The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-31
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 Columbus, Miss. January So.-(special9 Interest throughout the entire state IS centered in the proceedings Of the Lowndes county circuit court Monday morning for at clock that day Charles R. Smith, the wealthy Lowndes county planter. will be placed on trial for his life, charged with the murder of Eugene A. Laurent at Artesia, Miss, on the 18th of this month.
 While the defendant will be placed on trial Monday that is if both state and de- fense announce ready the arraignment will be one of only formality, as the special venire will be asked for. Indi- cations are that venire of 50 men will be called for and these subpoenas will be returnable on Wednesday morning. Those interested in the case will venture the opinion at this time that the work of se- lecting a jury will hardly consume more than Wednesday and the evidence will begin Thursday.
 There is hardly any probability that either side will announce other than ready Monday. It is positively stated that the state will be prepared and those in position to know state that the de- fense is equally as anxious for trial.
 Brilliant Legal Array.
 A brilliant array of legal talent will be pitted against each other. For the pros ecution the leading counsel will be K. T. McConnico from Nashville. MT. Me Connico was a personal friend of Lau- rents He had charge of the prosecution at the second preliminary hearing in Co., lumbus last week District Attorney Cur rie has taken an unusual interest in the case this week and will, of course. take an important part in the trial. The local representatives of the prosecution are Attorneys Betts and sturdivant
 zack P. Landrum, who alone defended MT. Smith at both the preliminary trial at Artesia and the preliminary trial at Columbus, will remain at the head in the defense throughout the coming con- test. Associated with him are S. A. Witherspoon of Meridian and William Baldwin of Columbus.
 There is every reason to believe the state will finish it's direct testimony in two hours time It is understood that only three or four witnesses will be
 
 ing.
 Defense Is Unknown.
 Only a person possessed with supernat- ural or psychological powers can reveal what defense other than the 'unwritten law will be introduced by the defense in answer to the charge of murder. The statements of the leading counsel for the defense a week ago are still fresh in the I1lf ,fr1 f- ,1<.,-.. tl.g- defense will be proven adequate to an swer the charge. There Is no doubt but that the defendant himself will repeat his story told at the second preliminary hearing.
 All interest is centered in the daugh- ter, whom the defendant states told him the story which caused the killing. The public is eagerly awaiting her testimony and wondering what and how she will deliver it. Her refusal to answer every question from the prosecuting attorney while on the witness stand in the second trial still remains one of the unsolvable problems of the tangled case. Public opin- ion is that she will corroborate her fath- CTS story of the case, but there Is the gruelling cross-examination she will have to undergo. MT. McConnico while he proved himself in thorough sympathy with Miss Smith during the first trial, and while he was especially kind and courteous in his conduct toward her, will certainly exert every means possible to draw every thread of evidence concerning her acquaintance with Laurent into the case. Her ordeal will be painful one.
 R. E.. Smith of Sherman, Tex, a brother of the defendant, arrived in Co., lumbus today at noon. MT. Smith is one of the most prominent men of the Lone Star state. He is owner of one of the largest farms in Texas and is known as '"The Alfalfa King"