Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-04-05
by the state.

your letter nel0 Tn GCrlcI commence.
 by the state.
 The action of the prosecuting at torney provoked no surprise among those who had folclwed closely the testimony presented in the Green case, and made observations therefrom. 1t was realized by these that it would be useless expense to the county to try tn remaining cases, as there was less likelihood of jury finding verdict against the accused in any of them than on the one in which an acquttal was returned. As to the testimony i seeming to involve MT. Reidinger, it was pointed out that none of this was met at the trial of MT. Green, end that he would appear in an entire lv different light if he presented tes- timony to refute that given at the trial of he constable. The failure of George Converse, one of the detectives upon whose testimony the indictments were returned, to appear to give testi- mony at the trial, made it unlikely that much weight would be given his testimony even if he should be induc- ed to come here and testify, it was de clared.
 The verdict of "not guilty" in the Green case was discussed generally yesterday, ard there were some who had not heard nor read the testimony inclined to censure the jury for it's de cision. The attention of these per sons were called to the fact that an aroused person is not tried upon sthev saw rumors ard "I hear" allega- tions, unsupported by evidence, but npon testimony presented at a trial: hat the law presunes accused Innocent until he has been proved guilty "be- vond a reasonable doubt" and that under the circumstances it was high ly improbable that any twelve men would have rendered verdict diff ferent to that returned by the jury which tried the conspiracy charge against MT. Green.
 Ends Sensational Case.
 The dismissal of the charges against the constable and his deputy and the eetting aside of the orders removing them from office brought to an end a case that had many sensational features. The indictments against the officials were returned at a special session of the grand iury on January 2. 1918. and was followed by their suspension under Jaw providing that unco the indictment of an official he shall be s1lsnended from office. MT. Green and his friends char0ed that "politics are behind it." and asked tho+ the public withhold judgment un- til both sides had been heard. An immediate trial was asked MT. Green offering to defrav the cost. irrespect- i've of the outcome. The cases were first set for trial on March 4, but wore continued to April 2 on motion of tho state because of the absence of tho drtnctives. Converse ard Hargrove. All of the witnesses called were pres cnt at the trial. with the execution of | Converse. and the names of several people not acucsnd ware brought in by witnesses for the state, whose teS- 4imonv later was contradicted bv Mr. Groan teetifving in his own hoha'f,
 Following tho susnension of Mr. 1 Crenn as constable. the governor an- 1 nointed C. c. Rrnwster to servn in that rositon Mr Brewster had been 1 iuctice of tho neacn
 Hncn res,roin~ office vneterdav Mr. Groom annouoced ha would retain A. q. Mavberrv and Ciff Plllir oton as dennties. Mir Peidinge~ declined ro- aprointment being in the emnlov of tho Arkansas Short Loaf Lumher companv. declined reanpointment for the nresent. as hn iS in chargo of q number of snecial officers enoarnd in ouardnp industrial plants and afford ir@ protection aoainst spies and Ger man aoents Mr, Green authorized tho following statement:
 "From the moment that I was indict- cd l asked my friends not to pass iudoment upon my eases until all the nvidonce had been heard Tuesday and Wednesday I was tried by a jury of the hest citiZens of Jefferson county who heard inc evidence and I was promptly acouittnd hv the jury, as l knew l wonld be. This case on which l was tried was conceded by the prosecuting attorney to be the stronc- oct and as the evidence was not sui f'cent in that case to convict mo. all tn, other cases against me and mv deputy, Mr. Reidinoer, were dismissed this morning and I am now reinstated in lnv office as constable of Vaugine township.
 "I war to assure the peonle of Pine Bluff and Vauoine township that am going to enforce the law to the