The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-02
Mrs. King on the Wit ness Stand. GADSDEN WOMAN READS
 LETTERS FROM HER BOY Verdict in Olivier Case Expected
 Today. Doctor Was Killed fin Leuisiana Dy Youth Who Pleads The Us- written Law-TriaI At
 Franklin.

Franklin, La. Oct. 1-(SpeciaD D-The pathetic figure. of Mrs. sallie S. King. of Gadsden. Ala. the gray-haired mother of pr. Allen A. King, who was slain by Lee olivier, the fifteen year old Morgan City boy. on the witness stand today furnished the first real dramatic scene of the trial.
 For almost an hour she sat with her head erect. lowing only when the hot tears streamed down her pale and worn face. She told of a letter she re- cefved from her boy as she fondly nicknamed him. the day of the tragedy.
 T was just preparing to answer the letter." she said. his tender words of love were still burning in my breast. when the horrible news of his tragic death came tc sae."
 since the trial opened when it suc- ceeded. under a storm of protest from the defense, in having the letter of- Tered to the jury. The defense ob- tected when Hon. Samuel A MontKom- cry. noted for his power of oratory. attempted to read the letter to the jury. They wanted the letter read by Mrs. King, but they realized before she had half completed 1t that the biggest mistake of the trial had been made.
 The appearance of Mrs. King in the court room had a striking effect on the jury, but the impression she made went stronger when she was tenderly assisted to the chair. She was attired in deep mourning. Her face, upon which time has traced It's lines of agony was hidden beneath the folds of long flowing veil.
 Mother Heads Letter.
 My precious mother" she read and then hesitated as the tender Nsaluta- tion sank deep in her breast What ever were .her emotions, she managed to sway them without the least out ward display. Her hand moved to her eyes to stay the scalding tears which ran in a perfect stream down her face. She sobbed aloud and then turned hrssely upon the task before II her
 The letter was couched in the ten. derest language at the command Of her son. It told of his return to the scene of the alleged scandal. of hts l having faced his accusers, and of his i utter disregard for the threats he had heard concerning him. He expressed yearning to leave the place and It's whirlpool of scandal" as he expressed 1t. and returning to Gadsden. Ala. the scene of his boyhood and youth. and start life over again.
 While the letter was being read the jurors leaned far over their seats. They wanted to grasp every word that flowed from the mouth of the witness. It was the first time during the trial that the jury. as a whole, evfnced q keen interest in the proceedings. The defense sprang 6 surprise when court assembled. when Judge Allen announced that its case was closed and opened the gates for the State to offer evidence in rebuttaL
 The State called Mrs. King to the stand and offered the letter to show the state of pr. Kings mind at the time the letter was composed. 1t was also for the purpose of showing that he did not anticipate trouble. because he wrote in the letter that everything | was quiet.
 The letter follows:
 My own precious Mother:- Your dear. sweet letter was receiv- | ed yesterday and I hasten to answer | to let you know that I have made up my mind to come back to you all. "I feel and I know that can do. | better at Gadsden than I could here. and since my visit I have been So ! home sick that I feel like taking the first train. have returned and proved the fact that I was not and am not atTalQ or any or tue IhtsG fe~ ports and scandalous lies which were being circulated"
 The letter Is signed Allen" Doctors Friends Testify. Adolph Bernard, a Morgan City den- tist who was a personal friend of Dr. King, was placed on the stand to prove that pr. King was not in the habit of carrying concealed weapons. He was a room mate of pr. King and was very much attached to him up to the time Of his death.
 At the conclusion of the testimony of Dr. Roussell, who did not believe Dr. King ever had brass knucks. the State announced that its case was complete. The defense did not offer any of the witnesses 1t held in re- serve.
 Rev. P. A. Souby, rector of the Catholic Church at Morgan City. who was brought into the case as witt ness. was not heard, although he was present in the court room throughout the trial. He remained in the back ground and did not mingle with the relatives of young Olivier as he had done on previous occasions.
 Arguments opened tonight and 1t Is believed the case will go to the jury by noon Saturday.
 Young Olivier's defense was that Dr.