The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-08
OPENING Of FEDERAL COURT.
EXCUSES OF JURYMEy WHO DO NOT
WANT TO SERVE.
Julius Redelshefmer COmpiafned OF
Deafness. hat the Judge Thought
That Did Not Interfere With Him
When He Wanted to Sell Clothes.

Thu Derernber session OF the Federal
eaur. opened in this city yesterday with
Judge c. H Earfoyd on the bench IN
the afternoon the members OF the grand
iurv were called into the box. but one by
che they arose and made speech al
yancfng what they thought were good
reasons for asking 20 be excused. For
time the court refused to excuse many OF
them. but finally changed Its mind and
allowed so many to go that the court was
temporarily robbed OF a grand jury. There
was but one thing TO do and that was 10
Issue a special venire for sufficient num-
Der Of new men 10 complete the jury.
Judge Hanford was not in very gooo
bun1or when he found that SO many
wished to be excused Once while Clerk
Hopkins was calling out names of men
who were Included IN the special venire,
Judge Hanford said: You should not
have men In the box who have Offices"
evidently meaning that II is a hard matter
to get a business man 10 serve as juror
II has been long time since so many
men subpoenaed to serve as grand
Jurors told the court that 1t would be al
most Impossible for them to do so. One
man from out of the city established the
fact that he was too old 10 serve, another
said his brother was on his death bed and
that he himself was a citizen OF Los An
sel=s, though making Seattle his temper
airy home julius Redelsheimer, the
ciothier, came along with certificate
from DR. Kibbe that he was undergoing
treatment for deafness. He thought he
should be excused on that ground.
your deafness does not interfere with
you when you come to sell clothes" re-
marked the court.
az don't do much OF that" answered
Redelsheimer.
well, the grand jury viii be in a nice
quiet room" said the court.
We'll. but juror is compelled TO hear
evidence and am liable to miss some"
suggested Redelsheimer
The court was not inclined to excuse
him. Then came Samuel Rosenberg. who
wanted to go to New York on business.
Andrew Heinrich insisted that IL he were
kept on the grand Jury the business OF the
Seattle Brewing & Mailing Company
would be without head. Mr.. Sweeney
Is In California" said Heinrich, land the
business needs all of my attention.
hope the court viii not make ME serve"
There were a few more such tales as
these, and the court was tired when he
had finished hearing the last one. "The
law" he said, "compels me to hold this
court and In order TO hold II I am COM
PEELED gentlemen, 10 hold you" Then
several prisoners who were present for
trial were told TO make their objections,
IL they had any. to the members of the
grand fury. They stood up looked at the
various gentlemen in the jury box and sat
down without saying anything. Several
Jap prisoners who were 10 have been
present failed to arrive and the court ex-
cused the jury for few minutes. During
those few minutes he reconsidered the
excuses offered by Redesheimr and four
others and told them that they could go.
After that he had the clerk issue a special
venire returnable forthwith. Some Of the
new men were found by the deputy mar
shall and the others will appear In court
this morning.
The grand jury viii be in session several
days. There may be few sensations, but
the chances are that nothing of a highly
startling nature will turn up. Several
men charged with selling liquor to Indians
will have hearing before the jury The
recent counterfeiting case will be investi-
gated.
The most important case that Mr.. Gay
and Mr.. Claypool will try during the pres
emit session Is that Of the United States
against Capt. d. o. Killman and Mate
Robert Hall. OF the American schooner
Lyman D. Foster. on q charge Of cruel
ties on the high seas. 1t Is charged In the
indictment found against them by the
Federal grand Jury ct walla walla that
they assaulted Seaman Jack Mcdonald
with their fists and with iron handouts.
There was no reason for the assault. It IS
alleged. except the hatred which the two
men had for the seaman. The two de-
PENDANTS are now ont on bail. They were
arrested some weeks ago at Port Town.
send.
They admit that they punished McDon-
aid, but insist that he was musinous and
caused constant trouble aboard the
schooner.