Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-23
MURDER TRIAL ON
Selecting Jury to Determine Fate
of Henry Yer.
meesch
FOR KILLING OF O'CONNOR
Circumstances of the Tragedy in Cal
lewaert Saloon in East
Moline.

Selection of a jury to try Henry Yer
meesch for the murder of John O'Con-
nor was commenced in the circuit
court this morning Probably a day
or more viii be consumed in this task.
Defending are Searle & Marshall,
while J. X. Scott, states attorney, is
conducting the prosecution.
Vermeesch is a harmless appearing
youth of 90 years. He is a molder by
trade, coming to this country from his
native heath in Belgium three years
ago. He was employed in the factories
of Moline. He was a close friend of
the family of Leon Callewaert. Their
families were reared in the same prov
ince in Belgium. When last summer
Callewaert decided to journey for
visit TO the fatherland he knew of no
one to whom he felt more secure in
.entrusting his business affairs than
young Vermcesch. whom he knew as
an Industrious. sober young man. He
made a proposition to Nermeesch to
take the management of his saloon in
East Moline curing his absence in the
old country. Vermeesch accepted, Civ
ing up his position in the shop.
Three Men are Drunk
The 18th day of last October three
men. all under the influence of liquor,
so the defense will endeavor to estab-
lish. visited the Callewaert saloon. It
was in the afternoon. One of the men
was John O'Connor, who had recently
come to Moline from his home in
Bloomington, III. O'COnnor told Yer
meesch, who was behind the bar. that
ne and his friends wanted liquor, but
that they did not have money to pay
for it. O'ConnOr asked if his credit
was good. Vermeesch answered that
he did not know O'Connor and conse-
quently did not feel warranted in trust
ing him and his friends for the drinks.
However, he did not wish to be con-
sidered small, and he would treat the
trio. Vermeesch. it is claimed, drew
three glasses of beer and set them on
the bar in front of the men. They
drank the beer
Then arose a dispute between the
three men, who were seated at a table.
They grew boisterous and they were
admOnished by the bartender that they
would have to demean themselves diff
ferently if they expected TO remain
in the saloon. This angered O'Connor,
it is claimed. and he picked up a chair
and slammed it down on the floor.
The chair was broken. Vermeesch
saw that it was time for action and he
ordered the men from the saloon.
O'CoDnOr Refuses to Leave.
O'Connor refused to leave. and when
Vermeesch told him that he would be
forcibly elected unless he did as he
was told O'COnnor picked up an iron
cuspidor and hurled at the man behind
the bar. The companions of O'COnnor
left the saloon, but the latter remained
to hold his ground. There was Il
encounter, and Yer
mcesch said that he drew his revolver
to defend himself. shooting twice at
O'Connor. the second bullet producing
the fatal wound from which O'Connor
died the day after the shooting at the
Moline city hospital.
Vermeesch has a younger brother
in Moline The friends of the man on
trial have rallied to his support and
have raised money to pay for his de-
Tense. believing that he was provoked |
to commit the murder. The prosccu- |
ton claims that the killing was done |
in cold blood. and that it was cruel in |
The extreme, since. as it is held. O'Con- |
nor was lying helpless on the sidewalk |
in front of the saloon when Nermeesch |
fired the bullet that caused his death. |
The attorneys for Vermeesch will ask |
for his acquittal.
New Trial Asked.
J. F. Witter attorney for Alvin Far |
ner. found guilty yesterday by jury |
Of assault with intent TO commit muir
der. today filed a motion for a new trial /