The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-12
Advertiser Bureau.

Selma, Feb. II.
 The City Court will begin on capital cases Monday and before the week is over four persons charged with murder will hear the jury's verdict
 Two capital cases are set for Mon- day. Walter S. Lawrence, charged with the murder of H. Beiman. will have to stand trial and If his hearing is completed that day the case of Lee Bell will be called. It is extremely doubtful, however, that his trial will consume less than a day. It is more probable that two or three days will be taken up. as there will be an abund- ance of testimony and much legal con tention. 1t is likely that it will be one of the most interesting trials for murder ever held in this State.
 The following day Callie Martin, Henry McElrain and Henry Williams will be tried if the other cases do not run into that date. Two of the ne- groes are to be tried jointly.
 The trial of Jack Fontaine and Will lett Warren. the two young men who forged checks and obtained money u~- der false pretenses will come off Tues day, Feb. 2S. Much interest is being taken in their cases, several of the most prominent merchants in the city having been swindled by the young men. On account of their youth, a great deal of sympathy for them is expressed. The checks the men forged were on the Gates Lumber Company, by which they had been em- pIoyed.
 Tn the trial of the two forgers the solicitor will be assisted by counsel employed by the Gates Lumber Com pany and by the merchants In Selma, who were victims of their schemes. The defendants have employed Mallory X Mallory to defend them.
 There is probability that the court will have hard time empanneling a jury 10 try the Lawrence case as a great many are said to have fixed opinions. A special venire of about eighty has been drawn and 1t will at least take some time to organize the sitting jury.
 There is considera bIe speculation about the outcome of the trial and opinion appears to be about evenly di- vided. Many say that if the prosecution brings out everything the defendant will have a hard time, but on the other hand it is claimed that the evidence derogatory to the defendant involves points of law and will very likely be thrown out. Practically the entire case on either side hangs on the dy- ing deposition of Beimau and a prom inent lawyer has said that there is on ly one sentence in it that will be al- lowed in evidence. At the preliminary the defense made a strenuous effort to have the statement excluded. and many believe that the defense win succeed in the City Court, or in the Supreme Court if the former decides to the con trary. If the deposition is not allowed as testimony there will be practically nothing on which to convict Lawrence unless a great deal of new evidence Is brought out.
 The sentiment is rather for Law renee than against him as at the time Of the preliminary hearing. He has many friends both in Selma and in the adjacent communities who ridicule every theory the prosecution has ad- vaneed.
 Unless the State has something new to present as il has maintained ,he trial of Lawrence is likely 10 he to q great extent a repetition Of the hear sna befors Mayor Atkins with two