Search billions of records on Ancestry.com
   

Frank & William Ambrose: Arson charges

Note court records indicate there were at least two separate arson charges. The one for which Frank and William eventually served time in the penitentiary is believed to be for the burning of Ike Terry's barn.

CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR EASTERN DISTRICT, CARROLL COUNTY, ARK. (1888)
ATTORNEYS PARTIES CAUSE
OF
ACTION
DAY
FOR
TRIAL
PROCEEDINGS LAST TERM MINUTE OF PROCEEDING
J. V. Walker

L. D. & B.
State of Arkansas
vs.
C. M. Davis, Grant Carnes, Wm. Ambrose, Frank Ambrose, Cole Wagoner, Jno. Mitchell
Recognizance for Arson 6 [sic] Grand Jury failing to Indict
Deft discharged.

[See Nolle Prosequi dismissal below]
J. V. Walker State of Arkansas
vs.
Wm. Ambrose, Frank Ambrose, Cole Wagoner, Rufus Peters & Jno Mitchell
Recognizance   Sept 8th 3
sub for 4
Grand Jury return an Indictment of
Defts waive arraignment. Plea not Guilty. Application by Deft for change of Venue. Cause changed to Madison Co. [William?]
Slate witnesses recogniced in $250 each
Deft recognizanced in sum of $750 with H. C. Ambrose being his security. Defts wit recoginced in 250 each.

1888
STATE OF ARKANSAS
     VS
GRANT KARNES
WM. AMBROSE
FRANK AMBROSE
COLE WAGGONER
JOHN MITCHELL
On this day comes the state by attorney and defendants in person and the state by leave of the court enters a Nolle Prosequi of indictment No. 2.  It is therefore considered and ordered by the court that the defendants by discharged and fully acquitted. [Transcr. Danette Robinette]


1888
STATE OF ARKANSAS
     VS
RUFUS PETERS
WM.  AMBROSE
FRANK AMBROSE
COLE WAGGONER
JOHN MITCHELL
ARSON
This day comes the state by her attorney prosecuting and the defendants in person and by attorney and Frank Ambrose one of the defendants with A.C. Waggoner and C.M. Davis as security each for himself acknowledges himself to be indebted to the State of Arkansas in the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars to be levied of their goods, chattels, land and easements to be void upon the condition that the said defendant shall, will and timely make his personal appearance before the judge of the Carroll Circuit Court for the Eastern District thereof at the next time upon the 1st day thereof, there and then to answer an indictment pending therein against him for the crime of arson and that he will not depart without leave thereof. [Transcr. Danette Robinette]
1888
STATE OF ARKANSAS
     VS
RUFUS PETERS
WM.  AMBROSE
FRANK AMBROSE
COLE WAGGONER
JOHN MITCHELL
ARSON
This day comes the state by her attorney prosecuting and the defendants in person and by attorney and Wm. Ambrose one of the defendants with H. C. Ambrose as security each for himself acknowledges himself to be indebted to the State of Arkansas in the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars to be levied of their goods, chattels, land and easements to be void upon the condition that the said defendant shall, will and timely make his personal appearance before the judge of the Carroll Circuit Court for the Eastern District thereof at the next time upon the 1st day thereof, there and then to answer an indictment pending therein against him for the crime of arson and that he will not depart without leave thereof. [Transcr. Danette Robinette]



Jul 1888

STATE OF ARKANSAS
    VS
RUFUS PETERS
WM.  AMBROSE
FRANK AMBROSE
COLE WAGGONER
JOHN MITCHELL
DEFENDANTS
ARSON
On this day comes on this cause to be heard and comes the State by her attorney prosecuting and the defendants Wm. Ambrose and Frank Ambrose bring their solemnly called cause no[t] but under default and Henry Ambrose the security of Wm. Ambrose and Frank Ambrose and C.S. Davis, the security of Frank Ambrose in that recognizance in the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars each bring their solemnly called failed to produce said defendants.  It is further considered and ordered by the court that since recognizance be and the sum is hereby forfeited and that summons issued against said securities to appear on the 1st day of the next August term of this court and show cause if they can why judgment should not be ordered against them for said sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars each, and it is further ordered that they are ??? Writ issued for said defendants.
[Transcr. Danette Robinette, MB 21 Aug 2006T]



CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR EASTERN DISTRICT, CARROLL COUNTY, ARK. (1888)
ATTORNEYS PARTIES CAUSE
OF
ACTION
DAY
FOR
TRIAL
PROCEEDINGS LAST TERM MINUTE OF PROCEEDING
J. V. Walker

Crump & Watkins
J. D. Walker & Jno. Watkins
State of Arkansas
vs.
Miles & John Terry
Murder in 1st Degree 1st Day Indictment by Grand Jury. Defts held on Bond of 3000$ each.
Witnesses recognizanced.
Cause Continued.
7 Motion by Defts for continuance.  Cause continued by Defts for want of testimony of Thos. Hansby, Georgia Ann Hansby, Nancy Wilhite and Robert Wilhite.
Defendents held on judgmt [sic] bond.
Subs Issued.
J. V. Walker

I. Temple, D & B et al
State of Arkansas
vs.
Rufus Peters, Wm. Ambrose, Frank Ambrose, Cole Wagoner, John Mitchell
Arson 1st Day Grand Jury Indicts.
Defendents recognizanced in the Sum of 750$ each.
Cause continued.
8th Defts arraigned. Plea not guilty. Defts sever & elect to place on trial Frank Ambrose. Jury Drawn -- Trial. Mistrial.. Jury Discharged.


Aug? 1888
STATE OF ARKANSAS
     VS.
RUFUS PETERS
WILLIAM AMBROSE
FRANK AMBROSE
COLE WAGGONER
JOHN MITCHELL
ARSON
Comes the State by her attorney in this behalf prosecuting and the defendants in their own proper person and by attorney and upon being arraigned for their plea, the defendants say they are not guilty to the charge in the indictment therein.  To which plea the attorney for the State joins issue.  The defendants elect to sever upon the trial and argue that Frank Ambrose shall be placed upon trial to try the issue, for in of the clerk, by order of the Court, placed the names of the regular permit of petit jurors of this Court in a box and drew there from one by one and of these so drawn the following were found qualified to wit:  Joe Cox, William Goforth, William Hill, P.? Phillips, Harry Cox, John Hudspeth, and the regular panel being exhausted and the jury incomplete by order of the court, the sheriff summoned from the bystanders, eighteen men and these the following were found qualified to wit:  Frank Johnson, Dick Sparks, William Muse, P.A. Newton, John Cunningham, and Leroy Callen making in all, twelve good and lawful jurors to wit:  1.  Joe Cox.  2.  William Goforth.  3.  William Hill.  4.  Pleus Phillips.  5.  Henry Cox.  6.  John Hudspeth.  7.  Frank Johnson.  8.  Dick Sparks.  9.  William Hill.  10.  P.A. Newton.  11. John Cunningham. 12.  Leroy Callen, who after being selected, sworn, tried and found qualified, were duly sworn and empanelled as a jury to try this cause, and after hearing the evidence, argument of counsel, and the instructions of the court, they retired from the jury box to consider their finding.  And after deliberating and therein, they returned into the court and say they cannot agree and the court being satisfied that they cannot agree, they are by the court discharged. [Transcr. Danette Robinette]






1890
Eastern District Carroll Criminal Court Record

State of Arkansas, Pltff
vs                        Arson
Rufus Peters      )
Coley Wagoner ) Defts
John Mitchell     )

Click to see a larger imageComes the state by atty in this cause prosec[uting] and defendants in their own proper persons and by attorney and the defendants for this plead they are not guilty as charged. and the defendants further elect not to sever but to be placed on trial in a body whereof the atty for the state joins issue and comes A. M. Myers, M. T. An[??], H. C. Hart, Dan Smith, W. H. Cottrell, A. M. Bradley & Sam Car[mack] good and lawful jurors of the Regular panel of petit jurors. and the regular pa[nel] exhausted the sheriff by order of the Court summoned from the bystanders the following named persons. Joe Black-burn, Robert Cuthbertson, F. M. Meek, H. M. Calico and Sam Blackburn. who were as to their qualifications found competent asregular sworn with the other Seven as the law dir. making in all twelve good and lawful jurors. Myers, H. C. Heart, Dan Smith, W. H. Cottrell, A. M. Bradley, Sam Carmack, M. [Lorell?] who after hearing the evidence, arguments of counsel and instructions of the Court retired from the bar to consider of their findings and after due deliberation had returned into Court here the following verdict.  We the Jury find the defendants not guilty as charged in the Indictment A. M. Bradley, foreman. It is therefore con-sidered and ordered by the Court that the defendants be discharged fully acquitted hereof.

State of Arkansas
vs.
Frank Ambrose
This day this cause comes on to be heard and it appearing to the court a... at the Feb Term 1888 hereof that Frank Ambrose has...
entered into Recognizance with Henry C. Ambrose as his security that his appearance at the ...
[Next page not available. Image courtesy of Danette Robinette]



Carroll County Arkansas Court Record
27 Feb 1890
Comes the State by her attorney in their behalf prosecuting and the defendant in his own proper person in custody of the Sheriff and being informed of the nature of the charge plea and the verdict of the jury was asked if he had any legal cause to show why the judgment and sentence of the law should not be pronounced against him and no legal cause or excuse being shown, it is by the Court considered and adjudged that said defendant, Frank Ambrose be taken by the Sheriff of Carroll County to the State Penitentiary of the State of Arkansas and there delivered to the keeper of said Penitentiary and that he be confined at hard labor in said Penitentiary for the period of two (2) years from this date and it is further ordered and considered that the State of Arkansas have and recover of from said defendant all its costs in thus first laid out and expanded and ??? issue thereof. [Transcr. Danette Robinette]



Carroll County Arkansas Court Records
26 Aug 1890
State of Arkansas
vs.
William AmbroseArson Plea

On this day the order of this court continueing this cause and by consent of the Defendant set aide and comes the Defendant and in open court interposes his plea of guilty as charged of Arson him and the court doth assess his punishment at two years imprisonment at hard labor in the penitentiary of the State of Arkansas and the court being about to adjourn comes the Defendant in his own proper person and being asked by the court if he had anything to say why the judgment and sentence of the court should not be given him he answered that he had nothing to say and had no legal cause to show why he should not have judgment pronounced against him.

It is therefore considered and adjudged that the Defendant be taken by the Sheriff of this county as soon after the adjournment of this court as is practical to the city of Little Rock and be by him delivered to the warden and keeper of the Penitentiary there to be confined at hard labor for the period of two years from the date thereof and that the State of Arkansas have and recover of and from the Deft all its costs, expenses which is ordered.

State of Arkansas
County of Carroll
Certification of Court RecordI Lew Nunnally
clerk of the circuit Court within and for the county indicated aforesaid do hereby certify that the within and foregoing instrument of writing is a true and perfect copy of an order made by the Circuit Court of the Eastern District of Carroll County Arkansas at its August Term 1890 as shown by the Records of said Court now on file in my office.

Witness my hand and the
seal of said court this Aug 26 1890
(s) Lew Nunnally
    Clerk



ARKANSAS STATE PENITENTIARY
Penitentiary Record
Aug 28th 1890
DESCRIPTION OF PRISONER
Name: Wm. Ambrose
Where born: Owesly Co. Ky. Parents born Ky.
Where living: Carroll Co Ark
Age: 20 yrs
Color: White
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Blk
Height 5-8
Weight: 135#
Marks: Large scar on left shin just above ankle. Small scar right knee cap. Mole on back.
Crime: Arson
Sentence: 2 yrs
Expiration: [blank]
Occupation:Farmer
Education: None
Where Tried: Carroll Co.
Where Family and Friends Live: 1 brother in this prison. 5 sisters Stone Co., MO. 1 married sister in Barry Co., MO. Wife Carroll Co., Ark.
Habits: Moderate
Married: Yes
Former Imprisonment: None
Employed: Yes
Description of Prisoner