The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-24
MISS KING EXPECTED
PRINCIPAL WITNESS IN. SMITH,
 LAURENT MURDER CASE.
Miss King and Her Father Were Due te Reach Columbus Yesterday
 But Failed to
 Arrive.

Columbus. Miss, Jan. 23.-(Special) ) The arrival of Miss Letitia King, the young lady whom Chas. R. Smith as- serts handled his daughter" in such manner as to enable E. A. Laurent to accomplish her ruin, is eagerly an- ticipated.
 It was reported that Miss King and her father would reach the city today at noon, but they failed to arrive. Ate torneys fer the prosecution state, how- evers that she will certainly reach here in tisle for the trial. It is be- lieved that they expect to prove that Smith endeayored te force, his atten. tions upon her. and was jealous of Laurent.
 The feeling here is intense and cor respondents for metropolitan papers have antagonized people interested in both the prosecution and defense be- cause they have given facts in their dispatches. and have refused to pervert these facts In order to bolster up eith- CT one side or the other. A defective, who Is here working up evidence in the case, had the nerve to ask one cor respondent to allow him to censor ev- cry dispatch sent out, and when the request was indignantly denied threat ened to have him removed. The cor respondent knew that he could not do this, and told him firmly and positive ly that he would use his own judg- ment in sending out news.
 This detective admitted that all ac- counts sent out had been fair and un- biased. but claimed that some facts had been given before the time for publi- cation arrived. The correspondents have been giving facts accurately and correctly as soon as they developed, and this they will continue to do.
 This effort at coercion has not been participated in by counsel for either the defense or prosecution. The law yers on both sides of the case are high toned gentlemen and while they have naturally refused to answer some ques- tions propounded to them, they have always treated representatives of the press with courtesy and consideration and have never sought to either CO., cree or mlslead thought.
 Smith Is being treated kindly by the county authorities. He Is not compell. ed to occupy a cell but has a room in the apartments allotted to the Jailer. He Is under a special guard, who never leaves him day or night, the two men eating and sleeping in the same room. Neither side seems to be sparing ex- pense, either. in working up evidence 
 Smith is exceedingly wealthy. being the owner of 10000 acres of land in the most fertile section of Lowndes County, and the prosecution is we'll supplied with funds. It is known that Simmons Hardware Company of St. Louis has signifed willingness to put up a large sum, and the United Com mercial Travellers Association. of which Laurent was a member. will also contribute liberally to the funds.
 It developed today that Hon. K. T. McConnico, leading counsel for the prosecution, who left here yesterday with Nashville as his ostensible point of destination. did not go to the rock city" but went to Artesia, and West Point for the purpose of working up evidence. Mir. McConnico returned to Columbus at noon today, and left again at. 3:2o p. m. going north over the and Ohio.
 He assured representatives of the press that he was really going to Nash vile this time, but would return to Columbus Tuesday and remain here until the case comes to trial.