The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-17
The Twitchells Brought Up
for Trial,
Scenes In and About Court.
The Prisoners Claim and are
Allowed Separate Trials.
George 8, TwltcheII to be
Tried first.

COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER-Judges
Brewster aud Ludlow; District Attorneys Snep.
pard and Hagert,-T. L. Rlnsford, j. 4. Pratt,
Charles II. 4. Coils John O'Byrne and William
B. Mann, Esqs., counsel for the prisoners.
This morning being the day fixed for the trial
of George S. Twitchel, Jr., and Camilla Il.
Twitcnell his wife, for the murder of Mrs. Mary
e. Hin, crowds of people gathered about the
court house to get an early seat, ana perhaps
glimpse at the unfortunate couple.
An hour before the Court met, every avenue
leading TO the room was crowded, and at half
past O'Clock the hall and stairway of the
Courthouse presented a neutrality-suspicious.,
being filled to their utmost with men, boot
blacks old women, young women, and chill
dren, eager for the door to open in order that
they might rush in 10 secure q seat, where they
would occur in this solemn proceeding, as chill
dren at the doors of menagerie, where the
most terrible of wild beasts are to be exhibited.
And this continued throughout the morning
the entry being so blocked that lawyers and
even the Judges who attempted to enter by the
front found the undertaking almost q hopeless
one. 1t is to be hoped that this will be pre-.
vented hereafter indeed. Judge Ludlow, at the
meeting of the Court, sent for posse of police
men to Keep the way clear.
AT 10 O'Clock the prisoners were brought in,
the arm of her husband, and holding her head
bowed down. AS they passed along the centre
aisle the spectators on each side turned and
gRzed upon them with the deepest interest, and
those who were seated off at distance actually
stood up on tiptoe to satisfy themselves.
Judges Brewster and Ludlow appeared upon
the bench, and, the prisoners counsel being
present, Court was opened at the usual hour.
DlsbJlCb AlJOTney SueppbIu arose ana Salu:-
"May it please the Court his day was assigned
for the trial of the case of the Common wealth
vs.. George 3; Twitchell, Jr., and Camilla e
Twitchell. The prisoners are now in court
with their counsel, aad therefore ask that
jury be called"
No objection being offered by counsel for the
prisoners, The clerk was about stating to the
prisoners that they were to he sent to the bar TO
be tried, when he was interrupted by William
b. Mann, Esq, who said:-
MAY 1t please your Honors, under the act of
Assembly in such cases made and provided
Camilla f. TW1tchell moves tor severance of
her case"
Judge Brewster--The motion is granted.
ooNaa MG: aSIneMppard.i I M ID nov move Ihnt jury be
Mr.. Galton, the Clerk, Informed the prisoner
that he was sent to the bar for trial. and that he
was entitled to challenge twenty of the jurors
peremptorily, and as many more as he should
have good cause for challenging.
William Rogers, juror, was called.
Mr.. Sheppard-Mr. Rogers, have you formed
or expressed an opinion as to the guilt or in.
nocence Of the prisoner, George S. Twit-
Juror-I have.
Mr.. Sheppard-DO yoa now entertain an
opinion?
Judge Brewster-"Mr. Rogers, will now put
to you the question adopted by this Court IN
Bergel's case affirmed afterwards by the gu
preme Court, ana used in PfObsCs cdSe-Not-
WlthStanding the opinion you have formed
can you enter the jury box and decide the guilt
or innocence Of the prisoner upon the evidence
submitted to you and upon that alone uninfla-
ented by the opinion or impression you say
you have formed?
Juror-1 think would be influenced by the
Challenged for cause by the Common wealth,
and challenge sustained.
George w. Ash called as q juror. In answer
to a question put by the District Attorney, ne
said he had formed and expressed an opinion
but in response TO the question by the Court
be said he thought he could try the case by the
evidence alone, uninfuenced by that opinion,
and therefore the challenge of the Common-
wealth was overruled. But when examined
by counsel for the defense he said he would be
Influenced by bis opinion, was challenged for
cause by the defense, and the challenge was
George W. Toppin, an old gentleman, had
formed or expressed no opinion, and had no
conscientious scruples on the subj ect of capital
punishment and was not challenged by either
party, but took his seattn the jury box.
Eber Hutchinson was not challenged, and
j. W. Dlttus was not challenged, and took his
Robert E. Stewart called, said he lad read
the newspaper accounts, and found comments
npon this occurrence bat had formed no opi
mind, Was not challenged by either Side, and
Philip Bruner called, said he had formed and
expressed an opinions; still entertained 1t; and
II would require evidence to remove it from
his mind; challenged for cause by the Com
defense, Mr.. Mann presented the Jury one of
last Sundays papers; and asked asked him II he had
career? to which the gentleman answered
negatively. Mr.. Sheppard objected to such a
course. Mr. Mann said he wished to pick out
men from this community whose miads were
unbiased and unprej gdiced, and he would ask
for no better test than the fact that a man had
read this "infamous article" and still remained
unaffected. The court thought the paper
should not be handed to jurers in the future
and sustained the challenge.
Mr.. Lands called. said he had not formed or
expressed an opinion, and had no conscientious
scruples on the subject of capital punishment;
and was accepted as juror
John l.. BuzOy called, had formed and ex-
pressed an opinion, and the question in Bsr-
gers case put by the Court ne answered mega
lively. Challenged for cause, and challenge sus-
tanned.
Thomas Sparks had formed and expressed an
opinion, but thought he conld try the case by
the evidence alone, and was accepted, making
the sixth juror,
Thomas Simpson, quite o young man. had
formed or expressed no opinion, and had no
conscientious scruples on the subject of capital
| pun isbment. and was accepted.
Jesse Griffith called had formed partial
opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the pri-
soper, but considered himself competent to try
the case Independently of his opinion, and was
accepted as juror.
After calling number of other gentlemen,
most of whom were incompetent because of
| opinions, the venire was exhausted without the
| obtaining of sny additional Jurors. Eight were
| In the box, as lolloWs:-
George Toppin saddler, No. 23j Juniper street,
Charles Il. Stewart, merchant, No. 1921 Thir.
| teenth street, Twentieth ward.
Thomas Sparks, upholsterer, Wilson street,
south side, Second ward.
John lands, stove-fnisher, No.'l33I Rye
street, First ward.
Eber Hutchinson. dealer, No. l2S shippen
Jesse Grifith, gentleman, No. 81 Harrison
street, Twenty'third ward.
j. W. Dlttus cordwainer, No. 62l New Market
street, Eleventh ward.
Thomas simpson, gentleman, Centre street,
ICOntinued in our third edition
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