The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-16
THE PUTNAM TRAGEDY.
The Prisoner Foster Put Upon
His Trial.
HIS APPEARANCE I'M COURr
TEzH JURY CEA1IHMaH.

TEH JURY 0EAILHMaH.
The Court OF Oyer and Termner was Ill yesterdsS
taken up with the endeavors to empannel Jury
for the trial OF William Foster, charged with the
murder OF Avery d. Putnam, known "a the car hook
murder. Nearly all those whose names were called
had either formed an opinion In their own minds or
had expressed themselves or heard others express
their opinions as to the guilt OF the accused
At ten minutes after ten Foster was brought In.
manacled and In the custody Of his keeperR Al
upon the occasion OF the first attempt at trial. tho
prisoner, while walking through the crowd, main
tanned an air OF indifference really soothing to look
at While the eyes OF those in court and those about
entering were cast about in search OF
THE PRISONER.
the latter sat modestly in his allotted place ON tho
extreme right of the apartment without the least
sign or agitation or uneasiness.
The attendance IN court was not quite 30 great m
on last Thursday, nevertheless the room was I'M
comfortably crowded, In fact the only difference as
regarded the number OF spectators present was
that yesterday the mass c0ngrega.ed together
were not packed with such intense solidty as tho
last occasion. 1t was to be dev0uty hoped that o
clear passage would he kept for members OF the
press whose duty rendered 1t necessary for them
to pass back and forth constantly or to send mes
sengers to their respective oces and that 1t would
be possible to do without sacrificing thirty doh
lar coat or with considerable damage to other por-
tons OF ones wearing apparel. The arrangem en@
In this respect were an Improvement on Thursdays,
although, Notwithstanding this it was no desirable
or easy task to hew passage way through the au-
dence without the railing. The arrangements
made for the press reporters were all that could be
des red. This is owing to the courtesy and general
good management OF Mr.. Valentine. OF the Oyer and
n m ara In
and aid his duty In an able and thoroughly cour-
teous and efficient manner.
ten eX-Judge stuart took his place, and Judge
Garyin, Tor the prosecution, moved for The trial Of
and the clerk proceeded to read out the names OF
the jurors.
THE PROSECUTION.
In reply to the question by the Court as to whether
the defence were ready 10 proceed Judge stuart
stated una, II u was sne ofder Oh ane Gours taat inc
Court to assign an associate counsel for the defence,
as none otner besides himself had been engaged.
The Court appointed Mr.. Willard o. Bartlett to act
In conjunction with Mr. Stuart ana offered to
appoint stlll another 4 1t was desired.
At twenty minutes to eleven precisely
THE FIRST JUROR
Mr.. Samuel Anderson, of No. 1902 seventh street,
was placed on the stand to be nterroSated as to
whether he had formed or expr, ssed an opinion as
to the guilt or innocence OF the prisoner at the bar
This gentleman was not qualified to serve as ne had
induged his mind by peruslng several newspaper
accounts OF the murder, and allowing the versions
to bias his mind The challenge OF each juror was
very thorough.
Tie first Juror accepted was, after most scathing
interrogation,
Mr.. BENJAMIN HENDRIcxsoN,
OF No. 800 West Eleventh street, clerk In the Board
OF Assessments ONCE. Henry Spinler, a German,
was qualified IN every respect but onene could not
understand English sufficiently, so ne was excused.
James Delemarter. residing at 1853 East Twenty
fouth street, replied to the various queries In sat
isactory manner, except as to his entire indiiIer-
ence In the matter OF bias. The case OF his lndlfler-
e 70
ing under the challenge for favor. They decided
him Indifferent, but ex-Judge stuart appealing to
the peremptory challenge rule mad him set aside.
Mr.. Robert +. Martin, " No. 40 Fulton street, was
next called upon. He seemed determined TO know
'Haye you read anything about this caser'
quered counsel
"IIave you formed or expressed an opinion on 90
mo, slr"
"Do you know ANYTHING about ~"
'No, sir, don't know nothing"
''Do You know that the man who was killed waA
ii don't know nothing"
"Do you suppose II wasp
81 don't know.n
''why don't you knowsn
',Do you know that putnam was killed BY noA
"No, sir; I've heard So but don't know itu
'Do you know this man here tpointing to prt-
mo, don't know It."
'Do you suppose so2"
The juror was accepted and sworn. One or twA
Others after this were excused on account of their
innlctl0n OF capital punishment where the evidence
would warrant a verdict OF guilty.
John f. Hoagland No. 10 Cottage place, having
answered TO all the interrOgatlons inteilgenty and
satisfactorily, was accepted.
Thomas Atom, OF No. 40 Fourth street. had no
opinion one way or the other although he had read
the whole account OF the murder He was set aside
under the perempt0ry rule.
James A. Dohrmann, OF No. 5o7 Tenth avenue, had
read an account OF the murder In the newspapers.
which had left a slight impression on his mind Here
counsel argued as TO the jurors fitness to serve and
IL was finally decided that MIR. Dohrmann was not
qualined TO act Impartialy.
EDWIN BOOTH
was called ont by the clerk but no response came,
the audience lost opportunity OF scrutinlztng
the features OF the great tragedian in court George
Low Jr was also called, but no reply returned.
Then came Augustin Days name, ana, as In the
case OF the Others no one answered TO the sum
mons.
The next Juror obtained was Mr.. Iras G. Rogers,
OF No. West Thlrty-ninth street; thus making the
fourth out OF panel OF about sixty.
The case VIII be RESUMED this morning.
The jurors sworn were cautioned by the Court TO
abstain from listening to or conversng on the sub
Ject Of the trial which they were sworn to decide
upon.
THE fOSTEs-PUTRAn MURDER CAsE-ASuE OF THE RIGHT