The Mena weekly star., 1920-10-28
GRAND JURY ENDS TASK AND REPORTS
Returned 61 Indictments, Mostly for Misdemeanors-Found Records and Property of County in Good Con-
 dition--Congratulates Officers

No poll tax receipts have been is- sued unlawfully in Polk county. The grand jury, after careful investiga- tion in the charge made in various parts of the county, reports that it could find no evidence of any irregu- larities.
 Instead of finding evidences of wrong doing the Investigating body, on the contrary, found that Sheriff J. A. Thornton has been diligent in the work and commended him and his assistants for the benefits that will accrue to the school fund from this work.
 The grand jury completed it's work Friday morning and received it's dis charge from Judge Steel in the after noon. A total of 61 indictments were returned, most of which were for mis- demeanors, including failure to obey the cattle dipping regulations.
 A total of 153 witnesses were ex- amined by the Investigating body. Of the indictments returned only few have been made public Alvin Hughes was indicted for the murder | of Ellis Mankins, and Lee, Conway and Clarence Bryant, three young Wickes youths, were indicted for dy- namiting the dipping vat at Hatton-
 The official report of the grand jury includes the following:
 I've have examined the courthouse and jail and find the jail in very splen- did condition and the prisoners well cared for. Some minor repairs are needed on the courthouse, and we recommend to the Quorum court that sufficient appropriation be made that such needed repairs from time to time may be taken care of on the courthouse. We have examined the Poor Farm, buildings and inmates and find them in excellent condition and well cared for.
 'We have examined the books and records of the county officers, which we find correct and in good condition, and congratulate the people of the county upon the efficient manner in which it's officers are handling it's af- fairs. We desire especially to call at tention of the court to the excellent financial condition of the county. Our attention has been called to what was claimed to be irregularities in the is- suance of Poll Tax Receipts. We have carefully examined into this matter and have not found that any unlawful Poll Tax Receipts have been issued. On the contrary we find that our Col lecting Officers have been diligent in this matter, and sthe funds received therefrom inure greatly to the benefit of the Public School Funds.
 "We desire especially to thanks our officers, who have been so diligent in experimenting persons accused of crime, and especially in the instance of the crime of murder recently com mitted in the county.
 "This being the last regular term of the Polk Circuit Court in which we will be favored with the services of our present Prosecuting Attorney, A. D. DuLaney, the Grand Jury feels that the faithful and efficient services rendered Polk county by Mir. Du- Laney deserves special mention in our final report. We have always found him to be fair, faithful and ef- ficient. And with equal force, we desire to express our appreciation to all other retiring officers.
 We thank the Court for his splen- did charge to our body, and for the many courtesies he, and the other of ficers. have shown us during our in vestigations and deliberations. We are especially grateful to our Bailiff H. F. Potts, for his attentiveness and his willingness to administer to our wants, and now, having completed our duties, we respectfully ask to be dis . charged"
 w. B. THOMAS, Foreman. Attest. CLYDE CUNNINGHAM,
 Clerk.