Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-15
FACING THE JURY.
Jennie Bosschieter's Alleged
Murderers on Trial.
A Jury Selected to Try McA|Iister,
Death and Campbell.
Kerr. Expected 10 Give Sia.c's Eyid 4nce. TO
Have Separate Trial.

Paterson, n. j., Jan. H.-What is ex-
peoted to be one of the notable murder
trials in the history of the country was
begun, Monday, in the court of oyer
and terminer this place, when Walter
G. McAllister, VIM. a. Death and An
drew Campbell were called 20 plead to
the charge of the murder of Jennie
Bosschieter, the 18~year-old mill girl,
who died after having been given
knockout drops and assaulted.
George ]. Kerr who was jointly in
dicted with the three other prisoners
made application sometime ago to Pre-
siding Justice Dixon for q separate
trial which was granted.
1t was expected that Kerr, who is a
brother of ex-City Judge Kerr and who
is related by marriage to Mayor Hinch-
cliffe, will be called as witness for
the state.
AS the doors of the court room
We're opened, Monday morning, the
jury panel. the lawyers, witnesses and
representatives of the press were ad-
mitted. The court room is not large
and the main floor and gallery We're
soon filed. There was little room for
spectators. The sheriff had a number
of extra deputy sheriffs to keep the
crown Ddch. AllcI lIlt StdlS III lllt
court room were occupied the doors
were closed and no one was admitted
excepting those having urgent business
inside.
The three prisoners, McAlister,
Campbell and Death, were brought in
to the court room promptly at 10
o'clock and seated near their counsel.
Judge Dixon assembled the bench at
1905. Among those who occupied seats
within the rail set aside for witnesses
We're John Bosschieter. father of the
murdered girl, Susie Bosscheter. a sis
ter, and John, Jr.. a brother. The coun-
sci for the defense included ex-Judge
Hoffman of Jersey City, City Counsel
Dunn. John w. Harding and Thomas
Scott. Former Judge Kerr. a brother
Of George Kerr, was present.
AS soon as the court was opened
County Prosecutor Emlcy, who has as
his assistant Ralph Shaw. a leading
lawyer of Passaic county. moved for
the trial Of McAllister Death and
Campbell.
City Counsel Dunn made a formal
application to quash the Indictment
against the three prisoners on the
ground that it was defective. Judge
Dixon denied this and ordered the trial
to proceed. The work of selecting u
jury was then begun.
The work of selecting the jury pro-
ceeded rapidly and was completed at
1890 A. Nj. and promptly sworn in. The
three prisoners We're told to stand and
lock al the jury, and while this was be-
ing done McAllister appeared the most
composed of the three.
Less than an hour had been occupied
in procuring the jury.
Prosecutor fmley made the opening
ddress. He recited TIE facts brought
out at the coroners inquest relative to
the drugging. assault upon end death
of Jennie Bosschieter.
While the prosecutor was addressing
the jury, Campbell, McAllster and
Death paid close attention to every
word, ard occasionally the prisoners
leaned over and whispered to their
lawyers.
Prosecutor Emley concluded his
opening address by asking for 4 YER
dict of murder in the first degree and
against the defendants. He spoke for
an hour and a quarter.
A diagram was brought into the
court room Of the road on which the
body of the murdered girl was found.
Its author, z. w. Founda. ws1 called
as the first witness. He saf the dia-
gram was correct in every respect and
described the plan of the saloon where
the drug was said to have been adj
ministered.
Mrs. Nina Bosschieter Jennie Bosschie-
ter's stepmother, was called after the
noon recess.
Mrs. Bosschietcr said Jennie left the
house about Z. NJ. on the 18th of Oc-
tober, and said she was going to drug
store in the noighborhood to purchase.
some medicine for her sisters child. Next
morning, she was notified of the finding
OF the body. Jcnnies dead body was
brought home at o'clock that evening.
On cross-examination. Mrs. Bosschieter
said that Jennie sometimes remained out
late at night. but she always thought
that the girl stopped with some friends.
Susie Bosschieter followed her mother
on the witness stand. she related how
she and Jennie roomed together at home.
Jennie told witness on the evening of oct.
is that she intended to call Mrs.
KlattS.
on cross-eXamination the witness said
that Jennie occasionally remained away
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