The New York herald., 1879-07-15
CIIASTINE COX.
The Murderer Of Mrs. Hull
Arraigned for Trial.
SELECTING THE JURORS.
Sixty-eight Examined and Seven
Allowed to Serve.

street door, and escorted by officer to the Court
OF General Sessions Part /, where his trial for the
murder of Mrs. Hull began before Judge Cowing
crowd was gathered in the neighborhood OF the
prison and another near the court room to see the
prisoner pass; but when he did pass. although he
was handcuffed to the officer. no one recognized
him. He was dressed with his usual care and was
in excellent spirits talking with volubility to the
officer the way and after his arrival in the court
room, where he placed in the prisoners box.
"It's quite a crowd" said the officer. as they
passed along Chambers street.
."Oh, that's nothing, said Cox. "You ought to
kave the crowds in Boston,"
The corridors and stairs Of the Court House were
filled before court hour with curiosity seekers and
the jurors impanelled to try the case. The court
room filed rapidly, and when Judge Cowng took
his seat At FIVE minutes past eleven A. M. there
hardly standing ROOM The heat was even then un-
pleasant and as the day went by the room became q
torture box to all in it except, apparently. the
prisoner. who chatted and laughed long he
could get his counsel to listen to him, and when
they became busy he sat quietly looking ana listen
ing. Gradually he grew graver. and seemed as the
day went by to begin to appreciate the gravity of
his situation. In the morning he grinned and chat
tered like simple child In the afternoon he looked
like frightened animal. He took q lemon from his
pocket during the trial and sucked 1t from time to
time. complaining to his counsel he did Of the
dislike he had to drinking Croton water unless it
was boiled.
Inside the inner enclosure in front of the Judges
desk sat Assistant District Attorney Rollins.
who has taken charge of the for the
people since the discovery of the body
OF Mrs. Hull. Near him sat Assistant Dis
rict Attorney Lyons and the two consulted several
times during the day. Superintendent Walling.
;.i,1c ole
this enclosure. just outside of it sat the prisoner
and Messrs Howe & Hummel. his counsel This outer
enclosure filled with lawyers. reporters jurymen
and Others. Half an hours time was occupied with
routine business, several prisoners being remanded
for trial and two. who pleaded guilty receiving their
sentences. Judge Cowing then instructed tie jurors
who were waiting to retire to another room, from
which they would be called by they
were wanted. and requested them to abstain from
all conversation the subject Of the trial while
they we're waiting. it necessary to get fair
and unbiased jury in the case.
BEGINNING THE TRIAL.
After the jurors had withdrawn Mr.. Rollins said -
81 move the of the people against Chsstine Cox"
There indescribable subdued hustle as the
people IN the room settled into position, and then
Mr.. Howe and said that he wished to interpose
plea which he had prepared. or q challenge to the
array OF jurors. He handed printed paper to Mr..
Hummel. who read it to the Court 1t proved to be
long document. setting forth that the drawing of
the jury irregular and void in law and that
Chastine Cox objected to it, The paper recited the
formalies prescribed by law for the observance Of
the Commissioner of Jurors. and then declared
seriatim that each of these formslites had not
been observed. The paper concluded as follows:-
That by of tho premises herenbefore forth
the said Chastne Cox has from
the said lists the qualifications of the persons therein
4
trial h, e. rh ,s court Be
Of =. q ..d the persons named r,s as trial Jurors
guarsnteed him by the constitution Of this State and
& is nited States and that he also thereby preju
diced injured and damncd and prevented and deprived
Of an opportunity and right to ascertain IL said Jurors
approved integrity sound Judgment well nfornsa
.nh ss he and e pans ;" SsF Ss he
..That is substantially the plea that has been
repeatedly interposed and ruled upon" said Mr..
Rollins. after he had looked his copy carefully
"and enter demurrer.
~ Join in the demurrer" said Mr. Howe.
'As understand the plea" said Judge Cowing
"you recite the steps necessary to the drawing of
legal panel aud then deny that these stops have been
taken. l sustain the demurrer and overrule the
plea"
After an exception had been noted Mr. Rollins said
that the plea defective veriacation of the
allegations was included. and he knew personally
th.t some of the allegations untrue. The law
commanded that no dilatory plea be accepted from
prisoner without such verihcation.
EXAMINING THE JURORS.
The calling OF the jurors one by and their
animation touching their competency to serve in
the then began. 1t was arranged that In order
to time challenge should be understood to be
interpose in each case for the principal cause aud
to the favor. To further expedite matters Mr.. Rol-
Inns examined the jurors first to their conscience
in the matter OF capital punishment. In the exam
nations the questioning soon settled INTO the familiar
line of inquiry as to whether the juror was per-
sonally acquainted with any one connected with the
whether he had read about the case, what i'm
preston had been produced by his reading and
whether 1t would take evidence to remove the i'm
preston The letter of the law, which makes IL in
competent tor an intelligent man who reads tho
newspapers to serve on the jury, was followed
strictly the rulings although Mr.. Rollins tried
peatealy to secure valuable jurymen. who were one
after another excused. II suppose the challenge il
sustained" he said once although think it is q
very silly rule"
You'll have to challenge the State" said tho
Judge smiling.
We'll. If it comes to this. returned Mr.. Rollins.
eve may as well ask each juror II he reads the
papers. and IL he does. we may well him."
During the tedious repetition of questions the
Judge economical time by studying u huge roll of
testimony and listening as he did to the jurors
answers.
THE MEN EXAMINED.
Mal;by q. Lane was the fifst called. He said
he "a real estate dealer living ut No. SO Park ave-
nue.. TO NJ. Howe'S question whether he knew any
OF the Hull family Mr.. Lane rcpled:-'I have met
Mrs. Hull once: my vie wished to GO over to
their house one evening. and did so.'
Then your wife was socially acquainted with
herr"
III don't know how socially
Nevertheless. they were visiting termsY'
IL could not say as to that"
'At all events you called there and there saw Mrs.
HullY'
II think saw her in the hall; think Mrs. Hull
belonged to soross. or some society OF that kind.
that my wife went to-"
Mt. Lanu did not recollcct whether or not he had
read the sworn testimony in the Coroncrs inquest;
had scruples against capital punishment; be-
1ieved in Furnishing all crime according the law
and evidence; did not think he had promo ounced any
opinion in the case.
Mr.. Howe interposed pcremptory challenge aud
the man stepped aside.
Andrew q. Meyers, a short. light complexioned
gentleman. with reddish mutton chop whskers, next
took the stand. He was plumber by trade. and
had in his hand pamphlet drainage, with which
he occupied himself when not being inerrogated by
counsel. lie was not opposed to capital punish
ment. was out of town when the tragedy occurred
aud had not read much of the affair He could state
positively that he had formed no opinion. His resi-
dence was at No. lOl West Forty-cghth street. He !
was accepted ~ the first juror.
Abert H. ConkIiIi. real estate agent, of No. $40 |