The Mena weekly star., 1916-04-20
CIRCUIT COURT
 HAS CONVENED
q B. Connally Chosen as Foreman of inc Grand Jury-W. H. Collins Is Acting Prosecutor. Abe Col
 Iins Detained by Sick Child.

morning by Judge J. T. Bowling, and was opened with prayer by the Rev | B. Sims of the M. E. Church south
 After the invocation Judge Cow ling introduced the Rev. Mr. Gard per. representing the Orphans Home at Monticello, to permit him to present the claims of that insti- tuition on the benevolence of the people of Polk county. Mir. Gardner gave briefly history of the found- ing of the institution, the number of children now at the orphanage. the need for financial assistance for the maintenance of the home and the care of the wards, closing with an appeal for voluntary contribu- tions to which quite liberal re- sponse made by those in his hearing.
 The persons selected for grand jury duty and also the alternate grand jurors were called to the jury box for the selection of the jury for the term. On roll call all but B. P. Lichlyter and J. H. Loden responded. J. O. Gates had previously been ex- cused by the court. J. C. Garland and J. c. Quinn asked for relief from service on the plea that they had recently sustained injuries which produced physical discom- fort making the service harmful and irksome. Both were excused.
 Will Corr, A. J. Davis, Julius Me- Govern and James Brawley, four persons confined in the county jail awaiting the action of the grand jury, were brought before the court to offer challenges or objections to those selected as grand jurors. No objections being offered, the prison CTS were remanded to the county jail.
 The following named persons were present to constitute the grand jury; c. B. Connally, Alex Boggs, D. Barton, T. NJ. Hunsaker, J. E. Chambers, T. J. Barton. J. B. Hilton, c. J. Watkins, J W. philpot. Harri- son Thompson, J. w. Moseley. G. B. Bates, T. J. Walker, Chris Hoover, John Dodd, and M NJ. Shields Hen " Daniels and H. $. Arnold, the two remaining persons, were ex- cused by the court
 Judge Bowling appointed ". H.. Collins of DeQueen as prosecuting attorney pro tenn to ofliciate for Prosecuting Attorney Abe Collins who was unavoidably absent, being at Kansas City with his sick child. After taking the oath. Senator Col lins selected C. B. Connally as fore man of the jury.
 After giving general instructions as to the duties of the foreman as the presiding officer of the jury, and after suggesting in a general way how the work of the grand jury may be conducted in orderly, expeditions and systematic way, Judge Cowling took up such sections of the crimin- al statutes as are most frequently violated in this and other counties of the circuit. He pointed out that it was the duty of the grand jury to examine the jail and poor farm, to inquire into the conduct of busi- ness by all public officials, and par ticularly those officers charged with the collection of fines, costs and other funds due the county.
 Among the criminal statutes ex- plained to the jury were those on arson, assault in the several de- grees, bigamy, bribery and embrace ment, burglary. carrying concealed weapons, disturbing the peace, breach of the peace, disturbing re- ligious worship, false pretenses, forgery and uttering forged instru- ments, gaming, homocide, larceny and embezzlement, malicious mis- chief, perjury. and subornation of perjury, profanity, Sabbath break ing, illegal sale of liquor, public drunkenness, wife abandonment and the laws relating to the protection of minors. Under the head of gam ing, Judge Bowling called attention to recent decision of the Arkansas Supreme Court wherein a convic- ton on the charge of maintaining a pool table in violation of law was sustained by the court. The court suggested that parties operating pool halls be called before the grand jury and told about this decision and notified that conducting pool hall is in violation of law so that they may become familiar with the law and the action of the court be- lore proceedings are instituted against them. Judge Bowling fur ther stated that case from his cir cult involving this statute was now pending in the Supreme court and would be decided very soon.
 At the completion of the charge of the jury Sheriff H. w Finger an- nounced the appointment of $. B. Wallace as bailiff and thereupon the court dismissed the jury to begin the work of the term.
 Following the empanelling and charging of the grand jury, the court empanelled the petit jury for this term of court. Of those select ed by the jury commissioners the following failed to appear, having either been excused by the court or having removed from the county C R. Embry, Henderson Sargent Fred Cfrfrblopd MT R RarfOn and