Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-02-08
Three of Them Thanked
Judge Grace After He
Had Sentenced Them.
NIXON WAS "SHOWN."
District Attorney Parham Digs Tn
Recent Decision Of the
Supreme Court.

When three negroes, who entered
pleas Of guilty to grand larceny and
burglary charges in the Jefferson
circuit court yesterday afternoon
were sentenced by Judge A. B. Grace
each of the negroes said Thank you
SIR 1t was evident that the negroes
were pleased at not being given
longer terms. They were Anderson
Nelson and James Eddington, one
year each, and Frank Perry, burglary
three years.
When Nelson was called Judge
Grace asked him to stand up. He
said he wanted to plead guilty TO
had given him the minimum punish
men, one year, he said, apparently
greatly relieved:
THANK you Sir"
Rather expensive pork, replied
the jurist as he called the next de-
PENDANT, Eddington. The latter had
stolen a bicycle and he admitted that
he was guilty. He also responded
with the ''thank you Sir" after the
court had passed sentence Oh him.
Frank Berry did not get off so
| lightly. He said he was guilty Of
| breaking into Cotton Belt box car.
! The minimum punishment for such a
violation is years and that was the
punishment fixed by Judge Grace.
Berry showed equal appreciation,
also responding happily with THANK
you sir"
| Charles Williams, burglary and
grand larceny, was given a total of
| four years. He said he was guilty
of breaking into the depot at Wabba-
seka and of stealing goods belonging
| to Wells-Fargo & Company.
Elmo Miller was given three years
for burglary and one year for grand
| larceny when he entered his plea.
IMarrel Wesson, the last of the six
defendants, said he was guilty of
burglary and grand larceny and he
also got four years.
Parham Convinced Nixon.
When the six defendants were
brought into court by Deputy Sheriff
Dave Glover, Attorney Havis Nixon,
who formerly represented Wesson,
did not approve of his entering a
plea of guilty to a charge of burglary
He said his client admitted the grand
larceny charge, but the negro said
that the stable door at Sheriff.,
where he had stolen sacks of seed,
| was open when he went there and
that he did not "break into" the
building to carry out his larceny
| Attorney Nixon contended that to
sustain the charge of burglary the
state would have to show that the
defendant forcibly entered the stable
and that as the door was open, only
grand larceny had been committed.
District Attorney T. G. Parham con-
| tended that j. M. Barrett had testi-
fled before the grand jury that the
negro had broken open the door OF
the stable Mr.. Nixon finally agreed
that if District Attorney Parham
would show him supreme coure de-
cision bearing out the district at
torneys contention that burglary can
be committed at place where doors
are left open, he would permit his
client to enter plea to the charge.
| District Attorney Parham i'm
mediately presented decision OF
Supreme Court Justice Carroll ID.
Wood, who held that burglary had
been committed where defendant
had walked into an open saloon, with
the employees present, in the night
time and stolen twelve bottles OF
whiskey.
| Mr.. Nixon then turned to his client
and said II leave you with your God
the district attorneys conscience and
the court"