Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-21
THE JURY SECURED
PROGRESS IN THE TRIAL OF AN
DREW WELDON.
Under Indictment for Murder of His
Nother-i n-Law-Governmen
Case Outlined.

The presence of one hundred talesmen
summoned since the hour of adjournment
yesterday crowded the room of Criminal
Court No. 2, city hall. this morning when
the work of impaneling a jury to pass upon
the question of the guilt innocence of
Andrew Weldon. indicted for murder in
the first degree. was resumed. For nearly
two and one-half hours the effort was in
progress. Many talesmen entertained con-
sCentious scruples against capital punish
rent. and greater number of others were
30 situated in business. they said, that they
could not afford to serve on the jury, and
hence the court was compelled to excuse
them. Others were Objectionable to coun-
sci on one side or the other and were per-
emptorily challenged.
Finally the following We're sworn to rem
der a true verdict: Messrs. Ernest +. Mel
nyer. Thomas Hollidge, Edgar L. Barclay.
w. j. Heberger. jr.: William T. Burrows.
William f. Mann. Charles c. Arnold. JOS.
Manning James w. Atwell Louis Holmes
De Reimer and James w. Rock.
The Opening Proceedings.
All witnesses were then excluded from
the court room. They included the daugh-
ters granddaughter and other relatives
of Mrs. Rachel Ann Beall. the woman al
legged to have been murdered by Weldon,
her son-in law.
After Assistant United States Attorney
Alexander Richmond Mullowny had made
a statement to the jury setting forth what
the prosecution expects to prove. recess
until o'clock was taken. At the afternoon
session Surveyor Hazen identified plat
Re made of premises 1874 II street north
east where. it Is charged. the murder was
committed; Policeman Hayden described
the same premises and the position the
body was In when he reached there: Police
man Johnson proved photographs taken in
connection with the crime: Charles Beall
a res tive of the deceased. testified that
the body upon which the autopsy was per-
formed was that of Mrs. Beall. tho de-
ceased. and Deputy Coroner Glazebrook.
who performed the autopsy. testified re-
garding the nature of the wounds.
Government Outlines Case.
Assistant District Attorney Alex. Null
lewny made the opening address to the
jury today. He said the government ex-
poets to prove beyond a reasonable doubt
that Weldon murdered his mother-in-law.
He told something of the family history of
Mrs Beall. the murdered woman and of
Weedon's relations with her. The indict
ment was explained to the jury carefully
by the assistant district attorney and the
different degrees of murder were defined.
According to Mr.. Mullowny the murder
ed woman hardly knew the defendant al
though he was her sOn-in-law, and did not
know him by sight The jury was inform
ed as 10 the peculiar financial situation OF
Weldon and his wife. and of what the gov
ernment expected to prove regarding the
object OF the murder.
Mr.. Mullowny spoke of the events lead
Ing up to the murder and Of the significant
declaration of the defendant to the effect
that his wife's people would not evict his
wife from the house in which they were
living. although they might accomplish his
removal, efforts having been made to have
Weldon and his family evicted. He told
Of the purchase of the revolver, Of Wee
dons experiments with 1t in his woodshed
and of his conversation with Warren
Beell IT.. grandson Of the murdered wo-
ran. regarding the power of the revolver to
kill.
The government attorney then traced the
movements of the defendant on the day OF
the alleged murder, concluding with his
arrest and the results of the police in
quiries
When Mr. Mullowny concluded his state
ments to the jury the usual midday recess
was taken.