Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-04-09
The SicI,Ies Trial

WASHINGTON, April Cit is confidently expected
that jury will be completed 10 day Talesmen have
bean summoned from the rural portion of the Dis
triet The proceedings Of vest erday were indics.
tive Of the public sentiment in this city II out of
IA persons had opinions so fix I'D and decided that
they could not trust themselves to act impartslly.
Where questions we're asked it appeared that these
opinions not to the killing but as to its jus
tifcatien. The defense would not have challenged
any Of these jurors
The prisoners father in law and many New York
friends we're in court eVncing their sympathy.
Among them were Mr.. Maelay and Mr.. Brady.
The court is crowded, and deep interest is mani
tested in the proceedings. The court being opened
at l03, the names of the eight jurors already
sworn we're called and all answered. The prisoner
is in the box looking calm and self possessed The
clerk proceeded to call tslesmsn.
By the time the forty-ffth name had be IN called
the eleventh juror had been selected. The fOrty-
sixth taesmsn having apparently answered satisfsc-
torily, except the question as to whether he was
worth eight hundred dollars Mr.. Staunton main
tanned that such properly qualification was not
nov required. The District Attorney as earnestly
argued that such was the Law inherited from Mary
land
Mr. Stanton rejoined that the law had been bu
ried in oblivion for hundred years. and was now
dug up against Sickles r
The Court said the law had been frequently en-
forced. ~
MIR. Stsnten insisted that the practice mast be uni
form to make IL law of the Court and that Juror
should not be disqualified because he has not eight
hundred dollars in his pocket. This never was the
law of the District of Columbia
The Court said whether the law is wise or not is
not the question, but under the statutes the District
Attorney had the right TO interrogate the juror reia
tive to his being worth eight hundred dollars.
The juror replied that heconsidered himself W orth
that sum, and WAS accepted The full number is now
obtained, hut the jurors will not be empsnelled
til Tomorrow, in order in the meantime TO enable
them TO make arrangements for q long siege No
further proceedings TO day.
The only emotion exhibited by Mr.. Siekles since
the commencement of his trial, was when his old
friend, Robert Dillon stepped up to him to>day in
the dock, and greeted him Sickles turned away
his head to conceal the tears that sused his eyes
The arrangement made by the counsel for the defence
is that Graham is to make the opening speech after
the for the prosecution is closed Stanton is TO
make arguments on points of law: Brady is 10 exam
iRe witnesses, and Chiffon is to make the closing
gument.
The uniformly intelligent demeanor of the one
hundred and seventy men summoned as jurors struck
With surprise the New York counsel They say
they have never seen fine collection of jurors
The facs that while they expressed sympathy with
the prisoner, they yet were honorable enough to
aYoW their incompetency TO serve, Shove what pub
lie opinion is in the best classes of society here
As to the question Of property qualification for
jurors about which so much has been asi1 day
it may not be amiss to state that in the State of New
York, similar property qualifications exist. A
jurVr must be assessed to the amount Of $780, and
he not being so assessed, is q cause Of challenge
One Of the jurors, the eleventh. is Understood to
have stated that since be sworn, he has to
the conclusion that his mind was not wholly I'M
biassed. If this be SO, it may affect the present
organization of the jury.