The record-union., 1893-07-11
SELECTING A JURY.
Beginning Of the Bigamy Charge
Against George Jefferis.
The Prosecution Not Ready to Proceed
With the Murder Charge
A Missing witness.

The trial of George B. Jef1eris, the engi-
mitted bigamy and also of having muir
dered Olga Ayers, his alleged second
wife, by setting fire to the station at
Brighton. where she was employed as a
telegraph operator, was commenced yes
terday morning before Superior Judge
Prewett of Placer County, who will pre-
side in Judge Catlin's place.
Jetieris occupied a seat beside his at
torney, a. L. Hart, and took deep in
terest in the examination of citizens who
were called to testify as to their qualifica-
tons to act as jurors in the case.
District Attorney Ryan will be assisted
in the prosecution by Charles T. Jones.
Mr.. Ryan informed the court that he
would prefer to proceed with the bigamy
charge first, owing to the absence from
the city of ex-SheriH George &. Nc
Mullen, who is an important witness for
the people.
AS the defense did not object the bigamy
charge was taken up. The entire day
was consumed IN the examination of
talesmen, and ten jurors were secured up
TO adjournment time. The remaining
two will be added this morning, and then
the taking of testimony will proceed.
Those who have been sworn to try the
case 50 far, are: }. Lockhart David Jen-
kins, Charles Swartz, Thomas l.. Lewis,
Henry Altucker, George E. Kuchler,
Henry Martin, Peter Menken, 4. w.
Farnsworth and Philip Herzog.
Both the prosecution and the defense
are examining the talesmen very closely.
The attorney for the defense, for instance,
alter asking the name, occupation, etc. OF
the pitivnn 1lrppaaIG rovnnnnnH ytv,a,inc,
like these: DO you know Detectives True,
Burke or Hickey? DO you know eX-
Sheriff McMullen? Were you in Sacra-
mentO when the station at Brighton was
burned? Did you read the accounts OF
the affair in the daily papers? Did you
90 to BrIgtOn to view the scene? Are you
familiar with the locality? Have you
heard any opinions expressed about the
affair? Have you ever expressed any
opinions about the guilt or innocence Of
the defendant, or have any members
OF your family? Have you any bias or
prejudice in the matter? lave you
talked with any body about the case since
being summoned as a juror? Has any
one talked about it in your presence ?
DO you know District Attorney Ryan or
Charles Il. Jones personally? DO you
think your mind Is in fair enough con-
dltlOn to try this case without prejudice !?
Have you any desire to convict a man
simply because he is charged with having
committed a crime, or would you require
evidence to convince you beyond all rea-
sonable doubt OF his guilt? DO you un-
derstand what is meant by the term pre-
sumption OF innocence? Would you, be-
fore finding Il verdict, require the de-
PENDANT to prove his innocence, or
would you require the prosecution
to prove his guilt? if taken as
a juror viii you render a verdict
solely on the evidence as given by the
witnesses and the law as gwen you by
the court?
The principal queries Of the prosecution
are: DO you know George Jeheris, Frank
Sweeney, Conductor Cox and wife, Will
lam Harlow or any OF Jetleris' relatives2
Have you read the newspaper accounts
of this case? DO you know A. l.. Hart?
DO you believe in enforcing the law? If
the evidence in the case should snow the
defendant TO DO guilty, would you hest
tate about bringing in a verdict Of muir
der in the first degree? Would you per-
init any feeling OF sympathy for the de-
PENDANT or his family to influence you?
is there any reason why you cannot try
this case fairly and inpartially?
1t is thought that the trial Of the case
will consume the entire week.