Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-03-28

Moctezuma. He quit the role of
employe and became the legal ad-
wiser of the interests for which he
had successfully worked for several
Years.
starts Practice in Douglas.
Coming directly to Douglas, he
secured rooms and opened offices
in the same suite that he had been
using in recent years, although he
did not continue to occupy them
steadily. He later moved to an
other location in. the city, but not
long afterward he again returned
to the Brophy block and to the Of
fices that he left last Thursday aft
ernoon on his fatal journey
Mr. King was especially brilliant,
according to Mr. Douglas, who had
known him for years. 1t was be-
cause of the confidence that Mr..
Douglas and his associates had in
! the ability and integrity of Mr..
King that Immediately on his open
ing law offices here he was retain
ed as attorney for the Moctezuma
Copper company The Cananea Con-
solidated Copper company and the
Lucky Tigre Copper company also
placed their Mexican business in his
hands and he had continued to en-
joy their confidence and patronage
until his death.
Friend of Greenway.
But these were not the only large
Interests he represented. He was
close friend of Col. John c. Green
way and because of that friendship
ne was retained as the attorney of
the Ahumada Lead company. He
also was the attorney for the Erup-
cion company and for the Cusi-Mex-
icana, one of the large and import
ant companies in chihuahua.
Had Confidence of Officials.
In addition to holding the conf
dence and business OF the various
corporations in handling their bus
mess in Mexico, Mr. King develop
led close and effective friendships
with the government officials in
the Mexican republic and was re-
garded as one Of the foremost at
torneys practising before the gov
ernment in Mexico. His was not
the practice that requires flamboy-
ancy and rhetorical flights, but the
legal ability that settles problems
around the counsel table and in
conference with the heads of de-
partments of governments. He was
highly regarded as an administra-
tive practitioner and his efforts
were almost without exception
crowned with results
King was especially fluent in
Spanish He had specialized in it
and that was OF inestimable assist
ance to him in building up his rep
utation and standing with the Mex
lean government. He could meet
them on common plane and con-
verse with them in their native
tongue. and as fluently as they them
selves spoke their language. He
was a finished Spanish student.
speaking it as readily as he did his
native tongue.
Douglas Pays Tribute.
Speaking of Mr.. King, Mr.. Doug
las, whose intimate acquaintance
him close insight into his ability,
declared:
"Billy King had an exceptionally
bright mind. He was great read
er and he could discuss intelligent
ly any of the problems of general
interest. Furthermore, he possess
ed a vast store of knowledge from
that reading, and he could give in
formation on almost any subject of
interest. He was most capable in
the Spanish tongue. His mind
fairly scintillated because of its
brilliancy. He possessed the finest
sense of honor, was moved by the
highest ambitions, and his integrity
and conscientious adherence to duty
were never questioned.
'It has always appeared to me
that Billy Kings success and stand
ing as a practising lawyer before
the Mexican government rested on
his high ideals and his sincere and
sympathetic interest in the Mexican
people. His death is severe loss
to those interests he has so fairly
and faithfully as well as success
fully represented to the south of
the international boundary line"
The high standing which Mr.
King enjoyed with the Mexican gov
ernment rested on intimate friend
ships swith the men controlling the
destinies of the Mexican republic
that began before they had reached
the official heights Being, as they
are, from Sonora the foremost lead
ers, president Gales and General
Obregon, had long been acquaint-
ances and close friends of King and
through the trying days of the Mex
ican revolution that brought those
men into political ascendency, that
friendship had been tested and
found firm and reliable. Upon that
experience it was easy for Mr.. King
to establish his reputation and build
the confidence that gave him entire
into the closest circles in govern
ment affairs and to be entrusted
with the most sacred commissions
on behalf of the government. His
fatal journey was undertaken that
he might confer with the president
and other officials in Mexico City
on matters of high Importance to
the government, it was said by his
friends.