The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1944-05-19
Grand Jury Indicis Is During Four Day
Session; Dates Set For Murder Trials
Twenty Seven Cases Disposed Of In
First Two Days: Judge Corb0n Sets
Monday To Begin On Criminal Docket.

After a four-day session dur
ing which Is indictments were re-
turned, the grand jury empaneled
for the spring term of court ten
dered its report to Judge l.. C..
Corban, judge of circuit court
and recessed shortly before noon
Thursday.
Among the true bills returned
were the indictments of Henry
Lee Wiley, young negro charged
with the murder of 13-year-old
Nellie Opal Kicks last October,
and of Calvin Charles Mullinax
and Clyde Nice lanahan, for the
murder of E. w. williamson,
pool hall operator, who was beat
en- and shot in November.
The trial of Wiley was set for
Monday and the trials of Nc
Clanahan and Mullinax were en-
tered on the calendar for Friday.
William Elmer, Biloxi attorney
appointed by the court to de-
fend the two former sailors who
had deserted from the Algiers
naval base, asked for and was
granted severance. Mr. Elmer
was also appointed by the court
to defend Wiley.
Praise Sheriff and Officers
True bill was returned against
Carl Tony Hector, charged with
"fondling or violation" of a lit
tie six-year-old girl, but he had
not been arraigned last Thursday.
Robert Lee Robbins, negro, was
indicted for the killing of J.. p.
Posey on March II, and trail was
set for Wednesday. Z
Also to be tried at this term
Of court is Johnny Richardson,
negro, who was convicted az
raping a white woman and was
sentenced to death in the last
session of circuit court. The case
was appealed to the Mississippi
Supreme Court and the defend
ant was granted a new trial. The
date for the trail had not been set
when this issue went to press,
however.
Signed by Edward A. Khayat,
foreman, the report of the grand
jury commended all the county
officers for the efficiency with
which they + performing their
various duties under existing cir
cumstances with particular praise
being given the sheriff for his
record to date in law enforce
ment. The report also stated that
inspection of the county Jail re-
vealed it to be in the best con-
dition We have ever known ii to-
be" and that the county convict
camp is in first class condition
with inmates apparently satisfied
with conditions. Appreciation
was extended to the county pros
eeuting attorney "for efficiency
in the preparation of all matters
awaiting action by the grand
jury"
Twenty-seven cases were dis
posed of during the first two
days of court with nine of these
being turned back to the lower.
court and two being passed to the
files.
The case of Mrs. Sadie Steed
against the Masonite Corporation
in Laurel for damages in connec-
ton with the alleged killing of
fish in the Pascagoula river and
connected lakes by pollution of
the water from the plant in Lau-'
rel went into trial Wednesday.
afternoon and was still in pro-
cess late Thursday.
Court proceedings for the first
two days of the term follow:
City of Pascagoula VS. Mrs
Sally Walker, Liquor in Posses
sion, dismissed with procedendo:
City of Pascagoula VS. Mrs. Sally
Walker, Operate Slot Machine.
dismissed with procedendo; CITY
of Pascagoula VS. J. W. Jones,
Disturb the Peace, passed To-
files; City of Pascagoula VS. j..
W. Jones. Criminal Trespass.
passed to files; State of Missis-'
sippi VS. Walter Taylor, Assault
and Battery, dismissed with pro-
cedendo; City of Pascagoula VS.
E. G.. Peagler. Drunkenness, dis.
missed with procedendo; City Of.
Pascagoula vs. Odell Harrington,
Assault and Battery, plea guilty.,
fine $50, pay costs. serve 30 days,
DAYS suspended; City of Pascal
goula VS. Elmer Clark. Driving
Automobile While Drunk, dis
missed with proeedendo; City Of
Paseagoula VS. ]. D. Williams, As
sault and Battery, dismissed
with proeedendo; City of Pasca-.
goula vs. c. z. Whatley, Drive
Automobile While Drunk, dis
missed with p~rocedendo; State of
Mississippi VS. Robert Moore.
Disturbing the Peace, dismissed