New-York tribune., 1886-02-26
TRIAL OF HOLLAND BEGUN.
HOW THE TEXAN LOOKED AND ACTED.

MIS- ARRAY OF COUSsEL-sLow WORK in SELECT
ING JURORS.
After months of DELAY the trial of James T: Hoi
land the fiery young Texan, for killing lom -
In the Court of Oyer and Terminer before Judge
Van Brunt. Many people thronged about the doors
of the courtroom. They represented every variety 1
of character but were all possessed OF Keen appe
tite for murder trials. Two bury policelneIn zen
guarded the door and refused ADMISSION 10 al
except the lawyers, those who had been sunthoneu
fsr ;prv dntv and a few others But the seventy
two candidates for the Jury-ooX prevented lhe
court room from looking empty hnh Ihey os s1S Of tbem
leaked suprem ely happy, conscious OF ihe posses
sion of opinions aud impressions ana OoJectiohs 10
The death penalty that would promptly secure
their release from Jury duty and leave them free
TO attend to their business. u .,D.
ii move the trial of James I. Holland" said Dis; Dis;
tr1ct-Attorney MARITIME, OF portly ana dlghined
presence and bland suavitv of manner.
Then up rose Roger A. Pryor. with long halr, long
nose and long under hp and capacity tor seeing a
long wav into a tangled maze of criminal evidence
and seizng hold OF the vital facts. we are ready
your Honor" he said IN tones as mellow and per-
Suagiye as those of District-AttOrney MARITIME.
" James +. Holland. are you ready for trial I
called out Clerk Sparks in the penetrating monoto-
nous tones peculiar to court clerks when repeating
Holland stood up, emitted "yes" which lacked
emphasis and sat down again as II glad 10 get OUT
of range of the battery of ewes when ne knew were
aimed at him. But in that brief interval every
body had taken a mental inventory OF the man. IN
the - fsticp arena lie would be classed as y Ight-
made n " feather weight of him. His figure Is
slim and under the medium height. HIS head Is
small and he has an indefinite SOFT & OF cim nranS anu
He presented q decidedly boyish ASPECT , he 10
ANYTHING but a desperate-looking fellow;
Ills eyes are hazel and -, might attract
admiration but for the fact that they eyade
rather than return gaze; lhey were suuusedd sun d
with moisture which beiokened uneaslness ana ana
anxiety He seemed to find some comfort In the
proximity of ms friend w. X. Makemson, lawyer.
who had come all the way from Georgetown, Texas;
nUtr my
aspect is Mr. Makemson. with tangled hair, rough
beard and other indications OF slight regard 1or tne
amenities of the toilet. On the other slde OF lhs
prisoner sat Deputy Sheriff NcCloskey, quiet ana
unobstrusive in manner, whom many IN the court,
room took for another of his lawyers Holland VIII
not be hanged for lack of lawyers: Edmund +.
him. and across the table was ex-senator holhas
+. Grady. chubby and forid and the 1eputed pos
SCISSOR of silver tongue that can accomplish
marvellous things with jury. "
For the People there were present Dlstrict-Attor-
ney MARITIME with his assistants, Colonel Fellows
and Mr. Fitzgerald Although both sides were
ready and were supplied with able counsel, 1t soon
became evident that many wearlsome hogrs must
eapse before twelve :" good men and true could
he picked out from among so many who were
bothered with prior convictions aud scruples re-
garding the death penalty. " 10
Seven men were examined and tound dlsquahhed
before the first Juror was secured. Here is an ex-
ample of how the examination went:
District Attorney Martine-Have you formed an
opinion the guilt or innocence OF the prisoner A
I have formed an opinion. ,,.-.
O-Is that opinion OF character that would influence
yO,r verdict Al think II would.
@. (persuasively)-Do you believe you could lay II
aside and render verdict upon the evidence alone A.
II think the opinion would have some effect
O. more persuasive you believe that II you
were sworn as Juror you could. after hearing the evl-
dence, render verdict entirely fegaIlless OF any
opinion that may now havef Al don't know about
that-I am afraid not
OF course the man was excused IL often turned
ont that when man was found with no previous
Opinlon that would influence HIM In rendering
verdict and both sides were prepared TO accept |
him a snaC struck III the discovery that he
was opposed 10 capital punishment so strongly
that if would influence his verdict. One man SAID
that he did have an impression but had got rld OF
II after entering the courtroom. such marvellous
facility In laying aside opinion was received
with snspcion and the man who wanted to get
into the jury-bOx found himself with the great
majority outside. When the Distrct-Attorney
announced that he was ready to accept man as a
would come together like the leaves OF a shamrock
then would follow whispered consultation
resulting in further examination or q peremptory
challenge. Jonn Harln, of the iarlln Manuiactur-
ing COMPANY No 90 John-st., was chosen as the
first Juror after had been disqualified. When
was told to stand up and look AT him, Hollands DIS
like to meeting a steady gaze was made manifest.
He blnked and looked uncomfortable. While the
search toT Jurors going on the deposition OF
John +. HILL Hollands companion when he first
came TO the city TO purchase q lot of "quce. OF
DAVIS was received. 1t had been mailed from Texas.
1t was at once handed over to the counsel for the
defence. Three other jurors were chosen: Michael
J. (5roh a brewer at No 34G West IhIrtieth-st;
Moses K Olives of No. 143 Duane-st.; and Edward
Morrison, banker and broker, OF No. 8 Broad-st.
An adjournment was taken nj p. M. it was under
stood because Mr.. PIyOrs daughter was to be mar
ried nj = o'clock The case will be resumed to-day
at ii a.