The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-21
ATTITUDE OF THE PRISONER
His Wife Returns to Bear Him
Company.
SEVEN JURORS ARE SELECTED.
Numerous Counsel Engaged In the
Case Only Men of Family
Wanted as Jurors.

Pale featured and anxious, with a
nervous twitchiug of the hands. and q
scared, unnatural glare in pair of un-
usually bright blue eyes, partly concealed
by glasses, Martin O'Neil sat beside his
counsel in Judge Wallace's court yester-
day.
1t was on the night Of June %, 1898, that
Mrs. Kate Critics came TO her death in a
most mysterious manner In the back
room Of saloon on the water front. All
that was known of the crime was that the
unhappy woman had repaired to the Grizzly
Bear-for so the saloon, situated on East
street. is called-with a middle-aged man,
named Martin ONeil. How the two be-
came acquainted is not known, but it is
presumed that the murdered woman, being
under the influence of stlmulants at the
time, was not as careful in the selection of
her company as in ordinary life she was
well-known to be.
The couple retired to a private room in
the saloon and refre shments were ordered.
The orders were repeated. and after
a while Martin O'Neil left the room and
went out alone. The barkeeper at
once entered the room to see what had be-
come Of the woman, and was Mortified 10
see her at the point Of death, lying back in
a chair. with the blood Oozing from most
unacrOuntable wound. In few moments
the unhappy woman expired, without say
ing one word in explanation Of the mys-
terry.
Meanwhile, O'Neil was making the best
of his way up the street when he was over
taken and arrested. He showed no dis
may, but merely mutiered something
about "a woman being taken sick down
yonder." pointing to the saloon. On ar
rival at the City prison ONell became
mute and has so remained ever since. He
engaged Carroll Cook and c. Z. Hamilton
of Oakland to defend him. and the work
of empaneling jury was begun yesterday
III Judge Wallace court.
Somewhat of a surprise was In store for
the prisoner yesterday, when just as Judge
Wallace entered the courtroom. a middle
aged, plaln-featured woman, poorly clad
in black. slipped into court, and touching
ONeil upon the shoulder took seat by
his side. 1t was the prisoners wife.
Years Of separation from her husband had
not served to efface the consideration of
duty from the poor woman's mind, and
now in the hour of his trial she came.
unasked, to render him what support and
sympathy were in her power. For mo-
ment O'NeiPs eyes lit up with pleasure
his former nervous restless attitude.
District Attorney Barnes was present
to aid his deputy. MIR. Black, in the con-
duct OF the prosecution, while ID. n. Co.'S
telio was there as special counsel engaged
by j. Ii. Critics, husband of the muir
dered woman. Ii was seen from the
first that the aim of both sides was
to secure men of family on the Jury.
consequently the work went on a great
deal more smoothly than was at first ex-
pected. Few persons there were who had
not read or formed some opinion on the
case, but all offered eheerfully to cast aside
any prejudice they might have, and weigh
ing the testimony carefully. decide the case
upon its merits.
When l O'Clock had struck there were
only three jurors left On the panel and
there were tive jurors wanting to complete
the box, seven having been accepted.
Under the circumstances, therefore, it
was found necessary 10 order an adjourn
ment until this morning. special venire of
twenty-five more jurors being ordered
from which TO choose the remaining five
jurors. The seven already chosen are:
David heil, Charles Ashton, Arthur Pat
terson, Lawrence Felvey. Manfred ii.
Heynemaun, w. f. Muller, Charles Ben
jamin.
1t is expected that the panel will be CON-
pleted by noon to-day, and that District
Attorney Barnes will make his opening
address to the jury. after which the case
Will probably GO over till Tomorrow morn
ing. when the taking of testimony will
begin.