The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-10
REESE IRWIN.
THE SECOND DAY. OF THE GREAT
LEGAL BATTLE AND PROGRESS
MADE.
n jury Finally Secured and the
Evidence Begun-WhO the
Jury Are.
What Three of the States Wit
nesses Have to Say About
the killing.

Thursday night when court ad.
Journed only three jurors had been
secured, and it took all the forenoon
to get the other nine. One after
another was tested and many
were rejected and few
were chosen. The process of getting
a jury in murder trial is a peculiar
one and it is right here that
the secret of success of a Grim
inal lawyer lies in this class
of cases, He selects the jury wholly
with reference to himself and the man.
ner in which he intends to present
his cause. The skill displayed by the
defendants counsel yesterday in weed
| Ing out from the pannel of sixty men
the twelve they wanted was mar
vel of legal skill but we will give
the names of the fortunate men as the
best evidence of what we mean. j. j.
Collins. Al. Overton, (colored), Dan
Ross, w. II. Price. w. G. Maynard.
G. w. Nichols, AID. Smith, r, S.
Young, John Price (colored), John b.
Reynolds, w. G. Allen and B. S. Stay
ton. These are all excellent
men but they are good jurors
for the defendant. AT two
o'clock in the afternoon the taking Of
evidence began on the
PART OF THE STATE.
The examination direct was con-
ducded by Mr.. Sheeks the
district attorney who brought out the
facts 10 very clear concise manner:
indeed Mr.. Sheeks, power in this re-
gard is equal to any member of the
bar. Col. Sneed como ucted the cross
examination and he did it very skill
fully for the jury he had before him.
He drew out in such a manner as to
make emphatic every little point tend
ing in the remotest to touch'the theory
of the defense while all the saliant
facts were left in the back ground.
Thus in trial like this which is to
last so long, perhaps a week, there will
be fixed on the minds of the jury
while it will be impossible for them
to remember the rest.
The courtroom was crowded all
day. Several ladies being among those
present. The prospect is that the case
will occupy six or eight days in its
trial, if indeed, it is concluded within
that time.
THE EVIDENCE
Is as follows:
j. j. swain: know Reese Irwin
knew Covington. Covington is dead.
He died December IL, 1883, in Manor,
Travis county. He died from pistol
wounds. saw Irwin in Billings
store December 18th. He was stand
ing at north facing of northeast door
of Billings store. He asked me how
much corn Mr.. New had to sell.
went across to the store to ask him,
and the mayor said $50 bushels, and |
went back to tell Irwin. When L
told him Covington was standing by
facing of northeast door, talking to
Irwin. told Irwin about the corn,
and Covington had his right hand up
picking his teeth. 1 went across to
the store, and looking back saw Irwin
walking away from Covington, and
there was pistol shot. turned and
looked, but could see no one for the
smoke. There was another: shot,
and then another, and then Covington
came in at the southeast door
almost falling as he came just then
another shot and Covington staggered
forward falling out of the store. /
saw no pistol.
j. E. WildhOlm: l was in the street
in Manor, close to Billings store.
heard movements of feet and saw En-
win and Covington in northeast door
of Billings store, then 1 heard shot
and Covington turned to run south
on the platform east of Billings store.
Just behind him Erwin came, and
about four or five feet from him east
shot him in the back as he ran and
then following him gained on him,
and about a foot from him fired again
at his back. Covington was stopped
over and running. He got to the
southeast door of the store
and nearly fell going in
and then turned again coming out.
When he turned coming out he had a
pistol, saw none in his hand before
this. Covington's pistol went off as he
came out of the door, but was stagger-
ing and falling into the street. After
Covington fell / saw Erwin come run
ming up with gun, carbine; Cow
ington was shot in the jaw, in the
breast, in the back and in the hip.
Al Raney stated that one chamber
of Covington's pistol was fired.
Joe Myer: First same as Swain-saw
Covington and Erwin together, heard
pistol shot, some man groan and heard
firing.