Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-12
NOrfensen Much
UorY7edPrlSone1
Constant REPETITION BY Prospective Jurors That They Have
Pronounced Opinions as 10 His Gull Very DisqueAng
70 His SeroeS-c4ppearance indicates That lie is SVof
RESTING Well Vety Ha99asd Today.

sides say they propose TO be just as
careful In the future as they have been
In the past In selecting the jury, and II
Il requires two or three weeks work to
complete the job they propose to take
that time.
MIR. Bernard Stewart said at noon;
We propose TO have good men. This Is
one OF the most important cases Of the
kind that has ever come up In this
state, and not only Is a mans life at
stake, but great principles are at stake,
too"
When court adjourned, the examin-
alton OF Geo. ID. Jones, mining man.
was being conducted, but there Is not
the least probability of him being ac-
cepted
Have you read about this case?"
81 have
"Have you formed an opinion as to
the innocence or guilt Of this defend
anti"
II have"
rs that an unqualified jopinion?"
1T is."
"You couldn't lay that opinion aside
and enter upon the trial Of this cause
and try the case in fair and impartial
mannerY'
II could not"
Above are the questions and answers
Of eight jurors examined this afternoon
touching their competency to try Peter
Mortensen for the murder OF James Il.
Hay.
George D. Jones and Harry T. Duke
were quickly excused, and the box filed
with Thos, G. Nuttall, Samuel Jenkins,
William Mckee, George A. Raybould,
James X. Miller and NJ. T. Lyon, 1t re-
qured but 10 minutes by the clock for
Bernard Stewart to examine these
Jurors and challenge them on the
ground Of implied bias. The state did
not resist a challenge and each gentle
man was excused At this rate II II
plain to be seen that the special venlre
win be exhausted by night, and II this
sort of thing keeps up, the deputy sher-
IFS will have to be instructed to 60 out
on the street and drag into court any
and all citizens they come across. The
names Of the jury box are said 20 be
getting very low, and the attorneys
and officers OF the court are wondering
II jury will ever be secured
Joseph r. Valentine and Lester d.
Freed, two Of the Jurors who did APP
pear In court this morning, were exam
ined this afternoon as 10 their voir
dire and their names were placed In
the Jury box. Mr.. Valentine stated that
he did not receive his summons until
this afternoon, so was excused for not
appearing, Mr.. Freed stated that he
received his summons on Saturday but
owing to rush of business and being
short two clerks In his store, he could
not be in attendance this morning The
court did not consider that q sufficient
excuse and ordered the clerk to enter
fine of 81 against the juror,
John II. Book. Elmer f. Darling,
William Morley, Charles Park, a, ID.
Ward and A. j. Flint were called TO
the box.
Mr.. Book was the first Juror today
who had not formed an opinion. He
said that he had withheld his opinion
besause he wanted TO hear both sides
OF the question first. He stated that
he knew Mr., Hay as clerk, and al
so knew Mr., sharp by reputation.
Upon being questioned more closely
Mr.. Back admitted that he had an i'm
preston that went in some degree to
the guilt OF the defendant. but he said:
at does not look darker for Mortensen
now that II did for James r. Hay on
the evening the News came out
with the statement (which 1t did mott
that ne had absconded, Mr.. Back was
challenged twice bv the defense for I'M
piled bias, but in each instance the
challenge was denied, the court holding
that the Juror was clearly qualified
within contemplation Of the law.
you said you knew Mr.. Sharp well.
did you not. Mr.. Back?'
Eyes, sir"
Would you believe Mr.. Sharp under
OATH"
eyes, SIR"
"Did you read Mr.. sharps testimony
at the preliminary hearing?"
yes, sir"
DO you believe that Mr.. Sharp told
the truth when he said that God re-
vealed 10 him that Peter Mortensen
killed James r. Hay?"
yes, SIR
"Do you believe that God did reveal
II 10 him."
81 could not answer that question. I
could not say whether he did or no.
The court instructed the iuro to ans
wer yes or no. and he stated that he
could not do so. whereuuon he was
again challenged by the defense and
the court ordered him to stand aside.
ONE HUNDRED MORE JURORS.
Elmer e. Darling, VIM. Morley. Chas.
Park, A. r. Ward, A. j. Flint, George
u. Dean. Lester Il. Freed and Joseph
r. Valentine we're the last OF the spe-
cial venire to be examined and were
ali excused on the ground Of implied
bias. Another 25 Jurors were called
for tomorrow, and Is for Thursday,
which makes a total Of iiO.