The Mena weekly star., 1921-04-21
.DR. COCHRAN ASKS S25,OOO DAMAGES
Enters Suit Against B. T. Stubbs Oklahoma Man. Who Recently Brought Charges Against the Doc
 ton-Grand Jury Unusually Busy.

One of the largest amounts of dam ages ever asked in a suit filed in Polk county circuit court is the $25, ,000 that Dr. c. Cochran of Mena asks from B T. Stubbs of Brick, Ok. The suit was filed Tuesday afternoon, service being obtained on the Oklahoma man just prior to his return home from attend ing grand jury summons at the pres ent session oi court.
 Dr. Cochran alleges that he is a 'vistim of malicious prosecution on the part of Stubbs, having been arrested on charge of obtaining money by false pretenses. The Mena man also relates how he was tried in a justice court and found not guilty. The origi- nal charge made against Dr. Cochran by Stubbs, grew out of sale of Mena realty, in which W. M. Patrick of Mena was also involved, and in which deal Stubbs claimed to have been given worthless notes.
 Judge Steel is keeping the petit jurors and members of the local bar busy during the present term of court He IS disposing of cases without loss of time and promised the jurymen to let them be at home Saturday to "get Tn the stove wood for Sunday dinner. T
 A familiar figure is missing from the court room this term of court for Dill Lane is no longer there as official recorder. For more than twenty years MT. Lane has at.ead2d the scmi-an- nual sessions of court and recorded the findings of judge and jury. His advanced age and failing health made It impossible for the veteran to handle the work with the old time skill, and h retired from the courts service. Cir cult Clerk w. L. Parker is directing the official recording for the present term.
 A case that attracted considerable attention was disposed of Wednesday morning when jury reversed the yer dict rendered in justice court in the case of B. V. Garden against James Swiger. The suit involved some money and articles of wearing apparel said to have belonged to the late Julius Garden, and which Swiger found hidden in the woods, east of Mena. As executor of his brothers estate, Garden brought suit and won a verdict in the lower court. A jury composed of J. B. Goss, c. E. Ander- son, F. J. Greiner, Sim Lawrence, J. E. Wilkins, w. P. Whisenhunt, E. P Titus, E. P. Twiford, L. H. Johnson, George finders, J. c. Gibson and J. s, Pollard, heard the evidence in the cir cult court and returned verdict in favor of Swiger.
 The grand jury is having an unusu- ally busy time and Prosecuting At torney George Steel, who is directing the work himself this year, this being his first term of court in Polk county since elected to office, is likely to set 8 new record for number of indict- ments found. The jury expects to be able to complete its work Thursday.
 Cases disposed of Tuesday after noon and Wednesday included the fol- lowing:
 c. M. Lofts vs. B. F. Jackson, ver- dict for plaintiff and judgment of $232, with interest.
 Dover Mercantile Co., vs. Missouri Lumber Co.,, verdict for plaintiff with judgment for $61599 and interest.
 A case on trial Wednesday after noon revealed old time history in Polk NO0htJs lhC cdAt WaH bildb OI MAT garet Frederick vs. Bert Pirtle, and involved the title to fine farm in the Dallas valley, now owned and occu- pied by the defendant. Evidence was adduced to show that the first change in title of interest in the present suit was in 1879 when Mrs. Sarah J. Pirtle, mother of the plaintiff, is said to have transferred the land to ]. C. Hudgins. Later the farm passed into Bert Pir- les possession. The contention of the plaintiff concerns the manner in which the present owner secured the prop erty, and involves a considerable diff ference of opinion between relatives.
 The jury hearing the case is com- posed of George Anders, L. H. John- son, E. P. Twiford, J E. Wilkins, F. J. Greiner, c. E. Anderson. J. B. Goss, J. H. Long, J. H. Naler. Sam Looney, John Combs and Tom Edwards.
 Cases set for trial Thursday in- clude the suit of s. I. Wood against T. R. Jones, Sr.. and the Farmers and Merchants Bank and that of J. T. Cole against the Beach Lumber Con- pany.