Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-03-01
ON TRIAL FOR HIS life
The Case of the State VS.. Geo.
Swiloos Called in the Su-
perior Court
The Panel Exhausted and a
Venire Issued For Twenty
Four More Jurors
Court Takes a Recess Until
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF Jurors

The trial Of George Swiloos the Lum-
mi Indian charged with the murder Of
Moses Nounkin, was commenced be-
fore Judge Winn i'm the superior court
yesterday morning. The entire day
until 3 o'clock was occupied in cxamin.
ing juors. The panel was then eXhau5-
ted and the court ordered "a special
venire for ,wenty-four jurors and the
case was continued until Wednesday
morning.
A stranger passing along the Lmmi
road yesterday momiu" Wouli have
concluded that there was a pDllalrh in
WhatcOm. Almost the entire Lummi
tribe came to town from the r,-crva-
ton early in the day TO witness the
trial Of the culpnt ~iwaeh. Long be-
fore the case was called, Indians Of all
ages aud sizes gathered len groups about
the court house grounds and iu the
corridors, talking earnestly n sputter-
ing Chinook.
5. H. Piles, Of Seattle, attorney for
the accused Indian ,klahOwyacd actively
among his brown witnesses i'm the cor
ridOr7 until the hour IOr opening couu.
Court convened promptly at $500.
The first hour wa, occupied with the
hearing Of TWO cases OF insanity. While
these were progressing almost con-
tnual stream of visitors, Caucl-lon
and siwu-h, filed into tie couI, room
until 10 wa. packed.
George ~wiloo- was brought into the
court room about 10 O'Clock u cuai,e
of Deputy Sheriff E-DaUrOOk, and gwen
"a seat within tine rail lie lOO.cd o-
though he had been well kept duuug
his confinement. Hcappeared neat, and
his clothes fitted him better lhtn the
average siwa-h costume. lie wore u
bluoiSh suit with cutaway coat, "a
checked lauudrIed shirt and collar
match and neck tie.
The theory of ctnUDlOgi-t- that be-
lieve in the A-iatic origin of the udlan
Is strengthened by such types rs George
~wilOus. lie looks almost exactly liIe
Jap in complexion and features. His
stiff raven black hair was smoothly cut
pOmpddour. His eyes are set obIIquely
In broad upJuned face, with nigh
cheek bones falling away toward the
chin and forehead. Ills upper lip,
each side Of u barren vast. where ii l7
shaded by ,hc nose, is backcnrd with
a slight mu-tache of dropping Wiry
hair. lie watched closely, though
without any apparent concern, the pro-
cccdingS of the court.
j. \. Kerr appeared as associate couu-
sci with Prosecuting Attorney Cole for
! the state, while :. II. Piles, Of Seattle,
appeared for the defense. AT 1880
O'Clock Maj Cole informed the court
| that the state was ready to proceed.
| The Clerk called the names oi twelve
jurors who took their places in tine jury
box as follows
NJ. r. Gee, NJ. A. Hamilton, solomon
Allen, A. :. BOlch, y. II. Peyran, Peter
Mills, j. r. Tuflree, =. G.. Inks, j. T..
Coflman, G. G.. Bagley, NJ. Vaughn
and jeff Stewart
After the jury was sworn the ex-
animation Of jurors commenced. The
majority Of those examined were chal-
| lenged and excused for cause for having
| formed opinions Of the guilt orinnOcence
Of the defendant. Major Cole led the
examination for the state. Attorney
| Piles went on the assumption that
every Juror had a fixed unalterable
opinion Of the guilt Of the defendant,
and showed much tact i'm the soft, in-
sinuating advances i'm his questioning
| i'm leading the juror on to some fatal
admission.
VI. T.. Gee, Of Custer was Fl rst exam
/ ined by Mai. Cole. lie told the court
| in answer 10 the majors questioning
that he could try the defendent on the
evidence, with at bias by what he had
/ heard and read, but Attorney Piles
wOrmed out Of him the admission that
he had an opinion that IL would take
evidence to remove and he was prompt
/ ly challenged and excused.
Patrick Haley was then called To- filI
/ the vacant chair He was examined
and passed by the state. Mr. Piles
took him and he finally admitted that
/ he had an opinion and he was chal-
I lenged. Before the court ruled Major
Cole asked him III was an opinion on
an impression. He replied that it was
no positive opinion. The court then
took him and asked him If he would b,
willing to be tried by twelve men In
the same frame Of mind as himself llC
replied In the Affirmative, and the chal
lenge was denied. Mr.. Piles perse
vered, however, and asked questions
but could not get his challenge granted
by the court
jeff Stewart, Of Rome precinct, wa
passed FOR cause
NJ. A. Hamilton, Of Rome, after a
close examination by the prosecution
the defense aud the court, was excused
for cause, and l.. w. Nestelle, Of Fair
haven, was called. lie promptly adj
mitted that he had q positive opinion
and was also excused.
Matthew Vaughn, Of Whatcom had
an opinion aud was excused.
G.. A. Bremner, Of Delta, was passed
G. +. Kruger, Of Ten Mile, placed to'