The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-27
TRYING TO GET A JURY.
To-Day's Proceedings in the Graves
Murder Trial.
SLOW WORK IN THE COURT.
An Awful Strain Upon the Prisoner. Who
Look weary-Mrs. Graves Sick with
the Grip-The Jury Box stiIl Empty.
An Extra Panel of Talesmen.
Especial TO THE NEWS. ]


DENVER, Col, Nov. 27-The work OF
selecting jury for the trial of DIR. Il.
Thatcher Graves for the murder of Mrs.
j. B. Barnaby was begun to-day. The
court room was crowded long before Judge
Rising took his place upon the bench,
Denver people recognizing the case as one
OF the most celebrated in the criminal
annals of the country and deing deeply in
terested in it.
DIR. Graves came into the court room
room just before the judge. He looks
wearied and il is evident that the case Is
wearing upon him. His face is pallid and
the deep pockets under his eyes show that
he has had very little sleep.
Mrs. Graves is i'll with the grip and
her husband passed all day yesterday with
her except for brief time when he took
dinner with Judge Mason. His almost
abject appearance.to-day attracted toward
him the sympathies of many persons in
the audience, though most of them SEEM
ingly believed him guilty OF the crime
with which he is charged.
The work of obtaining the jury is sure
TO be protracted. The case has been
written and talked about so much that
opinions and strong opinions are preva-
lent. OF the venire of $50 talesmen origi-
nally drawn but 50 remain, and the jury
box is still empty.
Each side has fifteen peremptory chal-
lenges, but none OF these has yet been used.
IL Is the opinion that at least two days
more will be consumed in obtaining a
jury, and possibly it will not be until the
middle of next week before the submitting
of evidence is actually begun.
IL is probable that an order will be
issued by Judge Rising this evening to
the sheriff for an extra panel of $50 tales
men, and he will be told to select men
against whom no disability to act as jury
men rests. Many OF the first panel were
excused on account Of disability and that
tended TO delay the proceedings.
Barbarians II the Plains.
DENVER, Nov. 27.-Col Ballou has made
public a statement regarding his much
criticized phrase, "barbarians Of the
plains" He says:
IL understand that il has been said in
the papers here that have referred to the
people of Denver as Barbarians of the
plains / did say that DR.. Graves and his
counsel had nothing to fear from the
avenging spirit of Colorado law, and that
the barbarian methods of the plains
would not prevail in the Colorado courts.
The meaning of this is too obvious too sus-
tain the charge made. Upon the plains in
sparsely settled and unorganized commun-
tiles the people are compelled to proceed
without regard to the forms of law, and
in the haste and excitement of mob vio-
lence, sometimes do injustice which is
certainly barbarous.
81 meant that nothing of this kind was
possible among such law and order low
ing, thoroughly organized, enlightened
and just people as know the people of
Colorado to be. Why such a charge should
have been made against me do not know,
unless il is an attempt to create prejudice
against DIR. Graves and those interested in
his behalf. While it is true that / live in
the distant East yes / have many warm
friends I'm the West, and l have nothing
but admiration for the wonderful enter
prise, public spirit. energy and sense of
justice of the Western people. ] believe
that one of the predominant traits of their
character is a desire TO see fair play, and
ii was for these reasons that | said that
DIR. Graves and his counsel had nothing to
fear from trial here"