The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-12-01
mozart and STREETERS
GETLIFE IN PENITENTIARY

When the jury brought in today at
2::30 p. H., a verdict of Guilty as
charged, without capital punishment
the end Of one of the most sensational
murder cases in the history of Bien-
vile parish was reached. Lasting all
yesterday and we'll into the night, the
case consumed practically seventeen
hours. The jury was given the case at
noon and took practically an hour to
decide.
Tom Mozart was pointed out as the
main cOnspiratOr and ring-leader in
plot made by him and the two Streeters,
Claud and Alfred, who both confessed
to the robbery and murder Of Solonau
Matthews, a curious hermit-like Old
man living near Ringgold last Septem.
Der. Only one Of the >Streeters was
brought on to the witness stand and,
although he was more or less discredit-
ed by the testimony Of other witnesses,
he told a rather straight story of the
killing, which he described as happen
ing about the 18th day of September.
A great effort was made on the part of
the defense to work out an alibi for
Mozart, witnesses being produced to
show that Mozart was at home on that
date, that various others saw Mr.. Mat
thews Oh dates ranging from the 14th
to 18th, but the testimony of physi-
clans who saw the body on the Ord,
the day it was discovered, said that it
had become at that time nothing but
dry skeleton, tended to weaken this
abb in the minds of the jury. One
witness, Mrs. Claud Streeter, who tes-
titled that Alfred, one of the Streeter
boys, together with third party, came
to her house late on The night Of the
10Th and said that they had plotted to
kill old man Matthews and that Claud
Streeter should take part of the blame
and help them all lay it off on Tom
Mozart, proved one of the weakest wit
nesses for the defense when, according
to her testimony, it was shown that the
killing occurred some time after the
body was found.
Those serving on the jury in
this case were: W. J. Dubose, T. J.
Poulan, r. H. MaddeG ]. D. Cofeld,
j. W. Britt, A. H. Enloe, L. A. Walker
John Spinks, Jr, D. L. Frye, J. B. Ed.
wards, Coy Hall and NJ. O. Coils
worth.
The Mozart case was holly contested
and though 81 witnesses were examin.
ed there was not single bill of ex.
ception filed to any ruling of the court.
A great number of witnesses were
summoned both for the State and for
the defense and the way the trial went
off was really credit to those conduct
ing same
Streeters Get Life Sentence.
The case of the State vs.. Claude
and Alfred Streeter, who confessed to
taking part in the murder Of Sol W.
Matthews, and accused Tom Mozart,
was set for Wednesday morning. The
Streeters were arraigned before Judge
Reynolds in open court and plead
guilty as charged without capital pun
ishment. They received life sentence
in the State penitentiary, thus ending
one Of the most noted murder cases in
the history Of Bienville parish.
Smith Trial Set For December q.
The case Of the State VS.. ]. B. Smith
charged with assault with intent to
rape, was taken up, at first for the
purpose of trying motion for
change of venue, but after confer
ence of the counsel for both sides, it
was decided to withdraw the motion
~. A. 40 ~ ee Alo tlafo,,oo aud 0Gs,,oo 70