The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-08

John McFarlauc Denied Continu-
uncr-Thc Jury Secured.

Beaumont. Texas. December s.-Thc dis
trict court room has been crowded from
= early mora till late this afternoon. tn
crowd being composed OF special venir
and witnesses that had been summoned II
the case OF John McFarlane. charged will
the murder OF Irene Raitord. and numbers
who gathered to hear witnesses detail th,
facts that led to the tragedy.
| The case was set for 0 o'clock. a few
minutes before which hour MeFariane en-
tered the cuort room In custody OF Sheriff
langham. accompanied by his lawyer. Mr..
| George c. O'Brien. The prisoner did not
| appear the least uneasy. lie has entirely
| recovered from the wound inflicted In his
breast with knife in the hands OF the
woman he killed. and he walked into the
court room with head erect and exchanged
| suiiies OF recognition with friends.
Owing TO the unavoidable confusion
caused by a crowd that filled all available
space in the court room, but little progress
vas made towards disposing OF the prelimi-
uaries for trial at the morning session. but
District Attorney Nicks and County At
torney Brousard succeeded in announcing
ready" for the state.
call of witnesses for the defense dis :
closed that three for whom attachments
were issued were absent. Counsel for do
Tense gave notice that he would ile writ
ten motion for continuance and the cuort
adjourned for dinner
When the court reconvened for the after
noon session counsel for the defense SUD
miiiei his motion for continuance. the vital
points of which are as follows; That owing
to scarcity OF money and defendants In
ability TO secure counsel to represent him
he had been unable to obtain counsel until
November %, though the Indictment was
found November rs: that after counsel was
secured subpoenas and attachments were
issued for certain witnesses and they had
been returned not served: that defendant
proposed 10 prove by these absent wltnesscs
that after difficulty with the lover OF
Irene Raiforl In her apartments previous
10 the killing he 1.-THE defendantl was lurei
hack to the premises by the earnest solicit
taticns and requests OF the said Irene RIAL
ford that upon the night OF November
defendant having visited the house 1f said
deceased at her instance. and while in her
room conducting himself in a quiet and or
derby manner. the said lover entere! and
without any proyocation whatever became
highly enragel at said defendant and beat
ard inflicted heavy blows upon him, the de-
ftndant being Inferior tn strength and size
and unarmed that the said lover did upon
that occasion, as lie also did upon various
other occasions, threaten to take the life
prove by Ethel Gardner. one OF said ab-
sent witnesses. that she on several oecg
F!ous heard conversations between the said
lover and Irene Raiford In which the lover
declared 10 Irene that the defendant must
stay away from those premises, and that
unless sha did keep him away from there
and get ria Of him In some way or other
that he the said lover. would cease to ren
der her any assistance and would abandon
hor defendant also expects to prove by
'hs witress that the sGd lover had
prompted and urged Irene Reiford to inlet
the wound upon defendant that was In
fic-od upon him hy her at the time NJ her
death Defendant further says "a cqui,hale !
grounds for continuance. that there has
iecu false represent atoms and ISLANDERS cir I
ulatci hv some of his personal enemies
throughout the community owing 10 which |
public prejudice and excitement renders !
So having a fair and impartial trial i'm |
probable
Tudse West overruled 'he motion ani tho
b fcrdant exceutcd The Indictment was
hen read to the nrisoucr hy District Attor- /
1ev Nicks AMI the tedious work a. i'm |
anoliue n Jury began AMI was not con
luded until O'Clock when the court nd I
"rneA until tomorrow morning at $50 |
,'clook.
Following Is tho fury selected J. T. |
'hruthers y 6 Charlton Il n Kent Tr,d |
cent? J - leonard Dave Smell. william |
isllon. ~ Kino Lawrence Burrcll, T. II /
inFes. Peter blake aud Tom DrlGance.