The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-08
Interviews With Jurors Said tic
Have Caused All the
Trouble.
ATTORNEYS REFUSE TO TALK,
Judge Murphy, General Dickinson
and Mr.. Barnes We're in
Consultation.
THE DURRANT CASE IN A MINUTE-BRIEF
REVIEW OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

REVIEW OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
Plenty OF excitement but no progress
in the Durrant case yesterday. After the
roll of citizens on the latest venire had been
called, his Honor announced a recess and
called upon District Attorney Barnes and
General Dickinson TO join him in a consulta-
ton They were closeted Tor about twenty
minutes. atthe end of which time his Honor
resumed his seat on the bench, and upon
motion of District Attorney Barnes, took an
adjournment till this morning at 10 o'clock.
In asking for the adjournment, the District
Attorney stated that 1T was sought in order to
avoid delays, and the court, in granting it,
stated that certain exigeucies had arisen,
which, to his mind, mad made it necessary.
Rumors OF all sorts were soon flying about as
to the cause OF the adjournment, the most
plausible one being to the effect that the court
had decided to cite certain newspaper men for
contempt in having interviewed Jurors Charles
P. Nathan and Walter S. Brown.
. 1t is certain that some action will be taken
to-day.
q: The progress of the Durrant trial has
been rudely interrupted. In fact, so heavy
:has been the impact of occurrences that it
is entirely within probabilities that it may
not proceed at this time.
!: For the past three days, as everybody
knows, the air has been full of rumors,
mystery and the sound of momentous
happening. First came the attack of
young crank on the prisoner, while he was
being taken from the courtroom to the
Sheriff's Office, shortly after noon on
Monday. Then came the rumor of sus-
picion as to jurors sworn to try the case,
following quickly on the heels of lengthy
conference between the District Attorney
and counsel for defense, which portended
a great deal. AS a result of that confer
ence, District Attorney Barnes and Cap
tain Lees had another, into which Secret
Service Agent Harris was called.
For some hours the public was curious
as to what all this mystery meant, and was
only half satisfied when it learned that
Juror Walter S. Brown did not exactly fill
the bill. The history of his connection
with the celebrated Howell case in the
Federal court was dug UP and exploited in
the papers and then-then came the worst
of it, the occurrences which caused the
machinery of the law to clog temporarily,
resulting in the speedy adjournment of
court yesterday morning without an at
tempt to transact any business.
Reporters on a morning newspaper had
interviewed Jurors Walter S. Brown and
Charles P. Nathan. Those interviews were
published yesterday morning and imme-
diately brought to the attention of the
court by General Dickinson and, after q
lengthy conference between court and
counsel, they resulted in a sudden stoppage
of all proceedings and in the birth of many
more rumors.
1t was stated positively that Judge Muir
ply mad fully decided to issue citations for
contempt against the newspaper men who
had interviewed the jurors.
Every body in the court yesterday morn
ing seemed to be filled with the opinion
that Notwithstanding and awful-waS
about to drop. The seven jurors sworn to
TRY the case were in their seats early, as if
taking a brace for any shock that might
come, while the spectators had piled in
early to get the full benefit of everything.
The prisoner seemed, as usual, less inter
ested in what was passing than anybody
else and put in the time from his arrival
till the opening of court in reading the
morning papers.
Judge Murphy was prompt to the min
ute and took his seat on the bench as if
nothing in the world out of the usual had
happened. He cast his eye over the array
of veniremen, and then ordered Clerk
Morris to call the list of names of the
hundred. The Sheriff's deputies had been
very lucky in the serving of papers, and
but very few absentees were noted, attach
ments being ordered to bring them into
court. Those of former venires brought in
on attachments presented themselves with
their excuses for absence, which seemed in
every instance to be satisfactory to the
court.
Matters having proceeded thus far every
body expected the court to settle back in
his chair to listen to the excuses of the
veniremen. He did nothing of the kind
SAT this time" said his Honor, sit has
become necessary to take recess for
short time. Gentlemen of the jury, you
will keep your seats. Mr.. District Attor-
ney and General Dickinson, I wish to con-
suit with you"
Judge Murphy left the bench and pro-
ceeded to the anteroom, General Dickin-
son and Mr.. Barnes following after. Not
soul in the courtroom moved each eve
being fastened on the door through which
his Honor and counsel had Just passed.
The minutes passed and still they did not
reappear, and there was enough of stir in
the courtroom to indicate that everybody
was nervous in anticipation of the out
come. The jurors twisted around in their
seats, apparently feeling uneasy at the
chances lifted from the closed door and
cast at them now and then. Juror Brown,
about whom so much had been written,
was palpably nervous and might have
been noticed to change color had there
been more light in the back row of the
iury-box.
The minutes passed on, and at the end
of about the twentieth the watched door
opened and Messrs. Barnes and Dickinson
stepped out, followed by his Honor, who
Immediately took his seat on the bench.
Mr.. Barnes walked around to his side of
counsels table, stopped and addressed the
court.
"If your Honor please" he said, 81 de-
sire to ask for an adjournment until
tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. 1 do
not wish to do anything to delay the case,
but l think that an adjournment at this
time would really facilitate business"
I'VE join this request" said General
Dickinson.
II am 10th to do anything" said his
Honor, that would retard the progress of
this case. but l can well see that such
motion is proper. Certain exigencies have
arisen which should be disposed of as soon
as possible: and, without Indicating what
they are, | have come to the conclusion
that an adjournment will expedite rather
than retard the trial. AS the matter
stands this delay is hardly to be avoided"
Turning to the jurors Judge Murphy sol
EMMY admonished them to talk with no
body about the case and allow nobody to