The Mena weekly star., 1918-06-20


 The special term of Polk Circuit court convened at S:3O a. m, Monday. Judge Lake, after the fifty special petit jurors had been called and few excused for legal reasons, had called into court the four prisoners indicted for murder in the first de- gree, to-wit: Ben, Edmund and Lon Caughron and Bab Rzrkey. Prose cutting Attorney DuLaney elected to try the case of Ben c. Caughron first. and he was arraigned, Attorney B. ]. Stuart acting as attorney for the de fense. He asked for delay in trial of the case until after dinner, but this was denied by the court. After consulting his client, a jury was se- lected to try the case, the jurors be- ing principally from in and around Mena, as follows: J. R. Neal, Win Lunsford, W. R. Cole, M. T Francis, Ben Goolsby, Edgar York, J. R. Wat kins, J. c. Wood. c. T. Blackwell, c. F. Lunsford, w. F. Ford, I. N. Hilton.
 After all the witnesses for the state had testified, the defendants attor- ney placed him upon the stand, and the Prosecuting Attorney brought out the fact that he and his brothers and others were members of the secret order, the Working Glass Union, and he had even organized one lodge.
 Ben Caughron Pleads Guilty.
 At the last minute, after all the evidence was in and the judge had given his instructions to the jury, the defendants attorney arose and said:
 "I desire, in behalf of the defend ant to withdraw the plea of not gull ty, and to enter plea of guilty of first degree murder"
 The court thereupon stated that 1t still remained the duty of the jury to bring in verdict and fix the punish ment, or else find a verdict of guilty and leave the court to assess the pun ishment. which would be death in the electric chair. The court then asked the attorneys how long they desired to argue the case before the jury, and each agreed upon thirty minutes. As usual the state opened and closed the argument.
 J. I. Alley as attorney for Mark Towery, indicted in five cases, one for burglary. one for selling whisky, one for making whisky, one for making whisky and one for carnal abuse. en- tered a plea of guilty in all of them, asking the court to let sentences run concurrently.
 Nick Martin and Barney Thomas, appointed by the court to represent Joe Kerr in three cases. indictments for making, selling and manufactur- ing whisky, entered pleas of guilty.
 Given Death Penalty.
 Just as court was adjourning the jury out in the Ben C. Caughron case came into the court room and stated to the court that they were stied up.r The court asked them how they stood and was informed the jury stood to , on the last ballot taken. Judge Lake, in impressive language, told them how important it was that they find verdict and said he would let them continue in session and to look into. the case carefully and try to find verdict, saying that in case they did he could be found at the hotel and would at once relieve them. One of the jury requested the judge if pos sible that he have the courts instruc tions sent to them in their room, and the court stated that this could only be done by agreement of attorneys and he would do so if possible. About 10 o'clock the jury reached decision and when the judge appeared, re- turned verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree s;s enlarged in the indictment"
 Edmund Gets Life Sentence.
 After the trail of Ben c. Caughron Monday, the prosecutor took up the