The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-25
.LAURENT'S SLAYER
 SUED FOR $5O,OOO
Relatives of Murdered Man
 Claim Heavy Damages
WAITING FOR DECISION
Charles R. Smith, Who Killed Laurent, Is In Jail Waiting For Result of Appeal and This Suit Is
 Filed Against Him.

I Columbus, Miss, May 24.-(Special)- Through their attorneys, K. T. McCon- nico of Nashville, Tenn, and Betts & Sturdevant of this city, the immediate relatives of Eugene A Laurent, who was shot to death by Charles R. Smith, the wealthy Lowndes county planter, who was sentenced to life imprisonment after a sensational trial last February have filed suit against Charles R. Smith for damages of every kind to the plaintiffs" for the sum of $5O,000
 That part of the instrument most in- teresting follows:
 "Plaintiffs alleged that heretofore, to- wit, on or about the 18th day of January, 19O9 in the town of Artesia, Miss. the said Charles R. Smith did wrongfully as- sault and kill the said Eugene A. Lau- rent by striking him with an umbrella and shooting him three times with a pis- tol, the last two shots being fired into the back part of the head of the de- ceased while he was prostrate on the floor and begging for his life, from the effects of said shots the deceased died in few minutes in great pain and agony. The assault and killing of deceased was entirely unprovoked by the deceased and was unresisted, the deceased doing noth- ing but fleeing and begging for his life to the end and the said assault and kill ing and the manner thereof caused the said Eugene A. Laurent great physical and mental anguish till he died most horrible death"
 The bill then speaks of Laurent being in fine physical health and commanding salary of S4OO0 per annum as a trav- cling salesman. Plaintiffs claims that deceased had an unvarying custom of contributing each month a large and substantial sum of money as gratuity to the plaintiffs or to some of them"
 Another paragraph of the bill reads:
 Plaintiffs allege that they are in very moderate circumstances financially, hay ing only what they can earn, and that the defendant, Charles R. Smith Is man of great wealth, being worth more than $l00 000."
 Interest in the Smith case has been quickened lately in anticipation of what the supreme court will do. with the ver- dict. It will be recalled that the trial last February was replete with sensa- tions and attracted interest all over the country. The defendants lawyers plea was paranofa; while Smith said that Lau- rent had debauched his daughter, Miss Estelle Smith. Both prosecution and defense repudiated this statement but the defendant still clung to his belief. Even since his incarceration he has re- fused to be convinced that his belief is without foundation and still claims he killed the despoiler of his home.
 Leading counsel for Smith, Zeph Lan- drum of this city, who brilliantly de- tended his client at his trial, stated this afternoon that he presumed the damage suit will be called at the September term. He goes to Jackson within the next few days to defend MT. Smith in the supreme court Just what day the case will be called is not known.
 It Is stated that MT. McConnico, lead ing counsel for the prosecution, will rep resent the state at the supreme court and will make an appeal for the lower courts verdict to be affirmed.