The record-union., 1895-11-05
KOVALEV'S TRIAL BEGUN AT LAST.
Only Four Jurors Obtained the First
Day.
The Defense Exercises Eight Per-
emptory Challenges and the
Prosecution Only One.

| Judge Johnson's courtroom was
crowded yesterday morning when the
| trial of Ivan Kovalev for the murder of
Mr.. and Mrs. F. H. L. Weber was called.
| 1t was evident that public interest was
| largely aroused in the case and that
! the impaneling of the jury would be
| looked on as momentous matter.
The first twelve talesmen called into
the box were M. L. Jones, Edmund Ellis,
Manuel Silva, Emil Gross, George F.
Bronner, A. Dittmar, j. w. Stafford,
| George MudduX, Thomas c. Jones, c.
H. Denton, Emil Steinman and William
n. Upton.
District Attorney Ryan conducted the
| prosecution and E. C. Hart and w. A.
| Anderson appeared for Kovalev Cap
tain Lees, the San Francisco detective,
sat close to the District Attorney, ready
| TO consult with him whenever neces-
sary. Detective Cody sat beside Cap
| tain Lees.
| The defendant, who sat between his
counsel, was bleached by his confine-
ment and has lost some flesh since he
was arrested. He preserved a stolid de-
| meanor throughout, looking straight
ahead at vacancy and very seldom al
|
| right or left.
The talesmen were examined at con-
! siderable length by Mr.. Hart as to
| whether they had read the newspa-
| per reports or not and as to their bias
or opinions formed or expressed in re-
| lation to Kovolevs guilt or innocence.
Manuel Silva was challenged by the
| defense on the ground that he could not
| give the defendant fair trial and that
he cid not sufficiently understand the
| English language, and the challenge
was allowed. A. Dittmar was chaI-
| lenged by the defense because he had
| formed an opinion that it would take
| evidence to the contrary to remove, and
| the challenge was allowed j. w. Stat
ford was also challenged by the defense
and the challenge was allowed, as he
| had made up his mind without listen
| ing to the evidence.
Emil Steinman, who was one of the
! jurors, was not on time when his name
was called and Judge Johnson ordered
the clerk to enter a fine of So against
| him.
Thomas c. Jones was challenged by
| the defense on his statement that he
| had formed a qualified opinion from
reading in the papers the published tes-
| tlmony taken at the preliminary exam
| ination, but that he would give a yer.
| dict upon the testimony introduced at
! the trial.
| W. A. Anderson argued that the Juror
| could not under the circumstances be
unbiased and was therefore disqualified
| from sitting in the case.
| The challenge was not allowed, the
| court considering Mr.. Jones competent
tc sit as juror and stating that it was
disposed to give the defendant the ben
eft of every reasonable doubt as to a
jurors fitness.
Emil Steinman did not think he could
lay aside the opinion that he had
| formed from reading the papers and
was therefore excused.
! Emil Fabian was called and was
| challenged by the defense because he
| had formed an opinion that it would
take evidence to remove. The challenge
was allowed.
c. SCHNEIDER was challenged by the
| defense on account of having formed an
| opinion but as he would be guided by
the evidence the challenge was denied.
Michael Keefe, who had conscientious
scruples against capital punishment,
was challenged by the prosecution and
| excused.
w ]. Mitigate, Antoine Brewer and P.
F. Scott were called and Mr.. Scott said
! he had formed very strong opinion
! and would not like to be tried by twelve
| jurors who felt as he did. He was chal-
| lenged and excused.
Conrad Iser was called and passed.
The District Attorney challenged pc
remptorily Antoine Brewer and the de-
Tense did the same by Thomas c. Jones,
Edmund Ellis, George F. BrOnner, G. E.
Denton, w. j. Mitigate, c. SCHNEIDER and
c. Iser, leaving only NJ. L. Jones, Emil
! Gross, George MuddoX and William n.
Upton to be sworn as jurors.
Then J. II. Knowles, James Robinson,
| Henry Frey, T. p. Littlefield, w. NJ.
Coyle, Thomas NJ. Bittancourt, George
| ". Logan and E. Toomey were called.
Rittancourt and Logan were examined,
anG the court took a recess till 10 a. m.
| to-day, denying Major Anderson's re-
| quest that it adjourn over till after cleo
ton and saying that he could vote be-
fore 10 o'clock.