Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-21
DELAY IN WATSON CASE
Trial Postponed Until After
the Holidays.
THE JURY NOT SWORN
SEVENTY-FIVE ADDITIONAL
TALEsMEN IN COURT.
Statement Made by Attorney Baker Of
Counsel for the Defense-Wat-
son Disappointed.
The JURY NOT SWORN

The following residents compose
the jury selected to pass upon the
evidence to be submitted in the trial
of James Nj. A. Watson, charged
with embezzlcment:
Ernest G.. Thompson, real estate
broker, 63I Pennsylvania avenue.
John w. Scroggins, dairyman,
1884 Brightwood avenue.
Henry r. Clum, jr., salesman,
Brightwood.
Henry T. Farmer, laborer, I5+ a
street northeast.
Francis Rabbit, motorman, Capt.
tai Traction Company, 334I NJ
| street
Daniel H. Mcdowell, colored,
grocer, 2o3o Vermont avenue.
Benjamin B. Merryman, machin-
ist, 632 Pennsylvania avenue south
east
Robert A. Rollins, grocer, III5
nth street southeast.
Adolph Keyser, ad writer, 2ol0
! Massachusetts avenue.
Edward B. Forney, service clerk,
Washington Gaslight Company,
1904 r street.
E. A. Hall, conductor, Capital
Traction Company, 1922 9th street
southwest
d. William Oyster, butter mer-
chant, 6I2 East Capitol street.
The case of James NJ. A. Watson, accused
of embezzling about $4,000 from funds in
| the keeping of the auditor of the District
| of Columbia seems TO be doomed to meet
| with delays I'm reaching trial When first
| called for hearing, last April of the
| jurors laid himself open to charge of
contempt of court before the proceedings
had gained much headway. and the trial
was discontinued. When resumed last Mon
day the fact that one panel of the jurors
of Criminal Court No. j was out delib-
Grating a verdict in another case
brought the Watson case to standstill
for a day. The matter was taken up yes
| terday morning. but before IL O'Clock all
the available jurors had been interrogated
and adjournment was ordered until this
| morning, seventy-five additional talesmen
being summoned in the meantime Jury,
| named above, was selected today, but was
not sworn, for the reason that the case
| was passed until Tuesday, January 3 next
! This postponement was ordered by the
court at the instance Of the prosecuting at
| torney, whose motion concurred in by
| the attorneys for the defense. 1t based
on the fact that the trial could not be con-
| cluded this week, and therefore 1t not
deemed advisable to make a start and then
have the cause undergo an interruption of
more than week because of the advent OF
! the Christmas holidays.
The room of Criminal Court No. was
crowded to an unusual degree at the time
court opened this morning, the sew
enty-fiyc additional talesmen who had been
| summoned swelling the attendance ma
| terially. The delegation from the District
| building, including Former Auditor Petty
| Deputy Auditor Tweedale Private Secre-
| tary Wilson, Clerks Donovan and Roche
and others. was promptly hand. The
defendant and his wife occupied their ac-
customed places.
Watson was evidently troubled by a cold.
for he frequently pressed his chest with
his hand and gave evidence of experiencing
slight pain. The announcement that the
trial would again be delayed appar-
entity not pleasing to the prisoner. who II
is understood, is anxious that the issue
shall be disposed of prior to Christmas.
Line Of Defense Indicated
During the examination of talesmen, At
torney Baker of counsel for the defense, I'm
making a statement of the case, said the
defendant WAS accused of embezzling
money alleged to have belonged to the
District of Columbia. Emphasis was placed
on the word alleged" and Il is assumed
that the defense will insist that the money
which it is charged Watson took wrong
fully, did not belong to the District, al
though the indictments set forth that he
embezzled from the District of Columbia
The first talesman called this morning
was William Cullen. He explained that he
is a resident of Montgomery county Md.
Not being a resident of the District of CO.
lumbia he was promptly excused.
Motley Anderson, carpenter, having
formed an opinion regarding the guilt or
innocence of the accused. challenged
for cause, and the challenge was sus-
tanned by Justice Wright.
Robert A. Rollins answered the questions
asked him by counsel in satisfactory
manner and took seat. filling the jury
box.
Peremptory Challenge.
At this point the prosecution exercised
its fifth peremptory challenge, directing 1t
against James Alexander. who had been in
terrogated yesterday. Attorney Baker OBJ
jected on the ground that Mr.. Alexander
was seated in the box at the time United
States Attorney Beach yesterday expressed
himself as satisfied with the jury, then
constituted, and, therefore, could not later
be challenged. The objection was overruled
an exception noted, and Hiram r. Bddle
called to fill the chair vacated by Mr.. Alex
ander.
Mr. Biddle made satisfactory answers,
appa parently after which the defense ex-
ercised its seventh challenge, Scott Grant
being the individual excused
Harry Myers. next called had formed
decided opinion. was challenged for cause.
and the challenge was sustained.
w. Kurtz Wimsatt got along without diff
icuty until. in reply to a question asked
by Assistant United States Attorney Turner
he admitted that he knows Attorney Baker
of counsel for the defense very well In
deed. The prosecution challenged peremp-
torily.
Adolph Keyser. an ad. writer. had formed
an opinion, but said he thought he could
render a true verdict based on the evidence
to be heard in court. and the defenses