of the occasion.
 q do not believe in the prosecution of one case in particular, but l do be. lieye that all violators of the law should be arrested and prosecuted with such vigor and determination that there will cease to exist in Hot Springs at any future time the con ditions that seem to prevail just now
 The county officers can depend or my cooperation at this time, or at any other time, and if my iniative in the matter will serve to the better ment of conditions, and to an enforce ment vof the law in Hot Springs, l am willing to meet any demand.
 Our city is suffering financially and our people are suffering humilia- tion from the recent developments. The work of legitimate business men to the erd of building up the resort is. hampesed by conditions as they exist TOW, and l am glad to see a whole some public sentiment now tsat is unwilling for a continuance of the conditions as they are here at pres ent."
 Prosecuting Attorney Witt. Deputy George F. Wilmington, yesterday au- thorized the statement that they were going to the bottom of the Fox case and would prosecute without fear or favor. every man connected with that swindle, and they added that the same would apply to every other complaint that was brought before them. They snoke as men disgusted with the con ditions that had been coming to light within the past few days, and anxious to prove their willingness to take any steps to correct the evils existing here
 Sheriff Williams declared openly that he had been imposed on as prob ably no other official ever had been He took decided action when he re- fused the bonds that had been made in the Fox cases, and locked all of the men arrested in the county jail, Keeping them there as unit until one made a qualified bond which lib erated him. and which relieved the sheriff of the authority in the matter.
 Furthermore Sheriff Williams de clares that he will serve every paper placed in his hand, and that he will try to make himself the executive of ficer of the county carrying out the wishes of the people, and co-operat ing with the people to whatever end is necessary.
 As a whole, and as a final andy sis. it is pretty safe to say that there will he a change of conditions in Hot Springs hereaftes, and that tbis change will last for some years at least. and probably last forever The sentiment that excused infrequent and moderate violations of the law changed it's attitude under the heel of the most gross imposition, until there are probably not dozen busi- ness men in Hot Springs but who feel that Hot Springs has been injured more on the eve of this season through the deals That have been pull ed off here than it could ever receive benefit from the privileges.
 When the men were arraigned at the morning hearing. Justice DeVall presided in the circuit court room. having removed the hearing there to
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