Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-04-21
Jury of Well Known Men Return Verdict of Not
 Guilty Early Today.
ANOTHER TEMPERED
 WITH ADAMS LETTER
TeStifying in Own Behalf. MT. TOmme Repeated That Letter on Which Charge Was Based Was "DOc-
 tored' by an Enemy.

w. P. Tomme, departmental chief one of the best known residents of Pine Bluff, was found not guilty of charges of forgery and uttering, as a result of the trial held yesterday in the circuit court, under indictment brought in by the grand jury some weeks ago.
 The verdict was brought in at 12:35 o'clock Saturday morning. after the jury had deliberated only 40 minutes. The following were the jurors:
 J. T. Crawford. Caesar Tomasewski, c. E. Lytle, Fred Assman. T. B. Reed, c. A. Barnes. w. c. Poss, o. F. Teds- trom, Sam Levi, Collier Lee, E. H. Summons and Jo Nichol.
 Throughout the day, the courtroom was well filled with friends of Mir Tomme and his family, and when the verdict was returned there were still many of his friends present despite the late hour, and these made known their pleasure, and shook him by the hand.
 The trial occupied the time of the court throughout the day. It was taken up immediately after court con- vened for the day. Not until about noon was the jury box filled, three vcnires of jurymen being summoned before all the necessary jurors were obtained. Testimony was offered dur ing the afternoon. Mrs. T. E. Adams being the first witness for the prose- cution. Mr. sTomme himself was the first witness for the defense, being on the witness stand about an hour, and leaving the chair about 6 o'clock, whereupon the court recessed for din- ner. for an hour
 Old Citizens Testify for Tomme. Not the least interesting and signi- ficant feature of the trial occurred at the night session, when the defense placed a dozen or more of the oldest residents and best known citizens of Pine Bluff on the witness stand, to testify as to the character of Mir. Tomme. Men who have lived here for periods ranging from 15 to @ years, and all of whom have known MT. Tomm for 15 years to "all his life", spoke in the highest terms as to his reputation for truth and veracity, hon. esty and reliability.
 
 shortly after o'clock. Arguments about 11:5 50 o'clock. Immediately after the verdict was returned, at 12:35 o'clock, court adjourned until this morning.
 MT. TOmme was accused of having altered a letter over the signature of the late T. E. Adams, and to have en- deavored to obtain money from Mrs. T. E. Adams on the strength of said letter, which was in the nature of an agreement by MT. Adams to pay MT. TOmme certain sums, for work of private nature performed by MT. Tomme for MT. Adams, during the lifetime of the latter. MT. Tomme had served as chief clerk to MT. Adams, who was superintendent of motive power for the Cotton Belt and it was at that time, that the private services were rendered.
 Declares Letter "DOctOred."
 MT. Tomme contended, as a witness, as he had done immediately the charge was filed against him, that the letter on which the charges were based was not the letter which he possessed, but was a letter which had been doc tored," MT. Tomme asserting that some one had thus endeavored to "do him." While nothing direct was of fered during the trial to definitely connect any person with this charge. the defense, in it's examination of the witness, sought to show that there was ample opportunity for papers ill Mr. Tomme's desk to be handled by several persons other than himself.
 MT. Tomme was defended by At torneys w. F. Coleman, N. J. Can't and T. Havis Nixon, while the inter ests of the state were looked after by Prosecuting Attorney T. C.. Parham and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney B. w. Brockman.