National Republican., 1873-04-03
THE LAWS ARM.

THE LAWS AhM'
Ton, yr,abt nj the Bnr for Killing Reg
er-Li - opening of the Trial - Jurors
CnIlcd-who Read the Ncwspapcrs-
who Don,t-The Bias OF Inteiligencc-
Right Jurors sworn-Riahiy 10 be Sum
moned.
The trial Of Tom Wright for the murder Of
Samuel Rogenki on the night Of the Esd Of De.
cember last was begun before Mr.. Justice Mac
Arthur yesterday morning.
The overwhelming crowd which usually as
sembles at such trials was by most judiclous
order Of the Court kept without, so that lt was
possible TO conduct business amid wholesome
air, and without the fetd Odors which have for
months past been the accompaniments Of muir
usl hant ii o'eiock Wright was brought In, hand.
cuffed and accompanied by Lieutenant Kelly,
Sergeant johnson and ofilcep Powell, Felt,
Riordan and Stone. lie carried himself with an
the box was Immediately surrounded by the po-
licemen. As soon, however, as the court was
opened his fetters were taken on, and ne moved
forward to q seat In the rear OF his counsel,
Inst nj This time a circus procession passed, and
Wright seemed as eager as any OF the crowd to
look at It. -
Have you formed or expressed any opinion
In relation to the guilt or innocence Of the ac-
'psiT TsTe you conscientious scrupes upon the sub
Iect Of capital punishment which would prevent
you from finding a verdict OF guilty from the
The Juror was then Intercepted by the de-
TuE CALL OF TTE rASEI.
Frank Brooks had neither formed nor ex-
pressed an opinion; accepted and sworn.
Jas. y. Kelly did not think he could render a
samuel c. Magrudcr had formed an opinion,
hut did not think he was biased so as not to be
Mr.. Henkie said he would submit the matter
10 the court.
Mr.. Magruher. don't remember having eX'
The Court. You can give the accused fair
trialf
Mr.. Magruder. think can.
The Court. think he Ia competent.
Gen. Henklo said the public nina was In q
state Of ferment upon the subject OF homicide,
and he should ask his Honor to protect fully the
rights Of the prisoner. But they had no personal
objection to Mr.. Magruder, and would submit to
the court.
to get an intelligent Jury II the readers Of news
papers were excluded.
The Juror was sworn.
&C. Graham had formed an opinion from tho
papers, but had no bias that would prevent
ialr trial Of the accused.
To the Defence. Iives on T, between Seventh
and Eighth streets; had expressed an opinion
Wright ought to be punished.
The Court. stand aside.
George p. BOhrer had formed or expressed M
70 The Defence. Resides at No. T9o sixth stree
southeast.
Mr. Henkle. We have no objection to the juror
John A. Ream. Had formed a newspaper
Ibelieye II.
Tae Court. It would he necessary to remov
that Impression by eyidenceT
JuOr. Yes, sir.
The Court. stand aside.
T. II. Bates. Had formed and expressed Al
opinion, but did not think Il would bias his judR
ment; had no decided opinion now; II the news
thought this was very bad case.
The District Attorney. stand aside,
Richard NJ. Allen had formed no opinlOnll
To the Defence, Newspapers had been read II
his presence, and he said II Wright was the pei
son he ought to he pulled TO pieces by mules
never heard any evidence that Tom Wright wa
the man, and had therefore formed no OpiniO
on the subject.
The Court. think he Ia competent.
Mr.. Henkle. We except to him.
vague opinion.
Nr. Henkle. We have no objection to this gel
tleman.
Nj. 4. was sworn.
Charles @. Bell had read papers, but thOugl
he was without bias.
To defence. Resides on Eleventh street, b
tween l. and VI stree.s.
John II. McNair had formed and expressed
very decided opinion.
Edgar Banks, colored, had formed no Opinion
and had no scTuples.
To defence. Lives near Tnlontown, and ha
read newspapers, but could not tell II the thing
were so.
He was sworn.
II. c. Chandler had formed no opinion.
To defence. Lives In Georgetown. Neye
read the newspapers. Had no education to rea
them. Had never listened to the reading G
uewspaPers. Heard stories about It, but dh ne
y m In
Mr.. Henkle challenged for the defence.
George c. Fillard had formed a decided opiT
ion.
Wm. T. Solomon, colored. had formed no oplr
To Defence. Lives near Good Hope, across III
branch, and can't read. IL contractor unde
the Board OF Public Works; accepted and sworn
William 7. Otterback had formed q decide
opinion.
simeon Meade had formed no opinion; is 6
years old.
To Defence. Lives corner Of sixth and
streets; Reads the REPUBLICAN and other paper
every day.
Mr. Henkle. Wen excuse tho Juror.
Thomas FOote, color,4l, had formed no decide
opinion. Lives on L street, between Maryland
avenue and Fourteenth street. Had read ac
oonnts but they made no Impression upon him
Mr.. II. Wen excuse the Juror.
Thos. ?. Morgan had formed a very decide
opinion,
John West had formed an opinion; hut It woul
not bias him the least In the world.
To Defence. Had heard people say that Ton
Wright would have to 20 up; but he saw il mus
he proved on him irst; accepted and sworn.
Henry Eckhardt had formed an opinion.
To defence. Had read newspapers, but the
made no impression. Could not believe all tina
was IN the newspapers. Challenged by defence
Grimm Read had formed a decided opinion,
John W. Kennedy had formed simlla
opinion.
Alfred J. Morse, colored, had formed n
opinion.
BY defence. Lived near the Eastern branch
Was blacksmith, and did not read newspape n
Challenged by the United States.
William Jones, colOred. To defence. Lives Ol
Twenty-nrst street, and works for the Board o
Public Works. Cannot read, but had hear
newspapers read. lie added "I think that, nc
cording as my mind taxes me, he ought to b
punished for his crime" lie was rejected.
This finished the panel Eight jurors ha,
been sworn.
The Court then directed the Jurors aread
sworn to be placed IN charge OF 4 BALM, ant
eighty talesmtn to be summoned. The cOur
then adjourned until this morning.
ALetter from wrishts Mother.
Governor Cooke last Tuesday received the fol
lowing letter from the mother OF Thomas Wright
FRAsELISTos. y. O., March ss, ls72
10 Mayor y Halh,sgioH cur, y, q ,,,,,
My DEAR SIE Please excuse the liberty TAXI
In addressing this short letter TO you. | wish e
know II you can give me any Information In re-
gard to what became Of my children, u. y. Hay,
and Thomas d. Wright, CUlOred. read q letter
in December saying Thomas was In prison fOI
murder. Was he hanged or Is he yet In prisOn7
Is d. Y. Hays In the city, or eau you give me any
information Of mis- whereabOuta7 The lnfOTma-
ton will be so thankfully received.
Truly your humble servant,
HANNAH HAYKs COlOred.
The letter was referred to Major Richards, OF
the Metropolitan police, with the request that
he cause the matter TO be Investigated, aud fur
nlsh the desired Information II obtained
Major Richards returned the letter with the
following Endorsement
oTTicE OF MIjoR AND sUPERNFrSpEsT.,
Respectfully returned to the Hon. II. d.
Cooke, Governor, with the statement that a
Thomas Wright Is now In our jail awaiting q
trial on the charge OF murder HIS trial begins
to-day. lnclOsed Is an excellent likeness of
him. (The picture was cut out Of u papeT.) This
Thomas Wright has a brother named Hays Tor
half brother, as Hays says) teaching school
somewhere in Montgomery county, Md. Hays
informed me some Two months ago that his
mother lived In Franklin county, Nc. ! have
no doubt that these two men are the persons OF
whom inquiry Is made. Thomas Wright Is ac-
cused Of numbering tue Polish peddler R0geTskl.
A. C.. MCHAKDs,
Major and superintendent.
DR.. TindAl yesterday replied TO the letter, and
stated the facts US mentioned by Major Rich
ards, aud also inclOsed the picture.
Permits to Bald.
The following permits TO build were Issued
yesterday john q. stafford, two twO-stOry brick
buildings On 4 street, between FOur-and-n-half
and sixth streets southwest; l2k feet front by
M deem Ia hut IN TKyn All iaah