The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-06-01
COURT PROCEEDINGS.
A Jury Selected to Try w. c. Miller
Cases sTrled-Reporto OF Grand Jury.


es of the Commonwealth vs.. William C.
and Robert Miller was begun Saturday morn
ing.
J. d. Critchfield, the constable Of Rock
wood borough, was the first juror called.
BE had read about the case had not made
up his mind or expressed an opinion as TO
the guilt or innocence of the prisoner, and
was not hampered with any conscientious
scruples against capital punishment. The
Commonwealth were satisfied with his an
swers TO their questions. and passed him
over to the defense with the announcement
that they were satisfied with the Juror.
Judge Baer propounded several questions TO
the juror, which were answered to his salts
faction, and he was accepted. sworn,
and took his seat in the jury box.
Paul Werner, Greenville township farm
er, was the second juror called. He had
heard Of the case, but had not formed or ex-
pressed an opinion and the prosecution
thought he would make a good juror. but
counsel for the defendant thought otherwise
and challenged him.
Henry Ringler, lsborer residing in Elk
lick township, was next called. He had
read about the case in the Pittsburgh papers
and had heard if talked of considerably since
coming to town he was not conscientiously
opposed TO capital punishment and was
passed by the Commonwealth, but was chal-
lenged BY the defense.
Joseph Baldwin, occupation miller, and
residence Brothersvslley township, answer
ed all questions put to him in a satisfactory
manner, and was accepted and sworn ss the
second juror.
Herman A. Walker, q farmer of Cone
maugh township, was satisfactory TO the
Commonwealth. but in answer to question
put to him by Judge Baer be replied that he
did not know that he was not related to the
prosecutor. The HERALD representative at
once wrote Dennis opposite his name,
and a moment or two later the clerk of the
courts wrote challenged by defense"
Henry P. J. Custer a resident OF Paint
township. and farmer by occupation, met
with the same fate that befel his neighbor
from COnemaugh, and four challenges were
placed to the account of the defense.
A. J. Miller, farmer of Stonycreek town
ship, declared that he had conscientious
seruples against capital punishment and
that he could not agree 10 a verdict which
would result in the taking of the life Of
fellow man. oHt of regard for his scruples
the court excused him
Aaron Cover, farmer of Summit town
ship, was in the same boat with Mr.. Miller
his conscience would not allow him to agree
to n verdict Of murder in the first degree,
and he was likewise excused by the court.
John A. Glessner, a farmer of Stonycreek
township, had read too much about the case
to altogether suit the prosecution, and he
was stood aside.
John keifer, laborer, Somerset borough,
had heard the case talked about good bit,
but thought be would not be biased by what
he had heard and that he could go into the
jury box and render fair and impartial YER
dict in accordance with the evidence The
Commonwealth evidently had some misgiv-
ings about this, and they stood him aside.
Hilam Tedrow, Middlecreek township
farmer, said that he lived in the township in
which the homicide occurred, and within
few miles of the place Of the tragedy he
also stated that his wife was related to the
murdered man, wherenpon the court excus-
ed him.
W. W. Brown, farmer, Somerset town
ship, read good bit about the case but had
not formed an opinion. Stood aside.
Willis NJ. Dueeher, farmer, Summit town.
ship, had not formed or expressed an opin-
ion and had no scruples against capital pun
ishment Accepted and sworn as the third
juror.
George Hoover, Jenner township. read
nothing about the case. Challenged by de-
tense.
William McClintock. laborer, Addison
township, had not formed an opinion.
Stood aside
Hiram Barron, farmer, Middlecreek town
ship, lives about two miles from the prison.
er. is hard Of hearing, and on this account
was excused by the court
VIM. II. Miller, farmer, BrothersvalIey
township, read about the case and expressed
an opinion. Stood aside.
Charles Lohr, farmer, QuemahOning, ex-
cused on account Of sickness.
Adam Cook, farmer Northampton town
ship, heard nothing about the case and was
not opposed TO capital punishment. Chal-
lenged by defense.
David ID. Long, lsborer, Larimer township.
read about the case and had formed an opin-
ion but could render an impartial verdict af-
ter hearing the evidence. Accepted and
sworn as the fourth juror.
Ernest Eiford, farmer. Black township,
had heard little about the case. Stood
aside.
Valentine Sass, farmer, Greenville town
ship, heard about the case but formed no
opinion and is not opposed TO capital pun
ishment; had some talk with the prosecu-
tor about the case, but could render an i'm
partial verdict on the evidence. Accepted
and sworn as the fifth juror.
James Murray, carpenter, Larimer, heard
a little about the case and read about it.
Challenged by defense.
Samuel J. Bittner, farmer, Summit town
ship, had formed an opinion and was not op-
posed to capital punishment hearing not
good. Stood aside.
Isaiah p Crise, farmer, Jefferson town
ship, heard good bit abont the case but
had not formed any particular opinion.
Stood aside.
George II. Gilman, farmer, northampton
township, heard about the case, but had not
formed an opinion. Challenged by de-
fense.
Herman Johnson, Justice of the Peace,
Larimer township. read about the case but
had not formed an opinion. Accepted and
sworn as the sixth juror.
Edward NJ. Walker, farmer, Summit
township, read about the case, but had no
opinion. Stood aside.
Jacob Judy, farmer Brothersvalley town
ship, rela ed to Jonathan Hochstetler. Ex-
cused by the court.
Edward W Rhoads, liveryman, Somerset
borough, read a great deal and heard about
the case; wss up with the detectives to the
moonshine district and talked with them
about the case. Challenged by defense.
J. Wesley Barkley, farmer, Jefferson
township, heard and read about the case,
and made up his mind and expressed an
opinion in regard TO the guilt or innocence
Of the prisoner. Stood aside.
Dharlzs Wolfar Iap,.ar -aoI arl