El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-20
EXCITING SCENES
In the Court Room At the
Pitt Murder Trial.
DEMAND FOR ARREST
OF An Editor Made By Counsel For
Defense. Some Sharp Words -
Difficult to Get Jury.

/
| Intense interest was manifested this
| morning by the crowd of out OF town
people which had assembled in the dis
/ trict court room when the case OF the
state of Texas VS.. Sidney Pitt for the
murder of Kinks Hill in Ward county
| was called.
| Both men were prominent in their
section of the state and their friends
and relatives are manifesting the deep
est concern in the outcome and leaving
nothing undone that might be favor
able to either the prosecution or the
defendant.
The special venire of fifty men was
| in the court room this morning when
| the case was called for trial. Selection
of jurors was temporarily postponed
until counsel had done a certain
amount of preliminary Skirmishing.
That the case is to be holly contest
ed and bitterly fought became appar-
ent soon after court opened. from the
fact that a sensation was sprung by
Judge Edwards, leading counsel for the
defense. and in the wrangle that en-
sued he and Judge Hammond of Colo
RADIO City. who has been employed to
assist the district attorney, almost
came to blows in the presence of the
court Order was preserved by an ap-
peal to the sheriff.
The trouble grew out of an acticle
published in yesterdays News, which
placed defendant in an unfavorable
light before the public. AS soon as
court had reassembled Judge Edwards
pulled copy of the paper from his
pocket and after calling the courts at
tention to il moved that an attachment
be issued for the editor and that he be
brought in for contempt.
Judge Hammond. assistant counsel
for the prosecution. construed Judge
Edwards's remarks to be a reflection
upon himself and he was on his feet
in an instant. Assuming belllgerent
attitude he said: IF the counsel for de-
Tense means to imply that We have
done anything dishonorable in this
case or had anything to do with the
publication of this article. what he
says is false. absolutely false
Hammond is agood sized man. AS
tall and apparently little heavier
than Judge Edwards. For a moment
scrap between the two big fellows
was imminent. Judge Edwards usual
ly rubicund countenance paled with
emotion and he shook his clenched
hand under the nose of his adversary.
What is the matter with you" he
demanded.
Mr.. Sheriff l call on you to pre-
serve order in this court ROOM" said
fected by the exciting scene before
him: Gentlemen. if you don't sit
down l VIII fine you both
The sheriff came forward quickly
and the lawyers fell back.
The motion for the arrest of the edi-
tor of the News was overruled as was
also the motion by defense for con-
tinuance for the term.
Judge Edwards next asked to be in
formed If there were any private pros
ecutors in the case to assist the dis
trict attorney.
Hammond stepped forward and
said: Il am assisting the district at
torney"
Are you employed by any one?"
When l am asked in a legal manner
will answer that question:" he an
swered. sharply.
Judge Edwards explained that he
must have an answer to his question
as it was necessary to know if any of
the jurors were related to counsel or
the parties interested in the case. 1t
seems to me-" he said. that the coun-
sci would have the candor to tell the
court and counsel whether or not he
is employed in this case"
Judge Hammond: / am not employ
ed by any other persons than the in
Jured parties. An inquiry to the jurors
whether or not they are related to the
prosecutors or counsel would disclose
this fact. | decline to state further.
Judge Edwards: But why this man.
ner of answering? 1t seems to me he
might be candid enough to state.
Hammond: Go ahead and file your
affidavit.
The defense filed a motion to have
the name of the person who had en-
ployed any private prosecutor disclos-
ed. An affidavit and the article
from the News was attached
The court Overruled the motion and
the names of the talesmen were called.
Owing to the large number of attor-
neys employed in the case the usually |
abundant space around the table in |
front of the witness stand was hardly |
adequate to accommodate them all and |
an attempt was made to deprive the |
press of its usual privileges.
AS stated in yesterdays Herald the
names of the lawyers engaged in the
trial are: |
For the state, j NJ. Dean, district at ]