The Mena weekly star., 1918-05-30
THE DAFFRONS ARE INDICTED
 FOR FIRST DECREE MURDER.
(continued From First Page.l

, lations of the law prohibiting the run ming at large of scrub male animals. stating that he had been informed that men who were opposed 10 tnls law had threatened to castrate the
 blooded animals owned by farmers
 who were endeavoring to build up the cattle and hog industry. This matter, too, he stated would be brought to the
 attention of the grand jury at the regular term.
 Before remanding the prisoners to the county jail, Judge Lake advised them that in the event the grand jury returned indictments against them it would be necessary for them to pre- pare for trial by the employment oi attorneys. Both of the men stated that they were unable to employ counsel one of them stating that all the prop erty he had was a team of pomes' and the other that he had no property whatever.
 During the session of the grand jury Thursday, an indictment was returned against s. E. (Eli) Dafiron, charging him with murder in the first
 
 degree in the killing of A. D. Boatner- Thereupon the court appointed Col. Pole McPhetrige, Judge ". N. Martin and B. J. Stuart as attorneys for the defendant.
 Trial of Solomon Eli Daffron.
 The trial of M. E. (Eli) Daffron on the charge of killing A. D. Boatner on April 28, at the Daffron home west of Grannis, was begun at o'clock p. m., Saturday and the first witness, Mike Daffron, was placed on the stand at 2:20 o'clock. The case for the state is being handled by Prose- cutting Attorney A. D. DuLaney, As sistant George Steel and Deputy w. Prickett. The attorneys for the de- fense are Col. Pole McPhetrige, B. J. Stuart and Judge W. N. Martin.
 The case is being tried before the following jurors: J. N. Quinn, G. A. Converse, George Scott, Bert Pirtle, Hey Hudgins, o. R. Ogden, A. A. Blair, Horace Chambers, J. D. Kaylor, j. E. Wallace, B. F. Stinnett and c. M. Rose.
 The indictment on which the case was tried charges Solomon Eli Daff- ron with murder in the first degree and alleges that "the defendant on the 28th day of April. 1918, did un- lawfully, feloniously and of his malice aforethought and after deliberation and reconciliation kill and murder oHe A. D. Boatnef by shooting him, the said A. D. Boatner, with cer- tain gun, which the said Solomon Fi. pafron. th1snn and there held in his hands, the said gun being then and there loaded with gunpowder and leaden bullets"
 The witnesses examined by the state were Mike Daffron, Sheriff H. W. Finger, c. W. Tolie, w. E. Hun gate, Will Alexander and Dr. J. l. Philpot in direct testimony, and D. E. Stevenson in rebuttal. The defend ant was the only witness introduced on behalf of the defense. The testi- mony was concluded at o'clock that afternoon, and after the court in- structed the jury in the law relating to first and second degree murder, the arguments of the attorneys was be- gun, each side being granted 30 min utes, and at 5:25 o'clock the jury re- turned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, the penalty for which is electrocution.
 The testimony of the defendant and his brother was to the effect that on Sunday, April 28, A. D. Boatner came to their home to get them to make out the government food pro- duction card; that Boatner had called Eli an idiot and then a vile name, and that thereupon Eli shot him, and further that Eli shot him because he was mad at him and because he be- lieved Boatner had burned his house.
 The court room was packed during the progress of the trial, but the best of order prevailed turnout the hear ing.
 Grand Jury Finds Mike Daffron Im-
 plicated-Eli Daffron Trial.
 The special grand jury Friday returned an indictment against Mike Daffron on the charge of murder in the first degree, consisting in com plieity in the killing of A. D. Boatner, west of Grannis on Sunday, April 2S. He was brought into open court on Friday and the indictment served on him, and after announcing to the court that he was unable to employ counsel, the court appointed Col. Pole McPhetrige, B. J. Stuart and Judge W. N. Martin to look after his de- fense.
 Mike Daffron On Trial for Murder
 The trial of Mike Daffron, charged swith his brother, Solomon Eli Daffron, with killing A. D. Boatner on Sunday, April 28, at the Dafffon home west of Granis, was begun. on Monday , State was represented by Prosecut- ing Attorney A. D. DuLaney and Dep uty Wright Prickett, while Col. Pole McPhetrige, B. J. Stuart and Judge w. N. Martin were attorneys for the defendant.
 ! The following named citizens were selected as jurors to try the case: K A. Thomas, Gailord Wright, John Wise, Phil Schneider, J. F. Bass, W s. Cox, c. W. Wiles, c. L. Harris, w L. Howard, ]. F. Holland, A. w Hawkins and Walter Gray.
 1 The opening statement was made | Al IltxI .aV ax