Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1914-01-08
SET CRIERSON FREE.
.JRY REACHED DECISION IN
FIVE MINUTES
Tried ON Penitentiary Charge io'
Theft OF Pineapple syrup
From BOX Car

when his case went to district
court jury. He was charged with
breaking a seal on a box car IN
Harrington and taking from the car
4 two-gallon Jug containing pineap-
ple syrup for soda fountain use'
valued at 81. The jury was out
rot more than five minutes when IL
returned q verdict for acquittal'
That the verdict was in sympathy
with the wishes Of the hearers VINO
filled the court room was evident
from the outburst of applause that
greeted the verdict. and caused
Nudge King to rap for order.
The, box car was broken into IN
NAY. and Grierson, then an employee
Of the company, was charged with
TIA, theft. Lawyers for both sides
Emitted that whoever took the jug
thought 1t contained booze. County
Attorney Hurd based the prosecu-
Aion entirely on circumstantial EVIL
dance. but the case for the state was
none too strong. The defense ar
eued that the theft was committed
by someone unknown to the court.
Judge King instructed the jury to
find the defendant not guilty unless
the cifcumstantial evidence was
auch that any other theory OF the
theft was clearly inconsistent.
Grierson, who now lives at Kan
sas City, was defended by W. W.
McCanless, now of Kansas City,who
as county attorney conducted the
prosecution in the famous tar
marty" case at Shady Bend. A dam,
age suit instituted by Grierson
against the Rock Island was limited
at yesterday in the court room.
Refuses Habeas Corpus Writ
Judge King refused writ of ha-
beas corpus applied for by Attorney
John Hessin of Manhattan, asking
for the release from sanitarium
At Bonner Springs of John LOUDER
: retired business man of Junction
CITY. LOUDER was adjudged insane in
probate court hearing, and Judge
King ruled that it was not within
his jurisdiction to go into the mat
ter of Loubers sanity.
Parole for Milford; Brownell Insane
william Milford this morning
Dleaded guilty to the charge OF ac-
cessory after the fact in connection
with the arson cases at Harrington
Jndge King suspended sentence
pending Milford's good behavior and
Milford left at once for his nome
in Kingman county. The charge
against Milford was changed from
arson to the one to which. he plead
ed guilty. The sentence could De
made five years in the penitentiary
but the charge will not be pressed
unless Milford gets into trouble
again.
Milford was running a shoe store
in Heffrgton when the fire was set
Because of debts and poor business
was persuaded by the others to JOIN
with a wife and two babies. This
wife a wife and two babies, and this
was an added reason why the cour'
was inclined to clemency. Milforc
has family connections that are high
Nv reputable. John H. Connaughton
county attorney of Kingman coun
H Nv. and C. c.. Calkins were here anc
snterceded for Milford, pronisinl
that they would help him to get Z
good start.
In probate court w. c. Brown
ell was adjudged insane today by
Commission after considerable ties
t;mony had been taken. Brownell II
hopelessly addicted to drugs. Th'
action was brought in probate cour
with the sa1&F.on of Harrison. Park
man, state fire marshal. G. N
Miller, deputy fire marshal was her
at the trial.
The suit of Thomas Major VS.
David Major, father against son, i
being tried this afternoon. Tn
~uit is toe recover team Of mule
alleged to have been given by Ma
4or to his son, and then taken back