The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-18
TWELVE JURORS CHOSEN
TO TRY NJ M'DONALD, THEY
VIEW SCENE OF CRIME
All Witnesses in the Schafer Case
Excluded from Court; Defense
Objects to Reed and Smith.
SHOWS EASE OF MIND
Mcdonald Greets His Wife with a
Smile-Statement by Prose
cutor Miller.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special 10 the Indianapolis journal.
BEDFORD, Ind, May T.-Stephen Chess.
William Reynolds. Watt Pearson, Walter
Darnell, James L. Barrett. Thomas j.
Wood. Samuel Scoggan. William C. Nc
Pike. Stephen Spencer Joel L. Hobbs, John
Hunter. jr., and William Z. Allan-these
are the twelve men composing the jury in
whose hands rests the liberty, perhaps the
life, of James Mcdonald. whose trial for
the murder of Miss Sarah Catherine Schafer
is now in progress before the Lawrence
Circuit Court. Wood is a merchant of
Mitchell; the others are farmers.
During the process of securing a jury
the States attorneys were careful to ask
each venireman If he entertained any con-
scientious scruples against assessing the
death penalty. thus indicating that the
State will insist on its infiiction in event of
conviction. Not a few of those examined
this morning expressed an aversion TO cap
ital punishment and they were excused for
this reason.
AT $50 jury to try the case was secured.
but not until two-thirds of the second
special venire had been exhausted. When
the jury was accepted by both the defense
and State, the State had exhausted six Of
Its twenty peremptory challenges and the
defense nine.
r.
Lowe, for the state. introduced a motion
asking for division of the witnesses, and
that all be excluded from the courtroom
with the exception of. Mrs. Mcdonald and
Detective +. s. Reed. Judge X. n. Palmer,
for the defense, objected to Reed being
allowed to remain in the courtroom during
the introduction of testimony. Mr.. Lowe
requested the court that Mayor j. Hickson
Smith. member of the Investigation COM
mittee, be allowed to remain in the court
room, as he was a member OF the bar.
Mr. Palmer quickly got up and objected
strenuously to the state retaining both
Smith and Reed in the room. IF Smith
remains" exclaimed Judge Palmer, then
Reed goes. II Reed remains, then Smith
goes. We do not want TO be arbitrary in
this matter" continued Judge Palmer. but
we certainly want no favors shown
The court at this point admonished all
witnesses that they must retire from the
courtroom but not to absent themselves
from the courthouse.
Prior to Prosecutor Miler's opening state
ment, Judge Palmer moved the court that
before any evidence be introduced. the jury,
in company of a sworn bailiff be taken TO
the alley where the alleged crime was COM
mitted that they examine the surroundings,
and also that they be taken to the residence
of Mrs Martha Johnson where deceased
boarded the home of Mrs. Addie b. Smith.
where she roomed; the residence of W. X.
Winstandley; the office of DIR. Smith and
home of Mrs. Hannah Fisher. in order that
they might make a careful inspection of all
these premises. States Attorney Miller re-
order so as to include the High School
building, l. f. Griggsby's and George w.
Ross's stores the residences of William II.
Cosner George o. ISeminger. DIR. Nichol-
son. the Baptist Church, the residence OF
Judge Joseph Giles and defendants home.
To the amendment the defense agreed and
the Jury, in custody of William Donica, the
bailiff. accompanied by Sheriff Smith, as an
officer of the court, to point out and ac-
quaint the members with scenes incident to
the crime left the courtroom at 10:l5 o clock
They consumed two hours in viewing the
surroundings at the alley. the cab shed,
where Miss Schafers body was found by
Captain Cook, the home of the prisoner. and
other points. The purpose of having the
Jury examine the places designated in Judge
Palmer's motion, was TO acquaint them with
the lay of the land at the scene of the crime
and other points having bearing on the
case.
Mcdonald appeared at ease and greeted
his wife with a smile as he entered the
| courtroom and assumed his usual position
| behind his counsel. The prisoners eyes
| shifted alternately from Judge Wilson tC
| the faces of the jurors being examined as
| to their qualifications. his wife evidently
| taking deeper interest In the proceedings
! than her husband.
| 80 to $3.50 making the opening statemen,
| for the State in which he detailed the story
| of Miss Schafer's life from the time she
| came to Bedford until the morning of Jan
| o. when her body was found in the cal
| shed sixty feet from i street west. be
| tween Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets
Tomorrow several important witnesses
| for the state will be examined, no testi
mony having been taken to-day.