The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-30

all mlndS-tne prODaple late VI lnS
stocl,y-built, tidily dressed, intelli-
gent appearing silver-haired man.
who emerged from the throng in the
prisoners dock in answer to the dis
trict attorneys call, and walking erect
ly, calmly and with no perceptible con-
Germ across the court room, took a seat
at the defendants table.
The silence continued while the dis
trict attorney forthwith proceeded to
read the formal Introductory and ask
the usual question, guilty or not gull
ty?" Mr.. Wedeman answered for his
client, mot guilty" and then the quar-
tette was seated and the trial formally
begun.
Van Horn shook hands with Mr..
Wedeman, but did not seem to see his
other defender; at all events he sat
down without as much as giving him a
nod. After being seated, however, he
chatted a while with Mr.. Thayer who
sat nearest to him and then as If inn
patiently waiting for long and tire
some seige he leaned over on the table
and assumed the look of one who was
dreadfully bored or about to be.
SCANNED THE TRIAL LIST.
Some drawings on the table interest
ed him for awhile and next took the
trouble to scan trial list containing
the names of the jurors, which Mr.
Thayer handed to him. Now and then
as the questions were being put to the
jurors, he listened attentively to the
answers, but there was not that eager
ness in his look which might indicate
that the questions and answers inter-
ested him because they attached to
himself. in such an all important way.
AS the afternoon session progressed
he seemed to awaken a little to the
significance Of the occasion and sew
eral times made comments or sugges-
tons to his attorneys and once, when
consulted as to the accepting of juror,
shook his head emphatically, as if to
say testify, mo, no, no."
Only the general contour of his dis
tinctive features makes it possible to
see in the prisoner at the bar the
George Van Horn as produced in the
newspapers from photograph taken
before his reckless habits robbed him
Of his robust manhood, or the George
Van Horn. emaCiated, bedraggled, hag-
gard and carewOrn who was brought in
manaCleS to the central station house
last June.
He is now the cOntented-lOokinr.
middle-aged, fairly wcll-to-d business
man. His grey-tinged. curly hair is
neatly trimmed, his moustache of the
same color shows careful training, his
face is cleanly shaven and new cut
away suit of very dark brown white
shirt. with glossy collar and cuffs, a
Black satin fOur-in-hand cravat and
well shined shoes left only his pallid
complexion to tell that he had just
come from out the gloomy walls of
prison. He was the cynosure Of all
eyes, of course but he didn't know it,
or at least he gave no indications of
knowing it. The crowd possessed no
more interest for him than did the pro-
ccedings.
TESTS OF COMPETENCY.
The oceedings. even outside of the
significance which attached to their
every step, We're of an unusually in
teresting character Not little of the
attractiveness was due to the novelty
which the defendants attorneys at
tempted to inject into them. Various
tests of competency which had never
before been applied in local cases were
brought into play by Messrs. Wedeman
and Thayer but District Attorney
Jones, in nearly every instance, sue
ceeded in having them ruled out
For instance, the defense wanted to
examine jurors as to what extent. If
any, they would be prejudiced against
Van Horn by the development that he
had maintained immoral relations with
Mrs. Wescott the question being put
alphabetically, of course.
Mr.. Jones objected on the ground that
jurors could not be examined on some
thing that was not as yet in the case
and possibly would never appear in the
case. Judge Archibald upheld Mr.. Jones
contention, saying that questions could
not be based on something that was in
the air Mr.. Wedeman called attention
to the fact that the defense in the Gul.
densuppe murder trial had been per-
mitted to ask this very same question
and suggested that as the examination
of Jurors was founded on common law
usages rather than statues, the New
York case might be properly taken as z
precedent.
This did not change courts position
| and again in the afternoon, when if
as much of a foundation as a question
Of prejudice regarding nationality, the
| court was still Interchangeable.
MIR. AKERLY. OF SCOTT.
! Only three Of the ffty-eight men or
| tta panel had not heard something OF
| other of the case. one of these was the
very first called, Edward Akerly, {
! of la Il.
| doesn't get any papers and as he put i
! himself, don't know anything" in
| tending his hearers to understand, M
! doubt, that "about the case" was to bc
! implied. He was excused.
Seven jurors were unqualifiedIy op
! posed to capital punishment and wer,
excused on this account, About twic
| as many more had such fixed opinion,
| that court sustained the defendant.
| challenge for cause. The defense mad,
| it's full quota of peremptory challenges
| twenty, but the prosecution did not ex
/ haust its allowance.
Eight jurors We're examined befor,
/ the noon adjournment was made, bu
none We're found acceptable. The sec
| onG juror called after dinner, r. c
| Shank, was sworn. He had a fixeC
| opinion, but evidence could change it
! The defense challenged him for cause
! but the challenge was oVerruled. TIL,
defense afterwards accepted him.
Thomas Sheridan, carpenter, Scran
ton, helped carry the wounded Mrs
! Wescott into the hospital. He was ex
| cused, Albert Van Horten, painter
Scranton, was well acquainted with tn
! Wescotts and was for this reason re
! fused. Common Councilman Edwar,
| f. Wenzel had a fixed opinion am
would ignore all the evidence and Law