The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-10-20
GRAND JURY MEETS FRI.
- DAY; Will INVESTIGATE
MATHEWS MURDER CASE

A special grand jury has been call
ed to meet here tomorrow (Frlday)
for the purpose Of investigating the
killing Of Solomon W. Mathews, whose
body was found in badly decomposed
state on the 23rd day of September at
his home about two and one-half miles
southeast of Ringgold, this parish.
Mathews, who was a peculiar char
acter, had resided alone for a number
of years, although he had three living
daughters and one son. He had sever
ed his fatherly ties between himself
and his children and denied them
the privilege of his household, and no
one was familiar with his home life
He occupied sort Of primitive hut
constructed of logs and remotely sit''at-
ed, and due to the fact that he often
wandered around for days without
anyone knowing his whereabouts no
note was made of his absence, and his
body when found was hardly recognlZ'
able.
Lewis Powell and Turner Crye, who
reside in the neighborhood OF Main
ews' home, went to see him on the "a
about some of his cattle that had been
getting in their fields and made the
gruesome discovery. They Immediate
" went to Ringgold and made the facts
known whereupon Sheriff Currie was
notified, and at about 400 o'clock in
the afternoon the sheriff, together with
Marshal Boddie, of Arcadia, and Coro'
ner Claude Ferguson, left for Ringgold
arriving there about 500 o'clock thai
night. At Ringgold they were joined
by several prominent citizens and left
for the scene Of the murder. Mathews
was at a spring some distance from his
house where he had gone to wash his
clothes. He was found lying on his
face, his body having fallen over a
ten or twelve gallon stone jar between
a large gum tree and the fence, with a
el1nshot wound in his left side and the
back part Of his neck and head. An
examination revealed the fact that the
dead mans pockets had been turned IN
side out, and the theory was then ad-
yanced that robbery was the cause OF
the murder. A search was begun FOR
some clue, and Sheriff Currie accom-
panied by other members Of the party
effected an entrance to his house Which
thew found locked. Here they found
the house as it had been left, with a
couple Of shotguns lying across the
bed, and one had the appearance OF
having been recently used. The guns
were taken by the sheriff, but no furth-
er evidence was obtained that night
Early the next day the sheriff accom-
panied by two Of Mathews daughters
and others, went to the house and be.
gun another search for anything that
might throw some light on the case. AT
this time they found about 81, 10000 i'll
cash put away in different places in
the house, which to some extent offset
the theory that he had been killed for
the purpose of robbery. However,
Sheriff Currie stated to a representa-
tive of the Democrat that he decided
on three theories, viz: robbery, a de-
sire for distribution Of property, as
the dead man owned considerable land,
or revenge. After working some time
on the distribution of property and re-
venge theory and making some arrests
he found that he was on the wrong
track, and begun to work out the case
on the theory Of robbery.
Misleading Evidence.
About this time J. T. Mathews, a
nephew Of the murdered man. went IN
sane, apparently from fear that some
ono was trying to kill him. From
statements made by the insane man IT
appeared that the death OF MS uncle
was preying on his mind, and that he
had been threatened should he reveal
anv Of the facts connected with the
case. This it was thought for a tint,
would shed new light on the matter
hut later Developments proved that the
"A Tho insono man had no