THE HOME NEWS
EDITED IN THE INTEREST OF McCRORY AND WOODRUFF COUNTY
COLUMN 5
McCRORY, ARKANSAS; FRIDAY, JULY, 2, 1920
NUMBER 50
THREE names on
PETITION FOR THE
HOLDUPS' PARDONS
Two of the Name* Were Those
of the Convict* Themselves,
and the Third That of Their
Attorney.
James Berger and George
Ruloff, whites, alleged daring
robbers, sentenced to 15 years
m the State penitentiary, were
granted full and complete
pardons by acting Governor
Ben E. McFerrin, late Tues
day afternoon. They had
served two months and 17
days of their sentences.
The pardon was granted,
according to the proclamation
issued by the acting governor,
after he had been presented
with a petition signed by “the
best and most influential citi
zens of Hot Springs, including,
a number of court officials, j
who stated that they are fa- ,
miliar with the facts and cir
cumstances surrounding the
trial and conviction of said
James Berger and George
Ruloff, and are of the opinion
that they are the victims of a
“frame-up,” and that they
should never have been con
victed.’' i
Despite this statement in
the proclamation, Judge Scott
Wood, before whom the men
were tried, bitterly denounced
the granting of the pardons,
Mid declared that “there can
be no extenuating circumstan
ces in their case to warrant a
pardon being granted.” The
judge went still further in his
denunciations of the pardons
and declared that “the gov
ernor’s office has simply de
moralized the courts here and
has taken the edge off the law.
The governor’s office has
shown such kindness to the
criminal elements that I am
tempted to coninue all crim^
mal cases until Governor
trough’s term has expired.” ,
Berger and Ruloff were con
victed in October, 1919, of
jobbing W. C. Kramer and B.
Eigh in a leading hotel in Hot
Springs, getting as their loot
about $8,000. The two men,
rt was said, followed their
victims into their rooms in the
hotel, and after having com
mitted the crime, retreated
from the hotel, holding their.
Pistols on guests who tried to
shop them. They escaped in an
automobile, but were captured
atter an exciting chase. Af-j
ter they had been found guil- j
ty in the Circuit Court their j
eases were appealed to the;
^Preme Court, which upheld
he verdict of the lower court. ]
I have made in investiga
!on this morning of what I
elieve to be one of the most
nhinefui travesties on justice
hod law enforcement that has
appened recently in Arkan
ritri’ John A. Riggs, can
date for governor, whose
°JJie is in Hot Springs.
I find that the petition for
^ ^ ^ ^ VI
HON. JOHN A. RIGGS
Candidate for Governor
a pardon for Ruloff and Ber
ger, which was said in a
statement given out to the
press at the governor’s office
to have been signed by the
best and most influential citi
zens of Hot Springs, was in
fact signed only by the two
convicts themselves and their
attorney.. This attorney,
George P. Whittington, is a
part of the Pace-Davis politi
cal machine and pardon at
torneys.
“This is a sample, if the
public needs a further ex
ample, of the methods and
policies of the present state
house administration, which is
now desperately seeking to
perpetuate itself in power.
“This act will not set well
with the 'best and influential’
people in Hot Springs or any
other section of the state,
which is weary of high-handed
lawlessness, bloodshed and
other crimes.
“In my own newspaper, the
*Tot Sorimrs New Era, I have
denounced these two crooks in
particular and have fought
for years to build up a senti
ment for law enforcement as
typified by the activities of
such men as the late J. B.
Wood and his son, Scott,
Wood, his father’s worthy!
successor on the circuit bench. I
“I take this occasion to
pledge to the public at whose
hands I now seek the office of
governor, that when they have
elected me to that office I will
break up this favored gang of
pardon attorneys and not turn
loose upon the state a lot of
desperadoes who have been
convicted and sentenced to
deserved long terms after
court proceedings that have
cost the taxpayers hundreds
of dollars.—Arkansas Dem
ocrat, June 30.
Mr. Claude Miller arrived
today, Friday, from McRae to
spend the 4th with Mr. and
Mrs. J. B. Stokes.
NEWS FROM GRAYS
Item,s of Interest Concerning
the People of that Good
Town in which You May
Be Interested
Mr. Glenn Kerr was a Grays
visitor Monday morning.
Mr. Otis Graves and family
went to Cotton Plant Sunday.
Mr. H. G. Crotzer and chil
dren motored to Beedeville
Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Pat Padgett
spent Sunday with Mr. and!
Mrs. Kelly.
Editor and Mrs. W. W.
Raney of McCrory were Grays
visitors this week.
Mr. Maynard Crotzer and
wife spent Saturday sight with
the latter’s parents.. I
Miss Margorie Smith of
Zent was the guest of Mr. and
Mrs. Clifton Sunday.
John A. Riggs, popular can
didate for Governor, was a
Grays visitor last week.
Ben Taylor, Ila West, Tom
Clifton and Ruth Pain enjoyed
a nice motor ride Sunday.
Messrs and Mesdames W.
A. and Charlie Jones visited
relatives in McCrory Sunday.
Mrs. Ora Houser of Mc
Crory was the guest of Miss
Helen Hayes Sunday evening.
Mr. Walter Strickland and
children attended the Chil
dren’s Exercises at Jelks Sun
day night.
There are some ladies he*e^
who it is said are not good
looking.. There are some gen
tlemen too who are not m'l
lionaires. i
Mr. Fink Hayes who is en
gaged in the feed business at
McCrory visited home-folk
here the past week. Glad to
have him come home anytime.
Mr. Maynard Prince and
Misses Vera Reaves and Fred
die Watson came down on
“Jude” from Jelks Sunday
afternoon. Although the
weather was warm, they
walked back home.
CENTRAL COMMITTEE
WILL MEET JULY 7th.
A call meeting of the Wood
ruff County Democratic Cen
tral Committee will be held at
McCrory, Ark.., at 1:00 p. m.,
cn Wednesday, July 7th, 1920.
All committeemen are uiged
to be present in person as the
rules forbid representatives by
proxy.
D. H. ECHOLS, Chairmn.
R.T.HARVILLE, Secty.
For Sale: Three spans of
good horses, harness and wag
ons. One of wagons bunked
and chained for logging. One
good span of mules and har
ness. Also two first class
saddle ponies. Inquire at R.
A. Coggins’ Barn. Adv.ltc.
JAMES A. SMITH .
James Alexander Smith, age
75 years five months and three
days, who has been confined
to his bed at the home of his
son, Mr. T. A. Smith of Mc
Crory since Christmas, died
Monday, June 28, 1920.
The deceased was one of
Woodruff County’s oldest an:l
best citizens, was born Jan.
25, 1845 in Missouri. He was
the son of Robert and Eliza
beth Smith and leaves three
sons, T. A. of McCrory, J. A.
of Howell and J. M. Smith of
Longview, Texas, two brothers
T. A. and M. F. Smith of Cot
ton Plant, and one sister, Mrs.
Jas. Doss of Texas.
The remains were laid to
lest in the Reneau cemetery
near Howell Tuesday. The
services were conducted by
Rev. Lewis, pastor of the How
ell Church of which the de
ceased was a member.
NOTICE
Now is your chance to get
pure bred Poland China hogs
cheap. 13 head that will
weigh between 100 and 150
pounds and one barrow that
will weigh 750 for sale.
W. M. COMER & SON.
Adv. 7-2-4tc.
Born: June 22, 1920, a
boy to Mr. and Mrs. H. L.
Bad. __ ^
Miss Kathleen Lewis, sten
ographer for Atty. R. D.
Campbell of Cotton Plant,
spent Sunday in McCrory the
guest of her parents, Mi\ and
Mrs. J. E. Lewis.
The S. I. A. will sell ice
cream and take on lot next to
Home News office Saturday
afternoon and night July 3.
Patronize them and help the
school. Adv.ltc.
Mrs. J. H. Crossett and
little daughter Corrinne, re
urned home, Friday, from a
two weeks’ visit to the former’s
parents, M?r. and Mrs. D. O.
Harton in Conway.
Mrs. Frank Angelo of Cot
ton Plant, and Miss Elizabeth
Johnson of this city, visited
their uncle and aunt, Dr. and
Mrs. Will Gill at Judsonia
from Tuesday ’til today, Fri
day.
The local ball club is thank
ful to Misses Margaret Hargis,
Fannie Hamilton, Irene Bran
don, Mabel Dunehew and
Hazel Musgrove for the suc
cessful sale of tickets to the
game Thursday.
Our young people desiring
a good situation at a hand
some salary should write today
lor free copy of “Opportunity”
published by Springfield Busi
ness College.. It is a live
wire. Adv. 7-2-ltp.