The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-03

The jury trying the case against W. L. Parker on the charge of em- bezzling county funds to the amount of S2.2i5Si, after being permitted to cease deliberating on the case at 9:45 Wednesday night, resumed de- liberation at 7:30 o'clock Thursday morning At $40 the jury came in- to open court, reporting that a ver- dict had not yet been reached, the foreman suggesting that it did not seem likely that verdict could be reached. The Court, calling the stenographer, further instructed the jury to the effect that this is a case in which there is no conflicting tes- tlniony, being different from cases in which one witness swears to a certain state of facts and another witness swears to an entirely dif- ferent state of facts; that the law governing the case is plain and sim pie, reminding them in the same connection of their oath under which they had sworn to try the ease solely on the law and the evil dence.
 Finally, after having deliberated from 4:30 o'clock Wednesday even ing until about 7:30 Thursday night, returned into open court and report ed verdict of guilty and the assess ment of five years in the peniten- tiary as punishment. The verdict had doubtless been reached when the jury adjourned for supper, but 1t decided to withhold report un- til the later hour to avoid the con- fusion that might have arisen if the report had been made when the court room was crowded with in- terested parties and spectators. A motion for a new trial was immedi- ately filed by the attorneys for the defendant, and after being over ruled by the Court, the prayer for an appeal was granted, and the de- fendant given 60 days in which to file the bill of exceptions. Formal sentence was waived, and the de- fendant was placed under bond of S2,500 pending the decision of the supreme court.
 The charge brought against w. l.. Parker under indictment No. 5S6, al- leging the embezzlement of certain county warrants, alleged to be the property of R. T. Harrison, Fred Gray. w. W. Townsend, Oscar AL ford, l H. Harrison. j. c. Hoheimer Travis Hunsaker, J. B. Lilies. Bud German. Marion Holder and E. w Snow, was taken up for trail as the first ease when court reopened on Thursday The same attorneys ap- neared in the case as in the trial held Wednesday.
 Tn the selection of the jury to try this ease. T. ?. Davis, Robert Fort ner, S. l. Wood and Jim Cogburn of the regular panel were chosen Calling in the members of the spe- cial venire. John Myatt, Uriel l.. Thacker, Clifton Cunningham. l.. & Watson and George L. Lochridge were selected. At this time the state had exhausted it's ten chal- lenges, and the defense had one re- maining challenge of the 20 to which it was entitled The court directed Sheriff Finger to summon six tales men, suggesting that he take his time and secure good men. Out of this last w. E. Holt, J 4. Hughes and Walter Nance were selected as iu- TOTS. thus completing the list.
 The opening statement for the state was made by Prosecuting At torney A. D. DuLaney, setting forth the history of the reissuance of the county warrants in August and De- cember, 1915, paying particular at tention to the reissue of December, 1915, in which the warrants in ques- ton were issued.
 The statement on behalf of the e------------