Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-13
THE STAR ROUTE TRIAL.
PROCEEDINGS TO DAY.
SELECTING THE JURY.
TEN ACCEPTED BEFORE RECESS

| morning In opening the Criminal Court. When
he arrived the business before the court was taken
up at once. Mr.. Edward Droop, summoned as a
talesman to I'LL the panel, was excused on account
| OF sickness in his family.
TWO MORE JURORS ACCEPTED.
The jurors accepted by the defense yesterday
were then called In order to be passed upon by the
government John Hughes and Clarence Shields
| were accepted.
| CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE.
s. H. Williams was challenged for cause. He
had not formed or expressed an opinion. He had
/ read the papers. but expressed no opinions. 81
read the papers," said Mr.. Williams, "but ex-
pressed no opinion, except that it was a tedious
case. or something OF that sort'
you never expressed any opinion?" said Mr..
Merrlck.
"No, sir" said MI. Williams.
"Then excuse you, SIR said Mr.. Merr1ck.
REESE EVANS ACCEPTED-THE DEFENSE NOTES AN
EXCEPTION.
Reese Evans was accepted by the government.
MI Evans stated to the court that he could not
always understand what was said, and he thought
he was incompetent
"The fact ts," said Judge Wylie, "that there are
some words in the English language which he
can't entirely comprehend. 1 think that Is the
case with good many people. think he is CON-
petent"
81 wlsh," said Mr. Merrick, "that could talk
German as well as YOU can talk English"
~ am not German" !" said Mr.. Evans
"He 1S WelShman,' said the court.
In further examination the juror said he had
been living in the United States for 2S years.
MI. Davldge desiring to interrogate the juror
Mr. Merrick said "Ask him il | ne understands par par
allax or the transit OF Venus"
MI: Davidge spurned the suggestion, however
In response to his inquiries MI Evans said that
ne had read some OF the reports OF the last trial
In the papers, but did not understand all that he
read.
ut is not an extraordinary thing,n said Judge
Wylie. "not to understand the newspaper reports
OF trial. That is the position of myself in regard
TO TO our own proceedings. II had to depend for
knowledge OF such proceedings on the newspapers
,,' would form very imperfect idea OF It, Necessa
rliy these reports are very brief, omissions occur,
and transpositions OF evidence"
Did you" repeated Mr. Davidge to the juror,
understand what you read?'
II can't say that did )" said the Juror
THAT" said the court, "instead OF being a dis
Qual1flcation, Is qualification"
The court having accepted the Juror the de-
IenSe noted an exception.
CHALLENGED FOR CAUSE.
ROBERT Gilmore, colOred, was challenged for
cause. He said he did not know anything about
the case, the nature OF the case or who were the
parties to the case. 81 never heard" said the
juror, anything about the case until was drawn
on the jury. was In the country at work, paint
Ing, when the last trial took place."
"Do you understand all the words In the Eng
llsh language?" asked Mr.. Merrick.
~ can'tsay," said the juror, "that understand
them ALL understand no. and yes'"
me Juror said he could real little and could
not write. except to write his own name.
Mr. Merrlck asked the witness II he could sit on
a case . where 1t would be necessary to compare
He wants." said Mr. Wilson. "to examine all
aess ]dfGr as to whether they are experts in
That" said Mr.. MerrIck, sis not only not cor
re T. out 1t is wiIlful misrepresentation Of what
1T 1T Is not Misrepresentation at all, your
Objection being made to Mr.. Merrick's line of
questions. the court ruled them improper.
Mr. Merrlck then peremptorily challenged the
juror.
ANOTHER JUROR ACCEPTED.
Frank Renshaw was accepted.
THE GOVERNMENTS LAST CHALLENGE.
James H. Luxom was challenged for cause. He
said he had never known what the indictment was
until last week. During the last trial he did not
know what the charge was.
81 think" he said to Mr. Merrick, 81 read little
OF your argument and little Of Col Inga rsoll'Sn
"Well, that kept him straight" said the court.
MI. Luxom having stated that he had formed no
opinion whatever, Mr.. Merrlck challenged him
peremptorily, thus exhausting the three per-
emptory challenges OF the government
THREE MORE JURORS.
Geo. B Sheriff and John H.Vernon werexccepted
jackson Howard, cO!Ored, was challenged for
cause. He said he had heard about the case. He
had not read the papers, and had never formed an
opinion. Mr.. Howard was sworn
This exhausted the twelve men accepted by the
defense, and left four vacancies on the jury
THE NINTH JUROR ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT
Mason Lowery was examined and accepted by
Mr.. Merrick.
L. Monroe Elliott did not think his mind was in
such state that he could render a very fair con-
s1deration OF the case The opinion was such that
1t would require evidence to remove 1t.
Mr.. Merrick argued that the juror was compe-
tent
The court having asked the juror as to his
opinion, as formed by reading the reports,
swell, thought they were guilty, SIR" said Mr.
Elliott
81 think that is enough" said Mr. Davidge.
Do you still retain that opin1on?" said the
court
maybe not so strong," said Mr. Elliott.
The court excused the juror.
WHICH sIDE?
MI. Wilson suggested that the court should ad-
mo Ash the jurors not to state which side their
opinion was.
81 wish he had not said it." observed Mr.. Mer.
rick.
~" said Mr.. Ingersoll, "am perfectly willing to
b ave them all say on which side they are?"
81 am not" said Mr.. Merrck.
THREE MORE ACCEPTED BY THB GOVERNMENT
John E. Latham, O. c. Green and John NJ
Young were accepted by the government
THE TURN OF THE DEFENSE.
IL then became the turn OF the defense to pass
upon the last four jurors accepted Dy the govern
ment.
ANOTHER JUROR SWORN
Mason Lowery was accepted and sworn.
CHALLENGED BY Mr.. INGERsoIL
John E. Latham was challenged by Mr.. Inger.
| soil for cause. He had never read OF the case or
formed an opinion. I am engaged at the market
house every night for fifteen hours and have no
| time for reading"
- And the balance you put in in sleeps" said Mr..
| IngersoI.
eyes, sir"
"Then whatever you have got about the csse.n
said Mr.. lngerSOl, '.you have got in dreams"
Mr. Latham was challenged by the defense
John w. Kennedy here appeared In court and
was sworn as talesnan to NIL the panel In place
! OF Mr.. DroOp
ANOTHER JUROR SWORN.
Mr. o. C. Green was accepted and sworn
Mr.. YOUNG's FIXED OPINION
Mr. John n. Young was also accepted without
| question.
| Mr. Young stated to the court, however, that he
had formed and expressed very decided opinion
| about the case.
1--WE are satisfied with the juror" said Mr. Inger.
SOL
I've are satisfied" said Mr. Ne.rick.