The Prescott daily news., 1917-01-09
WASHINGTON AND
 HOPE IN NEAR.WAR
Residents of Former City Get Judges Order and Carry Off Records-Men Guard Court House.

Washington, Jan. 8.-Washington scored coup d'etat today in the fight with Hope for the Hampstead county seat. Within a half hour after the county court had been called to order in Hope this morning at 9 o'clock the furniture, books and other parapher- nalia of the county, which have been stored in the warehouse of Hope Hard ware Company at Hope, were on their way to Washington, where they were placed in the old court house, leaving the residents and partisans of Hope gasping for breath.
 The removal was effected upon an order of County Judge Robert L. By CTS, who shortly after the court had been called to order, declared that the county seat the county records, and the furniture and appurtenances of the court should be in Washington. Hhe ordered the sheriff Robert Keel, to take them there. The order was quickly carried out. Perhaps 100 or more Washington partisans were in the courtroom. Outside automobiles and wagons were waiting The books and other paraphernalia were removed from the warehous, hurriedly loaded and started on their way. There was no resistance; the Hope people were taken by surprise, and only after the move had been executed was there talk of reprisal.
 Restraints County Judge.
 Then the people of Hope moved rapidly. They sought legal aid. There was no court or judge in Hope to whom they could appeal. Officers were rushed to Prescott in autos for Judge Geo. R. Haynie of the circuit court, who returned with them and heard the case in vacation. The mat ter was argued by attorneys on both sides, and at the conclusion of the hearing Judge Haynie handed down decision that the county seat is legally in Hope. He issued an injunction res training Judge Byers from holding either county or probate court at Washington. He also decided that Judge Byers was without jurisdiction to order the records removed, and that the order should be set aside
 The injunction was obtained from Judge Haynie at 3 o'clock this after noon. The records had long since been in Washington, and lote tonight they were in the court house here, which was being guarded by a force of men against a possible attempt by Hope to recover them by force or otherwise Attorneys representing Washington will go to Little Rock tomorrow to carry the matter before the State Su- preme Court, and until that body de- cides which is the county seat, Wash ington will resist any attempt to take the books back to Hope. Hope attorneys said today that no such at tempt will be made pending the Su- preme Court declSlOn.
 Judge Byers announced today that he will ignore the order of the Cir cult court and hold his county court here tomorrow
 At an enthusiastic mass meeting at Washington tonight a fund of S135 was collected, to be used to defray the expense of hiring attorneys in the Su- preme court and other expenses.
 Excitement runs high in both towns. Following the meeting here tonight the guards took thier place about the court house. The city of Hope was quiet on the surface, but there are many rumors afoat and threats of re- prisal were freely uttered