VOL. II.
MoCRORY, ARKANSAS, THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1903.
NO. 52.
Impeachment Proceedings Against
Chancellor Leatherman in
Senate.
MONDAY, MARCH 33.
While the senate did not hold an
afternoon session, that body transacted
considerable business at the morning
session, the following bills being
passed: Prohibiting use of fraudulent
poll tax receipts; increasing license of
insurance agents from $2 to $25 per
annum; giving deputy prosecuting at
torneys same fees in justice courts as
allowed prosecuting attorneys.
Senator Gray's bill to increase sal
aries of supreme court judges was de
feated, also the Mears’ bill providing
imprisonment as a penalty for carrying
concealed weapons.
The house passed an act to better en
able cities of second class to become
cities of the first class, a bill establish
ing mining districts and regulating the
posting of mining claims, also a bill ap
propriating $6,500 for the state guard.
The Senate.
The first order of business was a
motion to indefinitely postpone H. B.
239, fixing fees for clerks and sheriffs
in certain counties. The motion was
lost and the bill made a special order
S. B. 95 (Hinkle), to prevent the
fraudulent use of poll tax receipts, was
taken up and passed.
S. B. 215 (Hardy), compelling in
surance companies to pay $25 instead
of $2 for license to do business in the
state, passed by vote of 14 to 8.
S. B. 137, providing fees for prose
cuting attorneys, passed but a motion
to transmit the bill to the house failed.
Senator Woods' bill giving sheriffs
a fee of 50 cents each for summoning
special jurors, was defeated.
S. B. 183 (Gray), increasing the sal
aries of supreme court judges to $3,
000 per year, failed to pass.
Senator Mears’ bill fixing the pun
ishment for carrying concealed weap
ons at a fine of not less than $50 nor
more than $500, and imprisonment not
less than thirty days nor more than
ninety days, was read the third time.
Senator Butt opposed the bill on the
ground that the penalty was excessive.
Senator Killough urged the passage
of tlie measure.
On roll call the bill was defeated.
The House.
H. B. 302, establishing mining dis
tricts and declaring the rights and du
ties of mining corporations, miners,
locators of mining lands and mine own
ers. passed without opposition.
H. B. 467, providing that the attor
ney general, auditor and secretary of
state shall determine the advancement
of cities of the first and second class,
was passed.
H. B. 373. providing that any town
having a population of more than 1,500
and less than 5,000 shall be deemed a
city of the second class, was taken up
and passed.
Mr. Chambers called up H. B. 168.
fixing a rate of 50 cents per insertion
instead of $1 for publication of legal
notices in all newspapers.
The bill failed to pass.
The house went into committee of
the whole to consider the bill appro
priating $6,500 for the state militia.
Mr. McGuigan said he hoped the state
would never appropriate a cent for this
purpose until war was upon her.
The bill was reported back with rec
ommendation that it do pass.
After some discussion the bill was
passed.
The house went into committee of
the whole to consider the insane asy
lum appropriation bill.
An amendment was adopted placing
salary of laundress at $4S0.
The carpenter's salary for two years
was placed at $1,200.
Members of the committee which pre
pared the bill argued In favor of al
lowing the amounts reported, stating
that a thorough investigation of the
needs of the institution had been made.
The committee reported in favor of
appropriating $150,000 for the mainten
ance of inmates, based on a cost of
$120 per annum for each inmate, which
includes food and clothing.
An amendment was adopted reducing
the amount to $140,000.
Mr. Crutcher offered an amendment
prohibiting any member of the board
of trustees and the superintendent
from employing any relative in the asy
lum. Adopted.
The salaries of storekeeper, steward
and bookkeeper was placed at $1,200.
The committee recommended that
the bill pass as amended.
TUESDAY, MARCH 24
In the senate the impeachment
charges against Chancellor Leatherman
were formally taken up. Most of the
day was consumed in arguing a motion
to strike out certain charges, which
was lost. The hearing will be resumed
Thursday, the 26th.
The house passed several bills, among
them the folowing:
Increasing salary of superintendent
of public instruction from $1,800 to
$2,600 per annum; regulating the sale
of dynamite; prohibiting sale of intoxi
cating liquors within ten miles of Hen
drix College; increasing fees of jus
tices of the peace. The l.juse also
concurred in amendments to the in
sane asylum annex appropriation bill.
The Senate.
Senator Gray's bill dividing whisky
license between the county and school
funds, applying to certain counties,
passed without opposition.
The senate then took up the impeach
ment trial of Chancellor Leatlierman.
Chief Justice Gunn swore in the
members to sit as a court.
Attorney Loughborough appeared for
tlie accused, and presented a motion
that the court should not consider ar
ticles 1. 2. 3, 4, S, » and 11. alleging
that they “state no offense known to
tlie law for which impeachment may
be had. and that the acts charged are
not high crimes and gross misconduct
in office.”
X. O. Pindall, representing the house
hoard to conduct the prosecution, read
the articles of impeachment.
Attorney Loughborough entered de
nial of each specilic charge and slated
that the defendant did not admit his
guilt to any of the immaterial charges.
He stated that the defendant was
ready to meet the real issues and
asked that immaterial charges be dis
missed.
Chief Justice Bunn announced that
two-thirds of the body must be pres
ent at all times during the trial.
The members discussed at length the
motion of Mr. Loughborough to strike
out certain articles of the indictment
on the ground that they did not charge
crimes upon which impeachment could
be had.
Senator Cotton thought it the duty
of the senate to proceed to the con
sideration of the charges just as they
were prepared by the house committee.
On roll call the senate, by a vote of
19 ayes to 10 noes, voted to consider
the charges as presented by the house
committee.
The Souse.
The first business disposed of was
H. B. 360, raising the fees of justices
of the peace, which passed by a mar
gin of one vote.
H. B. 104, regulating the sale of
dynamite and other explosives, passed.
S. B. 140. appropriating *140,000 for
an annex to the insane asylum, passed
with senate amendments.
S' B. 48. which increases the sal
aries of offlcials of the department! of
education, was taken up and passed.
Mr. Kerwin called up S. B. 40 (King),
increasing the powers of the railroad
commission.
After second reading of the bill sev
eral amendments were rejected and
the measure took it3 place on the cal
endar.
S. B. 198, making it unlawful to sell
or give away intoxicating liquors and
native wines within ten miles of Hen
drix college at Conway, was taken up.
Mr. Witt urged the passage of the
bill, and Mr. Crutcher characterized
act as a foolish one. He argued that
the bill would practically put a large
number of thrifty wine growers out of
business.
Messrs. Du Laney and Merriman ar
gued in favor of the bill, which passed
by a vote of 55 to 7.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 35.
The house passed the Merriman bill
providing for the completion of the
state capitol building on the site of
the old penitentiary at a cost not to
exceed $1,000,000.
Mr. Cook introduced a resolution
providing for the discounting of notes
for $105,000 held against the state as
part consideration for the state convict
farm.
The senate passed the bill authoriz
ing circuit judges to parole a certain
class of criminals.
The Senate.
The first regular order was H. B.
239. reducing the fees of sheriffs and
clerks in Fulton. Greene and several
other northern counties. The bill
passed.
Senator Adams introduced a bill to
compel* the closing of saloons and
gambling houses at 7 o’clock in the
evening.
S. B. 115, to authorize circuit courts
to parole criminals, was read third
time.
Senator Rison opposed the measure
on the ground that it. was unconstitu
tional.
Senators Covington, Norwood and
Wilson supported the bill, which was
passed.
Senator Sengel presented an amend
ment to the world's fair appropriation
bill, providing that the commissioner
of mines, manufactures and agricul
ture, who had been added to the fair
board by a house amendment, should
act as manager of the state exhibit
without additional salary from that of
his state office.
Senator Covington read a letter which
alleged that Judge Bradford had ap
propriated money to his own use w'hile
clerk of Lonoke county in collecting
fees not provided by law.
Senator Fletcher spoke at length in
defense of Judge Bradford. Ho said
that the fees collected by the latter
had been collected by previous clerks.
The debate became so heated that the
sergeant at arms was called upon to
restore order.
A motion to postpone the bill failed
and a motion to reconsider the meas
ure so that the amendment might be
voted upon was carried.
Without taking further action on
the bill tlie senate adjourned.
The House.
The special order, H. B. 400, pro
viding for the completion of the state
capitol building, was taken up.
Tlie measure as amended provides
for the completion of the building at
a cast of not over $1,000,000, also for
a commission composed of five mem
bers, and for a continuance of a tax
of one-half mill for the purpose of rais
ing funds. The bill also provides that
the architect shall not receive more
than 5 per cent of the total cost of the
building. 0
A motion that the bill be placed back
on second reading was lost, and on roll
call it passed with only four votes in
the negative.
Mr. Pindall called up his bill to de
tach certain territory from Drew coun
ty and attach the same to Desha coun
ty, which was passed.
H. B. 167 (Briant), was called up.
This bill provides the following scale
of charges for long distance telephone
messages: For 100 miles or less, 25
cents and 5 cents additional for every
25 miles over 100 or a fraction thereof
more than 13 miles. For messages of
more than five minutes an additional
charge of 50 per cent may bo made for
each five minutes or fraction thereof.
The bill passed with only two nega
tive votes.
Mr. Cook of Chicot Introduced a con
current resolution authorizing the
special Joint committee to confer with
W. H. Miller, to ascertain what dis
count can be secured on notes held
against the state for $105,000, as part
of the purchase price of the convict
farm, and declaring as the sense of
the house that if a reasonable discount
can be secured, it would conserve the
interests of the state to appropriate
a sufficient amount to pay off the in
debtedness.
THURSDAY, MARCH 26.
The senate proceeded with the trial
of Chancellor Beatherman in impeach
ment proceedings.
Senator Wood's bill, regulating the
granting of pardons by the governor,
passed the senate by a unanimous vote.
The house passed the joint resolution
providing for bond issues by cities of
the first and second class, and the bill
granting a reward to the sheriff of
Hempstead county, over the governor’s
veto.
Upon assembling after the noon re
cess the house adjourned until Friday
morning at 9 o’clock.
Tie Senate.
Senator Norwood called up S. B. 23,
regulating the granting of pardons by
the governor. The bill passed by a
unanimous vote.
Senator Sengel's amendment to the
world's fair bill, making Commissioner
Bradford manager of the exhibit, was
considered but action was postponed
until the following Wednesday.
At 10 o'clock, the senate sat as an
impeachment court for the trial of
Chancellor Leland Leatherman.
Attorney Loughborough presented a
resolution providing that the senate be
governed by the same rules of proced
ure, practice and precedents adopted by
the United States in the impeachment
trial of President Andrew Johnson so
far as the same are applicable in the
trial of Chancellor Leatherman. Pres
ident Short spoke in favor of proceed
ing as provided in the practice of the
code in such cases. The resolution was
defeated. A request from the board of
managers of the house that Attorney
Henry Armistead, of Little Rock,
be allowed to sit with the board was re
fused. A motion to allow Sheriff Wil
liams. of Garland county, to sit with
the board on condition that he be the
first witness to testify, was carried. A
resolution was adopted providing that
the rules of procedure of the circuit
courts of Arkansas be followed in this
proceeding, that the chief justice shall
decide on the admissibility of evidence,
which shall be final unless overruled by
a majority vote of the senators, and
that all motions shall be voted on witn
out discussion.
Mr. Chapline made the opening state
ment on behalf of the board of mana
gers of the house. He outlined the
plans of the prosecution and stated
briefly the facts which the board ex
pected to prove in connection with each
article of impeachment. He urged the
members of the senate not to hurry
through the trial. Attorney J. F. Lough
borough made the opening statement
for the defendant. Ho declared that
the prosecution was prompted by ani
mus on the part of enemies of the de
fendant and he urged the senate not to
make too great haste, as from its decis
ion there could be no appeal.
W. W. Waters, of Hot Springs, was
the first witness called by the prosecu
tion. He testified that he had been a
member of the city council of Hot
Springs for fourteen years and had
served two years as mayor. He said
he was an owner and director of the
Garland Novelty Company, which com
pany was owner and operator of slot
machines. The witness stated that the
defendant intimated to him that it
rested with him whether the machines
were allowed to run or not. and that at
the defendant’s suggestion the witness
paid him $30 per week. The witness
said he had seen the defendant in and
about pool rooms and that he consid
ered him an habitual drunkard.
On cross-examination, the witness
said he paid a weekly fine to Sheriff
Williams or his deputy for the privi
lege of running his machines, and that
all pool rooms and gambling houses in
Hot Springs paid a similar fine.
The House.
H. B. 413, prescribing rules whereby
surety companies may go security on
bonds of state, county and municipal
officers, passed.
Mr. Fuller called up house joint reso
lution No. 12 providing that cities of
the first, and second class may issue
bonds when the same has been author
ized by a city election. The resolution
had been passed by both branches of
the legislature and was vetoed by Gov
ernor Davis. Mr. Fuller moved that
the resolution be reconsidered. The
roll was called on the passage of the
bill over the governor's veto and the
bill passed—ayes Gl, noes 14.
H. B. 207, granting a reward of $100
to Sheriff J. L. White, of Hempstead
county, for the capture of certain crim
inals, was passed over the governor’s
veto—ayes 68, noes 6.
IT. B. 480 (Toney), regulating the
shipment of dead bodies out of the state
by emblamers. failed to pass.
H. B. 473 (Moore of Newton), author
izing the sale of certain state lands,
was placed on third reading. Mr. Du
Laney moved that the vote by which
the bill was passed to third reading
be reconsidered. Mr. Moore urged the
passage of the bill. Messrs. Campbell
of Pulaski and Chesnut opposed it.
F RID AT, MARCH 27.
The senate proceeded with the Im
peachment trial of Chancellor Leather
man. Eight witnesses were introduced
by the prosecution.
The house passed Senator King's bill
enlarging the powers of the railroad
commission.
Sentor Pinnix’s bill creating the office
of county school superintendent, was
defeated in the house.
The house passed a bill authorizing
cities of the first and second class to
levy tax for maintenance of public li
braries.
The Senate.
H. B. 261 (Whitthorne), and S. B.
253 (Logan), both providing for the
better protection of fish, were passed
without opposition.
At 10 o'clock the senate set as an
impeachment court to proceed with the
trial of Chancellor Leatherman.
Tile first witness called was L. D.
Cooper of Hot Springs, who stated that
he was interested in the operation of
slot machines. He testified that in a
conversation with the defendant, the
latter had said that inasmuch as the
pool rooms and slot machines were con
ducted under cover, he thought, those
institutions should set aside a fund for
campaign purposes.
He had seen defendant in pool rooms
occasionally, but had never seen him
play~hither the races or slot machines.
Had never seen him drunk.
W. H. Lewis of Hot Springs stated
that he had seen the defendant intoxi
cated in the Kentucky saloon.
IV. H. Martin, an attorney of Hot
Springs stated that he had been ap
pointed by the defendant in the cause
of the Arkansas National Bank against
Sumpter; the defendant had never de
manded loans of him. but after he was
appointeil receiver he advanced sums
aggregating $1,500; served four years
as receiver and received a fee of $6,000.
Geo. H. Lawer, chancery clerk of
Garland county, had served as master
and commissioner in chancery at sev
eral different times, for which he had
received fees amounting to $1,200; had
loaned Judge Leatherman money when
ever the latter stated that he needed
it. Witness identified certain checks
as those given by him to defendant.
S. A. Sammons, a grocer at Hot
Springs, testified that he loaned the
defendant $200 at one time and that at
that time there was a Judgment against
him with several others in defendant’s
court for $4,600, which was later re
duced to $1,700.
E. T. Housley testified that he was
one of the men against whom the
judgment of $4,600, later reduced to
$1,700, was rendered in the defendant’s
court. He said he gave Mr. Sammons
$100 which the latter said he wanted
for Judge Leatherman.
John L. Smith testified that the de
fendant offered him a sum of money
if he would allow him (the defendant)
to name the judges and clerks for the
primary election last spring.
C. S. Bell testified that he had been
appointed receiver for the defunct City
Savings Bank by the defendant. Ho
stated that during the five years of his
receivership he had collected between
$2,000 and $3,000. most of which had
been allowed on his salary as receiver.
The defense will later introducj wit
nesses.
The Honse.
Mr. Fletcher Introduced by request
a bill making it unlawful for any news
paper in the state to publish accounts
of prize fights or sparring contests, oc
curring either in the state or without.
A bill was introduced making it un
lawful for any persons to engage in
selling pools or maks bets on any
horse race. ,
An amendment to the insane asylum
appropriation bill was adopted mak1’
It. unlawful for any member of the
board or officer of the institution to
employ any of his kinsmen.
S. B. 12 (Pinnix), creating the office
of county superintendent was taken up.
Mr. Du Laney urged the passage of
the bill. Mr. Chambers opposed the
bill on the ground that it destroyed
local self-government by taking the
power away from the school directors
and placing it in the hands of one man.
Messrs. Jacobs, McGuigan and Lati
mer spoke in favor of the measure.
Mr. Bell opposed the bill because it
would create seventy-five new offices
and tax the people to pay for them.
The bill was defeated—24 to 48.
S. B. 40 (King), enlarging the pow
ers of the railroad commission passed.
S. B. 101 (Wilson), authorizing cities
of the first and second class to levy a
tax of one-fourth of a mill for the
maintenance of public libraries, was
read third time and passed.
S. B. 98 (Hardy), allowing railroad
companies seven days in which to pay
discharged employes, passed.
Mr. Brooks called up S. B. 35, limit
ing the hours of work of railway
train crews, except in cases of wrecks
and other accidents, to sixteen consecu
tive hours per day. The bill passed
without opposition.
S. B. 113 (Gray), providing for a
division of liquor license funds between
county and school funds, was taken up.
Amendments were adopted exempting
about forty counties.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28.
The majority and minority reports
of the committee appointed to investi
gate the convict farm purchase were
read in both the senate and house. The
majority report was adopted by both
branches.
The trial of Chancellor Leatherman
was continued in the senate.
The house passed Mr. Hale's bill, au
thorizing county judges to lease wild
and uncleared sixteenth section school
lands.
The Senate.
The majority and minority reports
of the special committee appointed to
visit the Cummins place and investi
gate the purchase of the same as a
convict farm, were presented and read.
Senator Fletcher moved the adoption
of the majority report, which declared
that the penitentiary board nad acted
wisely in purchasing the farm and
recommended that it be retained.
Senators Hardy and Caldwell op
posed the motion, which prevailed.
Senator Logan presented an amend
ment to the state capitol bill, provid
ing for the erection of the capitol on
the site of the present state house.
The senate proceeded with the trial
of Chancellor Leatherman.
The first witness was Fdward Par
ham. deputy circuit and chancery clerk
at Hot Springs. He testified that the
had been given appointments as master,
receiver and commissioner by the de
fendant; that he had loaned or ad
vanced various sums of money to the
defendant at different times; that the
division of the fees was agreed upon
by the judge, himself and the man
paying the same. Witness was not
positive the defendant asked for this
money. The defendant had offered him
checks at various times, but he would
not take them, as he thought them
worthless. The witness said he had re
ceived in fees about $775 and had
loaned the defendant about $100.
F. C. Place, former county clerk of
Garland county, testified that he was
on a stay bond for Judge Leatherman
for $100; that at the defendant’s sug
gestion he borrowed $100 from C. S.
Bell, receiver, and loaned the defendant
$150 on his individual note; that Bell
accepted this note with cash in payment
of the $100 note.
The House.
Mr. Chestnut presented the major
ity and minority reports of the special
committee on the convict farm pur
chase. The majority report was adopted.
H. B. 150 (Hale), authorizing county
judges to lease wild and uncleared six
teenth section school lands for a term
of years not exceeding five, and to have
same cleared and put into cultivation,
was passed.
H. B. 132 (Tarver), authorizing coun
ts' courts to establish neighborhood
roads when petitioned to do so by a
majority' of the landowners concerned
failed to pass.
H. B. 35S (Stockard), providing that
in no case shall state convicts be hired
to outside parties on contract labor
system or otherwise for a less price
than one dollar per day for each con
vict, failed to pass.
H. B. 1S5 (Holmes), prohibiting resi
dents from acting as agents for non
resident drovers to herd, graze or per
mit to run at large any stock in this
state, was passed.
H. B. 316 (Holland), defining who
are fellow-servants of persons, corpora
tions and companies, was taken up and
passed.
Mr. Martineau introduced a bill pro
viding for a board of seven trustees
for the LTniversity of Arkansas, one
from each congressional district.
Mr. Brooks introduced a bill provid
ing that public printing contracts shall
be let only to residents of the state.
Mr. Matheny introduced a bill pro
viding for the establishment of a re
form school for youthful criminals and
an asylum for dipsomaniacs under the
direction of the state board of chari
ties.
The house adjourned at 2:45 until
Monday morning.
Arkansas State News
Programme for Press Association.
A subcommittee appointed by the
executive committee of the Arkan
sas Press Association has prepared
a programme for the annual con
vention to be held at Monticello
in May. Among the addresses an
nounced for the three days’ session
are the following: “Necessity for
Uniform Announcement Kates in
Papers of a Given Class,” Ed Mc
Corkle, Arkadelphia Siftings-Her
ald, and George H. Adams, Pine
Bluff Daily Graphic; “The Edito
rial Page the Distinctive Power of
a Paper,” and Should Keflect the
Personality of the Editor,” W. M.
Neal, Helena Daily World; “The
Pulpit and Press as Potent Factors
in Modern Civilization,” Rev. Dr.
Julien C. Brown, editor religious
department Sunday Commercial
Appeal. One forenoon session will
be devoted to memorial exercises
for the late James Mitchell, of the
Arkansas Democrat.
Good Roads Law Framed.
The executive committee of the
Arkansas Good Roads Association
met at Little Rock and adopted a
good roads law, which will be pre
sented to the joint committee of the
general assembly on roads and high
ways. The bill, which was framed
by Judge Falconer of Sebastian
county, provides for a tax of $2 on
the thousand for a state road fund.
It creates the office of state civil en
gineer and provides that any five or
more residents on a road outside the
corporate limits of a town may peti
tion the county judge for the im
provement of such road, by guaran
teeing 15 per cent of the cost. It
also creates a state board of road and
highway commissioners, consisting
of the commissioner of agriculture,
secretary of state and attorney gen
eral.
Must Leave the State.
Attorneys for the state and de
fense, it is said, have compromised
the famous Parnell case at El Do
rado, in which Matt Parnell was
charged with murder and Jim Par
nell, his brother, with assault with
intent to kill, upon condition that
the accused men leave the state be
fore May 26. The charges against
the Parnells were the result of a
shooting affray on the public square
at El Dorado in which Walter and
Tom Parnell and Constable H. L.
Beasley were killed and City Mar
shal Guy Tucker was seriously
wounded. The shooting grew out
of a feud between Constable Beas
ley and one branch of the Parnell
family.
Company to Drill for Oil.
A company has been formed at
Little Bock for the purpose of drill
ing for oil at a point about seven
miles west of that city. The com
pany, whose corporators are all
prominent business men of Little
Rock, is known as the Rock Creek
Oil and Mining Company, and is
capitalized at $25,000. The forma
tion of the company was the result
of the discovery of a spring covered
with petroleum. Options have been
obtained by the company upon a
large amount of territory surround
ing the well, and a test well will be
driven, it is said, within a short
time.
Negress Murdered *t Altheimer.
Mary Johnson, a negress, was
murdered and her sister was seri
ously wounded at Altheimer. L.
Williams, a negro, was arrested,
charged with the crime. Williams
is said to have been an admirer of
the wounded woman and to have
informed her that if he ever found
her with another negro he would
kill her. When he saw her at
night with her sister and the latter’s
husband, he is alleged to have tired
upon them wth a shotgun, killing
the sister of his intended victim.
Charged With Criminal Libel.
Fred W. Vaughn, editor of the
Reformer, a paper issued in the
interest of Dr. J. W. McClendon’s
candidacy for mayor of Hot Springs,
and Lou Kay have been arrested on
a charge of criminal libel. The
complaint, which was filed by Pros
ecuting Attorney Will H. Martin,
named all the city and county of
ficials and three of the proprietors
of the Arkansas Club as plaintiffs.
The charges are based upon an arti
cle which appeared in the Reform
er, making charges of bribery and
corruption against certain high of
ficials and claiming that the propri
etors of the Arkansas Club were
paying for “protection.”
Attorney Arrested in Court.
E. A. Davis, an attorney, was
arrested in the court room of Jus
tice of the Peace Meisner at Little
Rock on a charge of carrying con
cealed weapons. Davis was the
prosecuting witness in an assault
and battery case against Joseph Kil
patrick, a barkeeper. Fearing trou
ble Justice Meisner ordered every
one in the court room searched.
Davis took a pistol from his pocket
and handed it to the justice. When
the case was concluded Justice Meis
ner ordered Mr. Davis’ arrest. He
was taken to the county jail, but
was later released on $100 bond.
Deputy Sheriff Is Shot.
Deputy Sheriff Bob Marsh of Gar
land county, was shot and seriously
wounded at his country home a few
miles from Hot Springs. Marsh
was sitting near a window in his
home when a shot was fired from
the outside. A load of buckshot
crashed through the window and
took effect in his head, face and
hands. The wounded man was
taken to Hot Springs, wrhere physi
cians stated that the wounds, if not
fatal, would result in the loss of
sight in one eye.
Coal Discovered Near Forrest City.
Coal is said to have been discov
ered near Forrest City at the base
of what is known as Crowley’s
Ridge. The discovery is said to
have been made upon the property
of a railroad man named Montgom
ery, who recently purchased a 160
acre tract of land at that point.
The owner is said to have secured
an expert, who pronounced the coal
to be of good quality. Several tons
have been secured at a depth of six
feet from the surface of the ground.
Damage Suit Result of Explosion.
Suit has been filed in the United
States court by William H. Gaskin,
of Pennsylvania for $15,000 dam
ages for injuries alleged to have
been sustained in the gasoline explo
sion in the Turf Exchange in Hot
Springs December 24. The com
plaint names the following as de
fendants : The Arkansas Gas Com
pany, the Waters-Pierce Oil Com
pany, R. C. Chambers, Leo Mayer,
Charles Walker and Sam Mayer.
Charged With Perjury.
A. J. Fitzgerald, who is charged
with perjury, alleged to have been
committed while on the witness
stand in the trial of the “Poly’*
Carlisle ease, was arrested at Boone*
ville and taken to Eureka Springs.
After the first trial of the base, Fitz
gerald, who was a witness for the
defense, was placed under bond for
his appearance at the second trial.
He forfeited his bond and disap
peared.
Heavy Damage to Railroad.
A section of the track and em
bankment of the Mississippi River,
Hamburg and Western railroad,
three-quarters of a mile in length,
was washed away by the backwater
of the Mississippi near Montrose.
A large area south of the track was
flooded by the break, as the em
bankment had acted as a levee
against the backwater.