The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-12
AUSTIN
Now On Trial Before the
Court
ON THE CHARGE
Of Numbering His Brother William
Austin.

Sunday morning. May 81, 1899, Ernes
Austin was placed under arrest, at the
home OF neighbor in Zane township
| charged with the murder of his mother
Rachel Austin, and his brother, Will
| liam Austin. At the October term o
the Common Pleas Court, an indict-
ment was found by the Grand Jury for
murder in the first degree, in eacf
case.
Sunday morning, May 81, about day
light, Ernest Austin came to the house
of Mr.. Thomas w. Haines, across the
road from his, Austin's home, stating
that he had been shot throuh the body
by man who had killed his mother and
brother, and burned their home.
A day or two later Austin was
brought to Bellefontaine by the Sheriff,
under charge of murder, and kept
in the Hamer hospital till his condition
warranted his being removed to the
jail.
Yesterday morning his trial was com.
menced in the Common Pleas court,
Judge West assisting Prosecutor S. Fl.
West, and the defense being repre-
sented by Price g. Shea and Attorney
Willets, of North LewisbuIg.
Several of those who had been sum-
moned on the venire, being absent
when court met, an adjournment was
taken until o'clock.
At / o'clock the court met and
promptly proceeded to the business of
selecting from the venire of 80 jury
of II men to try the case.
The following shows who were exam
ined, and who were accepted and who
were rejected. Up to 4:4O. when court
adjourned, % had been examined, and
IL accepted. To each one, as they were
brought from the jury room, the fol-
lowing questions were put, after they
had been sworn by the Prosecutor.
When the Prosecutor was not satisfied
with answers given the juror was turn
ed over to the Court, who asked the
questions and accepted or rejected the
Juror according to the answers. The
defense were also privileged to put
questions.
The questions, which were put after
a statement of the case was made to
each one, were as follows:
What is your name?
Do you live in Logan county
Were you a member of the grand
jury tn at indicted Ernest Austin?
Have you ever heard of this case?
Have you read about it? Where :?
Have you heard any witness speak
about it ? Did you form any opinion
about it? Have you any now? Have
you expressed any opinion about it :?
Have you read any testimony or spoken
to any witness in the case?
Are you related. to the defendant Or
his brother, or any of the attorneys in
this case Are you personally inter-
ested in any case in litigation in which
any one of the attorneys in this case is
employed
Are you related to Ed. Shaw, who
served the summonses? Are you con-
scientiously opposed to capital punish
ment ? If you are, would you render a
verdict according to the law and evil
dence, Notwithstanding your opinion of
capital punishment? Do you believe
you could be convinced by circumstan-
tial evidence alone of the guilt of
prisoner charged with capital crime?
Do you hold any opinion that would
prevent you finding the defandant
guilty? Do you know of any reason
why you could not sit as a fair and i'm
partial juror in this case?
I'D. c. Keller, excused on account of
sickness.
David Hartman, seated.
l. Jerome Hollopeter was excused
because the man summoned was Jerome
1. Hollopeter.
William N. Kiser was excused.
John L. Shulz.was seated.
Uriah L. Mann was opposed to capi-
tai punishment; excused.
J. G. Reed, opposed to condemning a
man to death on circumstantial evil
dence alone; excused.
John w. Stephenson, opposed to cap
ital punishment; excused.
George G. Hone, seated.
Elwood VanHorn, seated.
Wild. Pugh, West and Price his at
torneys in case; rejected.
Frank Loveless, seated.
John w. Watkins, seated.
Robert Miller, conscientiously oppos-
ed to capital punishment; excused.
Newton J. Archer, seated.
Peter Dow, seated.
J. F. Heffner, seated.
Jas. d. Mclaughlin couldn't be con-
vinced by circumstantial evidence in O
murder case; excused.
William Shick couldn't be convinced
of guilt in capital 'offense by circum-
stantial evidence alone; excused.
William Grabiel couldn't render a
verdict on circumstantial evidence