Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-17
nan PATTERSON
Goes on Trial for Murder
Of Caesar Young.
Intense Interest in Fate of the
Former Chorus Girl.
A Complete Denial Of the Shooting Is
Her Defence.

New York, Nov l6.-After more than
five months in the Tombs prison await
ing trial on a charge of murder, it was
expected that Nan Patterson, the all
legged slayer of Caesar" Young, the
horseman, would face a jury in the
court of general sessions. today. De-
lay. first from one cause and then from
another. has been prominent feature
i'm th. case ever since Miss Patterson
was taken into custody after the traS-
ic death of Young in "a cab in which
he and the young woman We're driving
10 the pier where Young was to take a
steamer for Europe. Even in its last
stages. after the date for trial had been
fixed. a minor case which claimed the
attention of the court dragged slowly
along and forced another delay.
When the first postponement was Or
dcred, yesterday, it was thought that
the court would be ready to receive the
Patterson case, today. but the minor
case was still unfinished when court
adjourned, last night. 1t was nearing
its end, however. and it was thought
everything would be in readiness for
The tragic death of Young. the ar
rest of Miss Patterson which quickly
followed and many of the developments
which attended the case in its early
stages furnished series of SenSa-
tions which attracted wide attention.
Young was race track follower.
horseman and bokmaker. who had ac-
cEmulated a fortune in 4 few years. 1t
was claimed that he had formed d
warm attachment for Nan Patterson.
a former show girl. and that to put an
end to their intimacy Young's wife had
prevailed upon him to go abroad. All
arrangements for the trip had been
made and Mrs. Young was at the
steamship pier awaiting the arrival OF
her us5ard when she was Informed
that he had been shot to death while
riding in cab with Miss Patterson.
Although the tragedy in the cab was
witnessed by several persons, there
was a wide difference of opinion as tt
whether Young committed suicide oil
was murdered. The man and woman
had been seen struggling, then fol
lowed the repnrt If a pistol and Wher
hy-standers rushed up to the cab
Young was dead, his head resting il
Miss Patter9On'S lap.
According to her story Young was
dowrcast and RESPONDENT and said he
would kill himself rather than leave
hor The struggle was for possession
of the weapon with which he threat
ennd to take his life, but she was un-
able to prevent him from carrying on
his purpose.
! Many attempts to secure Miss Pat
t.rSon's release or on early trial were
unsuccessful. Finally when the dis
triCt attorney consented to accept bail
in $1,000 her father who had worked
constantly in her behalf since her ar
rest was unable to find the necessary
| srlr"ties and she has remained pris-
| on"r in the TOmbS.
! In anticipation of the beginning of the
Patterson trial, the criminal branch of
the supreme court was crowded with spec
tators when Justice Vernon NJ. Davis
took his seat on the bench. today. There
was ONLY Il slight delay before it was
announced that everything for the open
ing Of the trial was in readiness. Miss
Patterson. dressed in black. was brought
in by prison attendants and took "a scat
beside her counsel, Abraham Levy and
Daniel O'Reily. AS she came into the
court room she was greeted by her father
J Randolph Patterson.
The work Of selecting A jury from Il
special panel Of 100 talcsmcn was begun
at once. VIM. f. Finn. the first tales
man examined. was challenged by the de-
fence.
The examination Of each ta!eSnan was
conducted with extreme thorouShncSS
and one man who apparently had pasSeo
all the requirements was turned away by
the defence when he said in answer t" 2
question that he had friendly feelings To-
ward Dist Atty. jerome.
F.lvood Hendricks. a broker was thu
first man to answer all the questions t.
the satisfaction of both the prose cutior
and defence.
The prosecution will depend entirely up
on CirCumStantial evidence in building III
their case against the defendant accord
ing to a statement 10y Assistant Distric
Attorney Rand during the examination o
the talcsmcn.
Richard :. White, a lumber dealer, ha(
declared himself opposed to finding a yer
die. in a capital cas-. on circumsta MT in
evidence alone, and referred to the pos
sbility of eye-wi,nesscs to the shootin,
tcstfyng bo fore the jury.
so far as I know" said Mr. Rand
"thc prosecution does not intend to cal
any witnesses to the shooting Of Caesa
Young"
Four Jurors had been accepted when al
journmCnt was taken for the day.