Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-15
JAMES MUFFIN THE DOCK
A REMARKABLY INTELLIGENT
JURY ALREADY SELECTED.

The Defense Assured of an Acauittal
by Its ComplexiOn-A Tragic Plea OF
Not Guilty-BOuquets BOycotted-The
Court Room and streets Besieged
with People.
FIFTsBURG, Jan. 1.-THE trial of James
Mutt for the killing of y. L. Dukes com.
menced this morning in the Criminal
Court before Judge 5. Stowe. A large
crowd seeking admission to the court
rooms began assembling as early as 5
O'Clock, although the opening hour was
at 10 O'Clock. Long before 8 O'Clock the
stairway and corridors were literally
packed. The crowds pushed and iammed
each other, but above the confusion which
prevailed could be heard the cries of ned
ulers selling pamphlets purpOrting to give
q Neraclous history of the tragedy, lead
ing up to the crime for which Mutt will
De tried to-day. While the crowd was
awaiting the opening of the doors
young Mutt was being examined bv Dr..
higgs, VINO Will probably be called as a
witness during the trial. He declined to
give any expression as to the object of
ms visit and the result reached. At 1920
O'Clock Judge Stowe appeared. and Inv
that time nearly all the Jurors had been
ADMITTED, and MAYS. A. ". Brown, NJ. S.
" Nartzwelder and the other counsel for
tne defense had put in their appearance
W mite A. Johnson, for the prosecution,
had also arrived.
THE COURT OPENED
at 1880 O'Clock, after which the names of
the jurors We're called. Out of n panel of
sixty only six failed to answer, and some
OF them reported later in the session.
Durlng the preliminary arrangements the
crowd were kept waiting outside. but they
were now admitted. In five minutes their
NUMBER was so great that the doors were
closed. Mutt was brought in from the
jail about 1880 O'clock and took his seat
IN the dock. He was quietly dressed in a
ne " SUIT OF black, and looked very pale
from his long confinement.
THE PRISONER WAS ARRAIGNED
in due form, and in putting in his plea
answered III firm voice mot guilty.v
ana demanded trial by God and his
country.
John Boyle, eX-District Attorney of
Fayette county, and Hon. e. E. Bowie
were then admitted as additional counsel.
Inc work OF lmpaneling the jury then
began AT 80 O'Clock forty jurors had
been examined and four accented. No
adjournment was taken for dinner.
NhIle one juror was being questioned
"A AAhNE DOJQOEI
was sent down from the gallery and
placed on the table in front of Mutt. Be-
lore the paper was removed Judge Stowe
Sald' "Ihere must be no more of that. If
observe any person bringing a bOuouet
into the court room l will have them com
mltted." The bouquet was allowed to re-
man. At O'Clock ten jurors had been
accepted, and the panel was exhausted.
Inc court then took recess
until three O'Clock to allow
the Sheriff time to summon sufficient
talesmeD to complete the jury. Mrs. Mutt
ana her daughter Lizzie have arrived
mere, but We're not present at the trial to-
day. Hon. Daniel Voorhees,. of the cOun-
sci Tor the defense, has not yet arrived.
Inc court reconvened at 3 O'Clock. when
the Sheriff announced that he had pro-
cured thirty talesmen, out of which the
last two jurors We're selected before five
had been examined. An adjournment was
then taken till 9:30 O'Clock tomorrow.
FINE JURY.
The jury, as a whole, is considered an
excellent one. They are as fine a looking
oody OF men as ever sat in judgment in so
important case in Allegheny county.
Gen. Blakely, one of the counsel for the
defense, said: "My work is done. Ii
was my duty to see that a good iurv was
obtained. a school boy could conduct
the defense with that jury and obtain an
acquttal.' In politics the jury stands:
One Democrat and eleven Republicans.