VOLUME XVIII. NO. 252 NEWPORT, ARKANSAS THURSDAY,
SELECTING JURY
IN MURDER CASE
Entire Day Probably Will Be Con
sumed In Selecting Veniremen In
Case Of Will Davis.
The case of Will Davis, charged
with first degree murder for the kill
ing of John Barton a few months ago
in the roadway between Amagon and
Balch began Thursday. Considerable
difficulty is being met in the work of
securing a jury, the regular panel be
ing exhausted, and more veniremen
being summoned. The jury probably
cannot be completed before Friday
morning.
Claude M. Erwin and George A.
Hillhouse represent the defendant,
while Prosecuting Attorney Earl
Casey is assisted by J. B. Powell, an
attorney of Jackson, Alabama, the
former home of Barton.
In the case Wednesday of T. S.
Stephens vs. John and Preston Lee,
colored, a verdict was returned by
the jury for Mr. Stephens, who re
ceived judgment in the amount of
$650, the purchase price of a tractor
which the defendants had bought from
the plaintiff.
Circuit court will adjourn Saturday.
The docket has been disposed of in
rapid-fire manner by Judge Dene H.
Coleman, who has received the splen
did co-oo-peration of court officials
and both local and visiting attorneys.
Since his tenure in office began,
Judge Coleman has made a decided
inlpression throughout the district
with Ms judicious methods, the opera
tion of which have been a means of
creating a saving to the tax-payers of
the counties of the circuit.
Both the judge and Prosecuting
Attorney Earl Casey have made many
new friends during their terms of
office through their courteous treat
ment of the public and their unusual
ability to dispatch business.
LIEUT. ROSS MATHIS
ESCAPES GERMAN PRISON
TO CAMP INTO FRANCE
A dispatch from Washington, car
rying information of prisoners held
in German camps, said Thursday:
“Lieut. Ross Mathis, Cotton Plant,
Ark., escaped December 27, and sent
& to evacuation hospital 12, January 2. ’
Lieut. Mathis is well known in New
port, and his friends welcome the
good news of his escape from Ger
many into France.
CELEBRATES TENTH BIRTHDAY.
Miss Margaret Reed celebrated her
tenth birthday last evening when she
gave a picture show , party in honor
of the occasion, which was a very
happy evening for the little junior
society set. After the party left the
theatre cream and cake were served
at R. D. Brwon’s drug store and later
the girls enjoyed games at the
home of the little hostess on Walnut
^ street. Several beautiful gifts were
tokens of esteem in honor of the
birthday, which were appreciated very
much by Miss Margaret. The party
was chaparoned by Mr. and Mrs. Will
/ Reed, parents of the little hostess.
The girls in the party were Misses
Josephine Carroll, Elizabeth Umsted,
Minnie Belle Bandy, Leone Campbell,
Artemis and Ruebelle Gray, Mollie
Hinkle, Mildred Sprigg, June Edgar,
Amanda WIilmans, Hazel Porter,
Elizabeth Wise and Franchell Wat- ]
son.
♦♦+♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
MAPALINE THEATRE j
A ♦ ♦
^ 4. PARAMOUNT +
^ Presents Pretty Vivian Mar- ^
^ tin in ^
♦ ♦
▲ HER COUNTRY FIRST +
! f
A An extra good feature. ^
▲ Five Reels—PARAMOUNT ^
Z - '♦!
+ LOVE’S LOOP THE LOOP +
^ An extra good Mack Sen- ^ j
^ nett Comedy. ^
a. Two Reels. ^
♦ - ♦
^ Admission 10 and 15 Cents. ^
^ 1st show at 6:50 p. m. ^
▲ 2nd show at 8:10 p. m. ^
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r'NJv •• -
PASSAGE OF WATER
POWER BILL URGED
BY WALKER POWELL.
Walker V. Powell, of Little Rock,
president of the Dixie Power Compa
ny^of Cotter, is in Washington for thd
purpose of securing the passage of
the water-power bill, which gives to
corporations and individuals the
right to dam navigable streams un
der certain conditions. Mr. Powell
says the passage of the bill and the
approval of the project of the Dixie
Power Company would enable his
company to furnish 18 towns; with
power that are now in darkness, and
would cheapen the cost of light and
power in Little Rock and intermediate
points. He says the operation of the
project would decrease the flood wa
ters from the White, Black and Buf
falo rivers in the Batesville-Newport
district approximately 8,000,000 feet,
which, he says, would mean the sav
ing of millions of dollars annual loss
to crops and the inundation of towns.
AFTERNOON TEA.
Mrs. Charles G. Henry entertained
at a delightful tea Wednesday at 4
o’clock for her friends to meet Mrs.
Gaylord Warner and Mrs. John W.
Stayton. The living room and din
ing room were very prettily decorated
in red carnations and ferns, the din
ing table having a lovely set of cluny
lace upon it, ana ior its central uec
oration a basket of red carnations
surrounded by_ red papers with red
silken shades. The effect was unus
ually pretty and was the inspiration
of many complimentary remarks.
Mrs. Henry was charmingly assisted
by Misses Bessie Watson and Kate
Harder, who served an elegant buffet
lunch. A long stemmed red carna
tion was presented to each guest
of the afternoon who were Mes
dames H. O. Walker, George K. Ste
phens, William Bailey, W. A. Bil
lingsley, T. J. Gregg, Earl E. Best,
Clyde Wood, Elbert Watson, William
Hooker, Charles E. Hite, E. B. Wil
mans, 0. D. Watson, Ira J. Mack, J.
A Gregory, P. H. Van Dyke and the
two guests of honor, Mrs Stayton
and Mrs. Warner.
ORGANIZE MISSION CIRCLE.
The young ladies of the Christian
church met yesterday afternoon at
the church and organized a mission
circle. The purpose of the organiza
tion is to stimulate missionary activ
ity and education.
The first of the monthly meetings
will be held with Miss Dora Burkett,
the president, the first Wednesday in
March.
Mrs. L. A. Threlkeld, superintendent
of this department, offered a prize for
the young lady securing the greatest
number of members before Easter,
each member subscribing for the
“World Call.”
PASS BEARD BILL.
Special to Independent.
Little Rock, Feb. 20.—The house
yesterday afternoon, after a spirited
debate, passed the Beard bill provid
ing for a Bank Guaranty Fund to be
raised by the payment of one-twen
tieth of one per cent of the average
deposits of the participating banks.
A similar bill was defeated recently
bv the senate.
MANSION FOR GOVERNOR.
Special to Independent.
Little Rock, Feb 20.—Should a bill
introduced into the house yesterday
by Representatives Holloway and
McCullough become a law, a hand
some $35,000 mansion will be erected
in the State Capitol ground to be oc
cupied by the governor of the state.
They argue that this would be a
measure of economy since the state
now appropriates $1,000 a year for
the rent of the dwelling occupied by
the governors.
TO INCREASE FRANCHISE TAX.
Special to Independent.
Little Rock, Feb. 20.—Senator Ut
ley introduced a bill late yesterday
afternoon which it is said will in
crease the franchise tax paid by in
surance companies to a level wi'„h
that paid by other corporations doing
business in the state.
The bill was referred to the com
mittee on Banks and Banking.
_ ... : ■-*<■ '?4 1 ■: ...
Departee Creek Drainage
District Being Considered
\
A meeting of the board of direc
tors of the Chamber of Commerce
and interested citizens is being held
at the office of the chamber today
(Thursday) for the purpose of inves
tigating the feasibility of forming the
Defartee Creek Drainage District,
j which has been in the shape of a pi’O
j posal for a few weeks. Ned H.
| Schaffer, representing the Morgan
Engineering Company of Memphis,
is present at the meeting.
At this time we are unable to make
any definite statement concerning
the meeting, as details have not yet
been gone into. A few weeks ago a
government engineer was here and
went over the territory embracing the
proposed district, but he has not made
a written report.
The purpose of the project is to cut
a canal, beginning at the head of Oil
Trough, down Departee Creek to a
point near Augusta. This canal, ac-.
; cording to engineers, would render a
I great saving to the farmers of the
territory, because the canal would
; take care of the water which rises
three or four times a year to a height
! of 25 or 20 feet here. It is suggested,
however, that such a canal would j
hardly remove the flood menace to
! Newport, as some have contended,
i That the canal would be a means of
’ saving a large portion of the crops
nearly every year in the territory is a
| big item to consider seriously.
A fuller report of today’s meeting
! will be printed in these columns as
soon as we can secure data concerning
i estimated costs»>of the proposed dis
i trict, etc.
I WILLARD MEMORIAL SERVICE.
One of the best programs ever
rendered at the Frances E. Willard
memorial services which is an annual
event in honor of this worker in the
temperance cause, whose work is re
nowned, was the meeting held Wed
' nesday by the local chapter when a
| program of music and talks was very
; happily rendered by members and
! friends of the cause. The meeting
1 was held at the pretty home of Mr.
j and Mrs A. T. Hubly and at least a
hundred persons were present. Dur
ing the social hour following the pro
gram an unusually elegant lunch of
sandwiches and coffee, ice cream and
cake was served by the social commit
tee of the chapter. A silver offering,
which is always a gift on this occas
ion to further the temperance caus,
amounted to $21.00.
GIVE POWER TO JUDGES.
! Special to Independent,
j Little Rock, Feb. 20.—The Senate
yesterday afternoon passed the
Caldwell bill giving criminal judges
! discretionary powers in placing per
! sons convicted in their courts on pro
i bation, and suspending their sen
tences during good behavior.
J The measure was framed by Judge’
I John W. Wade of Pulaski county.
; Only four votes were cast against it.
j _
Dan G. Harris of Tupelo, who has
| been in the navy at San Diego, Cal
i ifornia, and later in the east, has been
released from service, and after a
i visit to his mother at Tupelo is now
^at Searcy visiting his sister, Mrs.
Ray Toler.
Subscribe for the Independent.
COUNTY BOARD WOULD
APPOINT COUNTY SUPER
INTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.'
* - i
'Special to Independent.
Little Rock, Feb. 20.—The senate ,
yesterday passed the bill of the Com
mittee on Education providing for a
uniform system of county boards of
education. The county boards under
the bill will be composed of five men
elected by the people. These boards,
in turn, will select the county super
intendent, who is now elective by the!
people in most of the counties having j
a superintendent, ^.s passed the bill
carries an amendment limiting the;
salary of the county superintendent j
to $1,800 in counties having a popula
tion of less than 32,000 and to $2,400
in counties larger than 32,000. Sena
tor Moncrief and a number of other
senators who had fought to have
their counties exempted from the bill,
voted for it in the final roll call,
which showed 24 ayes to three noes.
BILL IS RECALLED.
Special to Independent.
Little Rock, Feb. 20.—Senator
Ward of Marianna succeeded in hav
i g a resolution passed by the senate
yesterday requesting the house to re
turn Senate Bill No. 151 by Town
send to the senate for further con
sideration. The bill was passed last
week without opposition, but Senator
Ward said he had been advised that
it would prevent the country grocer
from handling simple patent medi
cines, chill tonics etc. This he said
would work a hardship on sections
where there are not many doctors and
drugstores and licensed druggists are
few and far between.
Miss Ida Parish spend Wednesday
at Little Rock, returning on the even
ing train.
I ————
;
Announcing
First Showing
of Shirts For
*
Spring 1919
5 - i
OfiAuyn^rtiij
MANHA TTAN
■AND
t
WILSON BROS.
i
$2-50 and up |j
THE STAR CLOTHING COMPANY
“THE APPAREL STORE FOR MEN." I
'' .. ' i ' i i i
i
I
; i
M
TO HELP PREPARE
TOW IHCQME TAX
Deputy Collector of Revenue Will Be
la Newport From Feb. 24 to
March 1, Inclusive.
The Independent has just received
the following telegram from Jack
Walker, revenue collector of Arkan
sas:
“I’lease announce that Deputy J. C.
Goodeum will be at Newport Febru
ary 24 to March 1, inclusive, for the
purpose of assisting persons in pre
paring federal income tax return for
the year, 1918.”
AWARDS FOR SERVICE.
" S y.V'.'jB
The committee onawards for seivifil
vice $
be glad to have further applications -
from workers in the Jackson County
Chapter. The applications must all’
be in at the Division office in St.
Louis by the 28th. These awards . ‘
should be as highly coveted and priz
ed by individuals and families as any -j
medal or citation won in time of war : -
or peace, and those entitled to them
should unhesitatingly present their
statement of service to the committee. |
No matter how generously the heroes
of tha firing line may equally share , |
the honor of service in winning the „, J
war, no “home soldier”— could ever «
feel no matter how threat his service
that it could be comparable to his. .
Yet it was a very necessary part, and
the Red Cross wishes to so recog- |
nize it by bestowing these badges and
certificates to those who have volun- ^
tarily borne the greater share of itfc:j§;
work, and contributed the greatest |||^
amount of their time to it. The ffipj
badges will be vety..wje in commun*|
ities because it takes a
bo qualify (or some special seMSftl|fl||l
lackson county has certainly a place;
n this distinguished class and should’fl ;
?o take its place in the records of the J
Red Cross and is an honor to theM
winner and an honor to the chapter f
hat holds its winner. In making
)ur statement last week the name of *
Mrs. G*. A Hillhouse was, through < 1
mistake, omitted from the list of
‘honorable mentions.” Mrs. M. F.
lurley, who already has an enviable |
record of hours and service, should .aj
lave 13 more garments added to her
cnitting. Mrs. Ben White should
lave been high up in the list of the ,bb|
women who held a record in sewing ;:>|i
’or output. Mrs. R. C. Harder has
sent application in knitting for 800 t i||
lours and ,no final rdport will be sent p|g
n that does not include with every .
sxpression of the Chapter’s appre- §|
nation, the name of Mrs. O. W, Scar- *|
aorough, chairman of the knitting i
(also chairman of the Awards Cbm- -I
nittee) and for that reason her name
was intentionally omitted till the fi*
lal report. With a loyalty and ener
gy that was an inspiration and ex
ample to all of us, she has made her
knitting department of the Chapter
me of the very best. The officers of
;he Chapter will also be justly en
iitled to recognition.
NOTICE.
The Jackson County Medical Socie- a
ty will meet Monday, February 24, in
the office of Dr. O. E Jones in New
lort for the purpose of electing offi
cers and the transaction of any other
business that may come before the
mganization. All members urged to
le present.
Dr. Jra H. Erwin, Secretary.
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IF A MULE COULD TALK
HE’D CUSS.
The driver of the Stand
ard Oil tank wagon is a good
roads booster, and if the four
mules he used in trying to
pull his wagon out of the
mud could talk, no doubt
they would have something
interesting to say.
The driver was returning
from a trip in Oil Trough
when the wagon went deep
in mud. He secured another
team of mules from a far
mer and when an attempt
was made to lift the wagon
from the mud the WAGON
| WAS PULLED IN TWO.
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