Submitted by 
Marti Graham

Arnold Held For Murder Of Wife
Uncle Testifies Against Pocola Youth At The First Hearing
Remained For Trail
Bray is Released By The Court, But Bond Is Required

Fort Smith, Ark., Oct 8 (Special)  Before a packed courtroom and scores of others on the outside anxious to witness the proceedings, Everett Arnold, charged with the murder of his 17 year old wife on September 17, was given his preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace J.P. Booth at Pocola, Okla., Monday morning. He was bound over to await trial at the county seat at Poteau, at the November term of court, which takes up the first Monday in the month.

Dave Bray, first charged with the murder of Mary Arnold, the young wife of Arnold, was discharged by the court, as he had been in custody since the murder, first under arrest for it, and later held as a witness. Upon the suggestion of Prosecuting Attorney W. D. Buckley, Bray was required to give bond with approved security for his appearance at court.

Accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Carl Wagnon, the prisoners were transferred from Poteau to Pocola via Bonanaza. Attorneys W.D. Buckley for the state, Tom McNeal for Bray and John Holland of Greenwood for young Arnold, also accompanied the party to this place and when Judge Booth called court to order at 9 o'clock there were over four hundred people present to witness the trial. The courtroom is an old dilapidated school house and was inadequate to hold the crowds.

The witnesses placed on the stand were Dave Bray, an uncle of Arnold, who was asleep in the room at the time of the killing; Rufus McClain, who appeared at the scene of the murder the following morning, and Dr. Holderfield. These three men testified for the state, while the defense had no testimony to introduce on the part of Arnold.

Bray's testimony was quite substantial and his story seemed to be quite different to the one told by Arnold at the preliminary hearing of Bray a few weeks ago. He swore that he heard Arnold say to his wife that if she were to leave him he would blow her d--- brains out. He told this to his wife after she told him that she intended to sell her property and leave the homestead.

Rufus McClain, the next witness called to the stand for the state, told of his arrival at the home the following morning after the murder which was practically the same as told at the previous hearing of Bray. The testimony of Dr. Holderfield did not add much light to that told by McLain.

It was proven that the young girl wife of Arnold met her death about 2 o'clock on the morning of Sunday, September 17, from a gunshot wound under the left ear which took an upward direction and tore away her skull, killing her instantly. By her side lay her 1-year old baby boy and in the same room with the couple Bray had his bed. Bray is an uncle of the Arnold family and helped them on the farm with their cotton crop.

Information posted as courtesy to researchers.