The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1909-03-16
LYENS AND HIS son
TO co ON TRIAL
TODAY
sLAYERs or FLEMING SMITH TO
BE TRIED AT JEsUP-HUNDRE0
EXTRA JURORS HAVE BEEN
SUMMONED BY JUDGE PARKER.

EX Sheriff ". B. Lyens and his son.
Archie Lyens. will go on trial in the
Wayne superior court at Jesup ,oday.
charged with the murder of Fleming
Smith, and the case promises to be
one of the most interesting legal bat
ties fought in this section of the state
in some time.
1t was reported that a change oi
venue would be asked by the defense,
but it developed yesterday that such
\ step would not be made and that the
case would go on trial this morning.
Judge Parker, after convening the
court yesterday morning, disposed OF
one or two civil cases. He then an
nounced that all other cases. civil
and criminal. would be postponed for
the term and that the ex-sheriff and
his son would go on trial this morning.
One hundred extra jurors were at once
summoned and this week the work of
securing twelve men to try these two
men will begin
Major r. L. Dart, of this city one
of the leading counsels for the state,
spent yesterday in Jesup, returning
to the city last night Mr. Dart stated
TO News reporter last night that
the state did not look for a petition
for change of venue by the defense,
as all arrangements had been made
for beginning on the case. Mr.. Dart
/ will return to Jesup this morning.
1t is believed that it will take two
or three days to secure twelve men
to try Lyons and his son 1t is
we'll established fact that majority
of the people of Wayne county are
prejudlced, others are related to the
one side or the other, while many
others will go down for various rea-
sons, therefore it is known that some
trouble will be experienced in secllr-
Ing the jury
w. B. Lyens and his son arrived at
Jesup early yesterday morning to arr
swer the charge of murder. They
were escorted from Chatham county
jail at Savannah, where they have
been since the crime that so stirred
this entire section, by Sheriff j. S.
Lee and Deputies Rembert Johns and
R. S. Madray. The murder with which
they are charged occurred December
12 last
According to reports at that time
bad blood existed between Smith and
Sheriff Lyens because of alleged re-
marks that the sheriff had made about
a lady and the resentIng of said re-
marks by Smith Previous to the
shooting on the night of December u,
there had been conversation between
I>yens and Smith over the telephone.
The entrance of the Lyens to the drug
store in which young Smith was EN-
ployed marked the beginning of a
crime the like of which this section
has never known Over twenty five
shots were fired by the two officers
at Smith, and several took effect
Self-defense will probably be the
plea of the men charged with this
crime. They base this upon the pres
ence in the drug store. so it is said
of a shotgun This had been dis
charged
The case will be hard fought one.
For the state, Solicitor General
Thomas will be assisted by Wilson,
Bennett G. Lambin of Waycross, r. f.
Dart, of this city, and r. l.. Bennet
and Jos. H. Morris, while the defen
adnts will be represented by w w
Bennett, of Baxey, j. r. Thomas and
Brown & Parker, of Jesup. ]
There Is considerable local interest
in this case and The News has made
arrangements to get fun details each
day.