The Portland daily press., 1885-01-28
TRIED FOR HIS LIFE.
Opening of the Snow Murder Trial
in the Superior Court.
Yesterday Occupied in Empannelling
Jury.

The trial of Thomas j. Libby for the murder
of Lydia s. Snow, on the fifth of September
last at City Hotel, was begun in the Superior
Court yesterday afternoon before Judge Bon.
| ney. Attorney General Orville D. Baker and
County Attorney George NJ Seiders appeared
for the State and Hon. s. G. Andrews and
Augustus f. Moulton for the defendant.
AT three O'Clock the respondent, Thomas j.
Libby was brought in and placed at the bar.
There were forty special jurors summoned,
making besides those excused forty-nine in at
tendance.
The names OF the iarors were put upon
cards, placed in the jury box and as each name
was drawn the juror stepped forward, was
sworn 10 make true answers and the following
questions were asked him by the Court:
1-Are you related to either tho respondent
or the deceased within the degree OF second
cousin?
2-Have you read the accounts published in
the newspapers of the homicide with which
the prisoner is Iaccused?
Slave you any fixed opinion relating to
the correctness of the account published that
would prevent you finding verdict according
to the law and the evidence?
4-Have you formed or expressed any opin-
ion as to the guilt or innocence of the respon-
dent?
5.-Are you sensible OF any prejudice or bias
or interest in the case which would prevent
your rendering verdict according to The law
and the evidence.
6.-Have You any conscientious scruples
against finding man guilty of a crime pun
ishsble with death?
IT was six O'Clock when the last juror was
sworn.
The defense have by statute, twenty peremp.
tory challenges, of which they exercised six
teen as follows:
Challenged by observation-disclosures r. Lane.
Freeport; John Wiggin, Baldwin; Cad Hitch-
cock, Yarmouth; Ruel w. Fogg, New Glouces-
ter; Charles FL. Gould, Bridgton; Levi f. Her-
mon, Harrison; Alfred n. Titcomb, North
Yarmouth; Charles L. Thompson, Portland;
Thomas jackson, Otisfield George e. Allen,
aarpswell; John w. True, New Gloucester,
Edmund Green, Gorham; Ephraim B. JiIlson,
Otisheld; Levi Douglass, Bridgton; Frederick
Z. Mum1ord, Deering; Alfred ayberry, Var
mouth; John d. Martin, Sebago.
The following were excused for cause:
Joseph Dow, Portland; VIM. w. Field.
Wlndham; James T. Hancock, Gray; e. NAL
colin Robinson, Cape Elizabeth; Francis "A.
Ridlon, Gorham; Albion 4, Mason, Windbam:
Levi Jordan, Raymond; Francis B. Barr
Portland; Rufus s. Randall, Freeport John j.
Frye, Deeriug; Levi Wescott, Standish Hem
The following we're challenged by the gov
eminent:
WILDER A. Anderson, Falmouth Augustus
tate, Deering; Charles Fl. Osborne, Gorham
geo. u. Allen, Harpswell; John D. Martin,
Sebago.
The jury as empannelled is constituted as
follows:
Kimball Eastman. westbrook.
Cyrus I. Parker. Windham.
Silas Russell, Deering
jonathan Barker Naples
William Knight, Windham
Aaron Cleaves, Cumberland
Daniel Douglass, Gorham,
Charles DJllof Standish
Joseph Skinner, Casoo
Daniel d. Reed Deernq
stephen IL. Shilling, Westbrook
Albion P. Murch, Baldwin
Kimball Eastman was appointed foreman bv
the Court.
After the jury was empennelled, upon the
motion OF counsel, the Court ordered that the
officers take the jury this morning at half-past
nine to the City Hotel to view the scene of the
homicide.
The jury will be quartered at the Prsble
House, under the charge of Deputy Sheriffs
Berry and Chute.
The trial will probably last through the
week.
At the coming in of Court this morning
the ease will be opened for the government by
County Attorney Seiders.