The log cabin Democrat., 1921-04-05
ALL EVIDENCE TAKEN IN THOMPSON CASE Z GIVEN PRISON SENTENCE Many Witnesses Heard in Arson Case Called Monday-Orders Issued
 by Court.

"Oii, "Iio Was dIIdlSHeu MONQay al ternocn. Witnesses were examined at the afternoon sitting, sitting last night and the session this morning. At noon, counsel for the state and de- fense were reviewing instructions to be given the jury by Judge George w. Clark. Arguments will follow the instructions and the case given the jury this afternoon.
 The jury in the Thomson case is composed of the following: H. D. Bal dridge, G. c. Phillips, w. N. Jones, J. H. Lewelling, w. H. Newborn, A. J. Sims, A. A. Halter, W. F. Brown, Ben W. Ford, c. N. Ball, I. N. Fields and w. R. Stapleton.
 Prison sentences on two were pass ed by the court upon pleas of guilty by the defendants. Elmer Glover, under several indictments, entered a plea of guilty to grand larceny and was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary. Will Hayney, a negro, pleaded guilty to the theft of mule and was sentenced for two years.
 The grand jury made it's first re- port at the present sitting, reporting four bills, all for felonies.
 Thomson was brought to trial first when his counsel, R. W. Robins and R. G. Bruce, exercised the option granted by law and demanded sever- ance of the cases against the defend ant and his partner, Roy Evans, joint ly indicted for the same alleged crime. Evans will be brought to trial, the court said, as soon as the Thomson case is completed.
 Prosecuting Attorney W. J. Wag- goner is assisted in the prosecution by Felix G. Lindsey of Little Rock, state fire marshal The state called IT witnesses for the purpose of show ing that the West Side Grocery, then in the Jones building on Main street was ignited by the defendants the night of December 25. Witnesses call ed were Duff Jones, Joe Jones, Fire Chief R. c. Dickerson, John Constan- tine, Supt. E. V. Leverett and his as sistant, M. C. Turner, A. J. Meadors, J. C. Dawson, Howard Lea, l. G. Bailey, J. A. Roberts, A. F. Milam Enc Hilliard, Fred Gordy, Ward Morrow, Roy Evans and A. R. Eng land.
 Ten witnesses were called by the defense. They were: Guy Newsome, Stonewall Parker, John Walters, Af- ton Pinson, Alex Fleming, Miss Ruth Carmichael, c. A. Holland, Mrs. M. A. Jones, Night Marshal John Dur ham and Thomson, who finished the testimony offered by the defense.
 Witnesses called by the state test- fled to various facts in connection with the fire which partially damaged the West Side Grocery. Prof. A. J. Meadors testified as to passing the store the night of December 25 and hearing a noise inside, which he took to be the sound of saving. A part of the testimony related to the alleged discovery of a hole in the ceiling, through which had been showed ma terials easily ignited and soaked with coal oil, and the finding of box of matches near the pile. Other testi- mony related to the condition Of the firms business at the time of the al- legged fire.
 Thomson in his own behalf denied that he entered the store the day or night of December 25 and that his first intimation of fire cane over the phone that night. He testified that he prepared to go to the store at once and was on the point of leaving when he saw Evans coming, then waiting for him and going there to- gether. He testified that the build ing already had been entered when he arrived, and was positive that some goods were missing from the st'ck.
 On cross examination, Thomson denied that he held the fire to have been the work of burglars. He ad- vanced no theory as to its cause, in sisting that the caus was beyond bis knowledge. Mr Waggoner reminded him of insurance policies carried on the stock, which were invalid because the defendant had not complied with the conditions and placed a safe in the store. The state brought out the fact that one policy was issued Octo- Der 23, conditioned upon the p'acin@ of a safe in the store, but the condi- tion had not been met at the time of the fire. MT Waggoner also ques- toned Thomson on the point of his leaving federal postal service. from which the defendant said he did not resign.
 Supt. Leverett and A. R. England were called as final witnesses, the sttae wishing to show by MT. Leverett that the fire was not caused by defect i've wiring.
 Points of law to be covered in the
 II .a.J