Waterbury Democrat., 1901-10-15
HAYES TRIAL HAS BEGUN.
The Man Who Shot Miss Cook
 at Winsted.

The Prisoners Counsel, It Is Under
 stood. Will Offer Plea of Insanity
 Work of Selecting the Jury To-day
 Hayes Kept His Eyes ON the Floor
 During the Time Court Was Select ing Jury.
 Litchfeld, Oct 15.-The little audi ence room of the superior court Tor Litchfield county was filled to overflow ing this morning when the trlal or John T. Hayes of Winsted for tlc murder of his sweetheart, Winifred Cooke, was entered upon. There are seats for only 130 people in the court room, and those who succeeded I'll gaining admission were onlyea fraction of the number that sought to do SD. Hundreds of interested people, many of whom had drivem to town early from Winsted and other parts of ilie county. stood about the corridors ana entrance of the building, disappointed in their hope of getting in closer touch with the proceedings. Those who thought to see the prisoner at the iali and perhaps have an interview with him were equally unfortunate, for Jailer Leonard had issued orders chat no visitors should be permitted ill the jail during the progress of the trial, saying that he was not gong to have Hayes put on exhibition"
 The prominence of both Hayes and his victim in Winsted circles had much to do with the show of public interest in his trial while the peculiar circum- stances of the crime were coupled with intimations from the side of the dc fense that some sensational develop metns might be looked for from thc, court proceedings, were added incen- tives to general curiosity to see and hear
 The crime was committed at the Gill bert Home for Children in Winsted on February Il, and is alleged to have been the result of Hayes's jealous or insane rage against Miss Cooke be cause she had broken their engagement of years sending. Hayes is said to have been madly infatuated with the girl, who was teacher in the Gilbert Home, and to have bothered her wiln his attentions in spite of her rejection of his suit. On February Il he fol lowed her to the home and shot her down in the presence of witness, Miss Hyde, a seamstress at the instl- tuition. Up to the time of the crime Hayes had been well thought of. hold ing a responsible position in the town, and being an usher at the First Con- gregational church, which Miss Cooke also attended. He was member of the Fourth regiment, C.. N. C..
 Judge William T. Elmer of Middle town presides at the trial, which began at 10 o'clock this morning. The gov ernment is represented by State Attor- ney Donald T. Warner of Salisbury, assisted by Wellington B. Smith, senior member of the law firm of Smith & Mum of Winsted J. Henry Roraback of Canaan and ex-Judge BriScOe of En- l field are the attorneys for the defense, which. it is understood, will be based largely on the insanity plea. One hun | dred witnesses have been summoned | and the case is expected to occupy about two weeks.
 The work of impanelling jury was entered upon promptly after the open ing proceedings of the morning. A panel of fifty-four talesmen, including l an extra panel of thirty-Six. had been i summoned most of the extra panel
 being men from the southsrn part Of i the county.
 When court adjourned for recess at
 one o'clock eleven jurors had been se- lected from forty talesmen. One of | the questions asked was as to how the | juror would act in case it was proven that Hayes was insane when he com
 mitted the deed Before court opened | Hayes was brought from the jail ! handcuffed between two sheriffs. He was taken to room off the court prop
 CT where the handcuffs were removed.
 He is much changed in appearance
 and the confinement had told on him
 physically and mentally. He had 1 lost at least twenty-five pounds and when asked by the sheriff this morning l how he felt he replied that he was not well. All through the proceedings he
 reclined his head on his hands and
 kept his eyes on the floor.