The weekly soliphone., 1915-01-15
EXCHANGE OF VENUE
 IN THE LAWSON CASE
Judge Gautney Transfers Trial t' Piggott to be Heard on May
 31-Other Court News.

At one thirty this afternoon Judge I. F. Gautney, who today began an adjourned term of the Greene circuit court granted change of venue in the false pretense case against J. E. Lawson. to the eastern district of Clay county, at Piggott. The case is set for trial on May 3l.
 When the Lawson case was called this morning Attorney Gordon Reanchamp. representing the defend- ant. asked for a continuance because of the absence of witness named Jackson who is said to be at Jones' boro, and for the further reason that Senator J. M. Futrell, associate coun- cil is necessarily absent in Little Rock. and also because the attorneys for the defendant have not had sui ficient time in which to prepare defense. The court refused to con tinue the case.
 Objection was then made by At torney Beauchamp to Sheriff Grooms or any of his deputies summoning the jury to try the case on account of alleged prejudice upon the part of the sheriff and his deputies toward the defendant. The court appointed Harry o. Donaldson as special deputy to summons the jury.
 Attorney Beauchamp then filed and argued a demurrer to the indict- ment, alleging it was not specific in it's allegations and that it did not set up sufficient grounds to constitute a charge against the defendant. The court overruled the demurrer.
 motion for a change of venue was then presented and was granted by the court.
 Ed c. Lucas, who was indicted with Lawson, on charges of conspir- ing to defraud Cicero Deakin out of money, was not present in court to- day. It was stated he was i'll in Hornersville. Mo- Prosecuting At torney Huddleston insisted that Dr. Dickson be sent to Hornersville this afternoon to examine Lucas and re- port back to the court. This Judge Gautney ordered done. It is proba- ble Lucas will appear in court to- morrow morning and that his case will be changed to Piggott to be tried at the time the Lawson case is heard.
 The motion for the change of venue is as follows:
 Comes the defendant, J. E. Law son. and moves the court for change of venue in the above entitled cause, and for cause says:
 That the minds of the inhabitants of Greene county, Arkansas, are so preiudiced against him that he can not obtain a fair and impartial trial of this cause therein.
 He further states that five years a 70 or more, he made the race for he nomination for the office of sher- if of Greene county, and that the present sheriff, Al Grooms, ran against him for the nomination for the same office, and that the said Al Grooms was defeated in said primary election; that three years ago he made the race for the nomination for sheriff before the democratic pri- mary election of Greene county, Ar kansas, and that the present sheriff, Al Grooms, also made the race for the nomination and defeated this de- fendant.
 Defendant further states at the last democratic primary election held in Greene county, defendant took a very active part against the said Al Grooms in his race for nomination for sheriff; and he further states by reason of the things above alleged, there has been created in the minds of the present sheriff, Al Grooms, and his deputies, very strong antip- athy and ill-will against this defend ant, and that said sheriff and his dep- uties entertain such strong preju- dices against this defendant. that he and his deputies have done every thing in their power to create pre- judice in the minds of the citizens of Greene county, against this defend ant, and that one of the prosecuting witnesses, to-wit; Kimbrough gave out a statement purporting to set out the facts in the case, which was published in the papers of this county, both daily and weekly, which papers have a very large circulation throughout the county which state ment contained allegations and