The Mena weekly star., 1921-11-03
RAPID WORK IN CRIMINAL CASES
Charles Nichols. One of Men Charged With Cattle Stealing. Found Guilty
 -Moonshine Cases Up Next
 Howard Co. Pays Kolb Costs.

IWelVe men WHO heard the eVluence in the case of Charles Nichols, one of the men alleged to belong to band of cattle thieves operating nest of Hat field, decided that the defendant was guilty of the crime of grand larceny and fixed his punishment at one year in the state penitentiary. The jury's verdict was returned shortly after 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.
 First evidence Iii the Nichols case was submitted Tuesday afternoon and the testimony was not closed until shortly before noon Wednesday,. The jury's decision was reached in less than an hour. The jury was composed of w. E. Holt, foreman; w. A. Eads, B. P Lichlyter, Hey Hudgins, W. A. Eddleman, W. J. Lauck, Horace Chambers, H. R. Groves, Jim Nations, J. w. Martin, c, k. Proctor and L. S. Watson.
 At the close of the Charles Nichols case jury was called to try Austin Nichols, a brother of the defendant in the previous case. Austin Nichols is charged with making whiskey. D. Stockton, youth living near to Cove, indicted for grand larceny and receiving stolen property, was found guilty and sentenced to serve year in the state penitentiary. Stockton had been tried before on the same charge, and at his previous trial the jury disagreed. At his second trial the jury reaching the verdict was com posed of only eleven men. Marion Wimberly, one of the twelve men se- lected to try the case, was released from service, when it was discovered that he had sat on the jury which had disagreed at Stockton's first trial.
 J. w. Barlow and J. D. Thompkins, charged with failure to dip, entered pleas of guilty and were fined $1 and costs each.
 The case of Roy Bryant, charged with making liquor, was continued un- til the next term of court at the re- quest of the state, because of the ab- sence of needed witness.
 The grand jury resumed it's sessions Wednesday morning, and during the afternoon returned one indictment to Judge Steel. Because Prosecuting Attorney Steel was busy in the trial of criminal cases, his assistant, E w Mills, assisted the grand jury in it's work
 Three Board Camp men, Jim Rains, w. A. Mckinney and J. T. Gazabo, were arrested Tuesday by Sheriff Thornton's deputies on suspicion of being engaged in illicit manufacture of liquor The men waived examina- tion before Justice c. l.. Clement and were bound over to await action by the grand jury, which began it's inves- tigations Wednesday,.
 Polk county will not have to pay the costs in the Kolb murder case or suf- fer any loss because of the difference in value between local county war rants and those of Howard county, as was feared at first. Circuit Clerk Parker has found law whereby all costs of the case are to be certified to the circuit clerk of Howard county, who issues the warrants in payment to jurors and witnesses. Polk county men who performed jury service will receive Howard county warrants for their work. There were 118 witnesses who claimed attendance, and it is es- tlmated the costs of the case to How ard county will total almost S2,000.
 Allen Nichols was the first of the alleged band of cattle rustlers on the Arkansas Oklahoma border to stand trial at the present term of the Polk county circuit court. Nichols had pleaded not guilty when arraigned be- fore Judge Steel Monday afternoon and evidence was submitted to the jury.
 On Tuesday morning the state had closed it's testimony and Nichols, up- on advice of counsel, announced a willingness to change his plea to one of guilty. Before accepting the plea Judge Steel warned the defendant that the change of heart would not win him a reduced sentence, but Nichols manifested a desire to go ahead and accept what ever punish ment the court fixed, and the plea was accepted. The action of the de- fendant brought the case to sudden close. Judge Steel will fix the mat ter of punishment later.
 E. H. Golden, charged with viola ton of the liquor laws, entered a plea of guilty and the case was con- tinued to assess punishment.
 Robert Fortner, indicted for failing 10 dip cattle, was found guilty by a Jury and his fine fixed at s5.
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 Coming to 'Possum Banquet.
 E. $. Petefish is in receipt of a let- Ter from 0. Corneiison. division su- periutendent of the Kansas City Southern Railroad acknowledging an invitation to be present. at the annua' panquesf of the Possum Club. to b. nela November 15. Mfr. CorneIison