Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-06-15
Double Wells Row Settled
 by Lawyers
On Promise of Good Behav- for, Fines Entered Against
 Five Defendants.

The Double Wells affray case, wherein about dozen parties were charged with offenses ranging from assault to kill, down to disturbing the peace, came to an end in the munlcl' pal court yesterday evening, when 1t was announced that the attorneys had agreed, in an effort to prevent resent ment and further trouble, that Tom Murdock be permitted to plead guilty to aggravated assault, and be senten- ced to pay a fine of $50 and costs, execution of sentence to be suspended pending good behavior; and that T. J.. Allison and Berley Gray be sentenced ito pay fines of $10 and costs each. The remainder of the cases growing out of the affray on Saturday, June l, were to be dismissed. This agree ment met the approval of Judge Earl s. Wood, and the sentenced as agreed upon entered.
 Tucker Sprawler and Henry Beard- en, accused of assault and battery, for an attack on J. B. Murdock, enter ed pleas of guilty, and were sentenced to pay fines of $10 and costs each. The disposition of the cases came at 5:3O, after nearly eight hours de- voted of testimony, and discussion be- tween Prosecuting Attorney T. C.. Parham, and Deputy Prosecuting At torney E. w. Brockman, representing the state, and Attorneys Creed Cald- we'll, T. Havis Nixon and George R.. Brown, representing the defendants previously named.
 In announcing the agreement arrlv' ed at by the attorneys, Prosecuting Attorney Parham said he personally felt more interest in bringing about peace at Double Wells than anything else, and that the other attorneys were actuated by similar motive. He believed that while Tom Murdock was technically guilty of assault to kill, no injury would convict him, and that to have him held to the grand jury would not serve the best interests of the public. Such action, he feared, might only inflame some of the Mur- dock faction, and precipitate further trouble. He recited the details of the agreement, and expressed the conviction that such action would tend to efface the prejudice and ill feeling between the factions. The prosecutor sounded note of warn ing, however, in asking for suspen- sion of Murdock's sentence pending Egood behavior and because of the mans age and physical and financial condition. "We just want these cases to go over. If there is no further trouble, they'll hear no more about them. But if there is another out break, i've will prosecute on these charges" With that the prosecutor closed, and the court entered senten. ces
 It previously had been agreed that Murdock would be arraigned and that on the testimony taken in his case all the cases would be determined The hearing was tarted last Saturday |when five witnesses testified Elever were heard yesterday.
 The testimony indicated a neigh. borhood quarrel, those of one faction contradicting those of the other.
 The charges grew out of an affray when Henry Bearden was shot in the s!AeQ pueWsD pue '4oqspI!q ql!M d!l slightly wounded in the hand. The charges against Bearden and Tucker Sprawler were based on an attack or J. B. Murdock, who testified he was pulled from his wagon and beaten by the two young men.
 About fifty people attended the hearing, including women and child ren of various ages.