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TRIAL OF THE LIVE OAK BANKERS Mr. J. B. Barton and Mr. G. S. Mobley, of the late Citizens Bank of Live Oak, are now on trial before Judge Bullock and have been since Monday. A jury was empanelled late Monday afternoon and witnesses for the state have been under examination since that time. The state is represented by Hon. George W. Scofield, state attorney, of Inverness; Judge H. E. Carter of Live Oak and Mr. L. W. Duval of Ocala. The defendants by Mr. Charles E. Davis of Madison, Mr. C. D. Blackwell of West Palm Beach, Mr. J. F. Harrell of Live Oak and Mr. Raymond "B. Bullock of Ocala. Mr. J. B. Johnson, of Live, Oak, receiver for the bank and a former president of the Florida senate, Mr, J. J. Heard, of the former Heard National bank of Jacksonville, Mr. .J. B. Whitfield, of Tallahassee, a state bank examiner, are among the witmesses. Mr. Forrest Lake, of Sanford and other prominent citizens in different parts of the state are amorg the interested spectators. The defendants are accompanied by their wives, who have been present in the court house since the opening of the trial. Those composing the jury are the following: D. R. Zetrouer, H. P. Oliver, Geo. W. Carpenter, R. D. Mills, D. J. Carroll and S. S. Savage, Jr. The examination of witnesses for the defense began yesterday morning, and continued throughout the day, the attorneys for either side contesting every inch of ground, and their "cross firing" proved interesting to those in the audience who nad no direct connection with the case. The case will occupy all of today and probably the most of Saturday before it is turned over to the jury.