The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-13
Frank Parks Prisoner,
Appears Unc oncerned.
Men of Strong Opinion Who
Couldn't Serve.
ESPECIAL TO THE rRrss.l

Alfred, June 12.-Frank P. Parks the
Kittery young man who is charged with
killing Mrs. Mary e. Tarlton, an aged
widow OF that town, sat two hours in q
crowded court room, this afternoon, and
intently watched the proceedings attend
ing the irupaneliiug Of jury that is to
decide his fate.
Thirty-seven citizens OF the towns In
this immediate vicinity had been sum-
m oned. Judge Wiswell and the county's
prosecuting attorney thought that num-
Der would be ample from which to pick
twelve men satisfactory to both sides, but
1t was necessary. tonight to send out some
town constables with new batch of
veniFies, only ten men having been ac-
cepted out of the thirty-ssven. Probably
not less than half-hour of tomorrow
torsnoon's session will be devoted TO a
hunt for the necessary two men to COM
plete the panel SO that the court can get
down to business.
Counsel for the defence is entitled to
twenty challenges. When court adjourned
this afternoon all but five of that number
had been exhausted by Judge william
Emery Of Portsmouth, whom Judge Wis.,
well had assigned to the case, at the pris-
oner's request. 1t was evident that the
prosecuting attorneys, Attorney General
William I. Haines of Waterville and
County Attorney William S. Matthews
Of Berwick. did not intend to exercise the
states right to'ehailsnge for every man
whom the defence admitted to the panel
was satisfactory TO them. Between the
challenges Of the defence and the unshak.
able opinions of many OF those who were-
called, the process of filling the jury box
was exceedingly slow.
The frat slip Clerk Hewey drew from
the depths of his locker bore the name of
Frank S. Libby of Waterboro, who hap
pened to be the last man called. Mr..
Libby passed the rigid examination OF the
court and the defence and took seat on
the panel. John A. Coffin of Alfred was
challenged by the defence, and Stephen
Harvey of South Berwick was given
like reception. Marshall Pike of Shap-
leigh proved satisfactory candidate for
admission to the panel, and he took
chair No. q Fred E. Hill of Sanford,
the next man up, was also accepted.
George E. Mitchell of Newfield and Ches-
ter Z. Chadbourne of Waterboro were
challenged by the defence.
William Eaton of Alfred came up next.
He had formed an opinion, he said,
which would prejudice him In the case.
He was promptly excused. S3me of those
in the rear of the court room who wanted
to draw blanks took new hope, when
they saw how easily Mr.. Eaton got OF.
Biddeford and Henry S. Phillips of Ly.
man. had also formed opinions too deep
seated 10 make them ideal jurors But
after that the men with opinions didn' t
get OF SO easily. Judge Wiswell made it
very embarrassing for them. For In
stance, he said to one of them:
"Do you mean to say that you have
heard rumors, read newspaper accounts
and talked the matter over, and that on
account of the opinion you formed you
are incompetent to sit Lere, listen to
sworn testimony on both sides of this
case and render verdict in accord with
the law and the evidencef"
This was staggerer, but the juror.
after clearing his throat two or three
times, replied in the affirmative.
Then / suppose / must concur with
you," was the courts rejoinder. VIII ich
raised laugh that Sheriff Thompson's
gavel was slow to suppress.
Charles Fl. Clark OF Kennebunk, a
dealer in horses and carriages, asked TO
be excused because he could not afford to
neglect his business. Judge Wiswell in
formed him that an excuse could not be
granted on that ground. Mr.. Clark
looked crest-fallen but when he came to
the examination he insisted that he was
prejudiced by firm opinion as to the
guilt Of the respondent, and secured the
sought for release.