Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-04
TRUST JURY COMES SLOWLY
First Day Of Howsd raj E DIS VT
Little r,gres Lade.
vENIREaLN AR CL.s.uf oU.sI,a-
Peter Elsnsser, Jr., Nephew of Co
Defendant, Excused by Court
Threatened Clash Between
Court and Attorney.

The FIRST day of the trial of s. T. Howell,
president of the Coal exchange, charged
with violation Of the state trust laws
closed with jury still unsolicited. The
examination of the Jurors is proceeding
slowly, not because large NUMBER nave
been examined, but because they arc be
ing questioned closely as to their prcju
dices and their social and business re.
lationships with the defendants. Al the
close Of yesterdays session less than
twenty Jurors lad been exam.Ieu an.
of these six had been excused for cduse.
Judge sutton excused Peter Elsasser.
Jr., a nephew Of @. Fred Elasscr ono OF
the co-dofondants of Mr. Howell, the de-
PENDANTS attorneys making strenuous oh
jections to his leaving the box.
The only features OF the examination CO..
Jurors was a threatened clash between
the court and w. j. Council attorney for
the defense. Both times, however, heated
words were avoided. During the entire
afternoon there was apparently a studieu
attempt to prevent a display Of temper
on the part OF the attorneys. Twice Mr.
Connell objected to language used by the
court to jurors
The first incident came during the eX-
animation of a witness who said he had
had some business relations with sor,e of
the defendants and he was not sure
whether II would affect his business or
not If he should return verdict of
guilty. County Attorney Slabaugh eX-
rmined him closely and Mr.. Connel OBJ
iacted to one OF the questions.
This witness is in delicate posi-
ion," said Judge Sutton, "and think the
Dunty attorney has "A right to the fun
acts"
Mr. Stout renewed objections to the
uostion and Mr.. Conneil jumped to n.
ct.
objects to Language of Court.
II object and take exceptions to the
,atement Of the court that this witness
In delicate situation or that he is IN
different position from any other
a"
Now Mr.. Connell." said Judge sutton
.harply, 'fn order that there may be no
lash between you and me ] wish that you
would decide whether you or Mr. Stou;
gill make objections, and not both OF
you"
Mr.. Connelli said he would make the OBJ.
jectlons himself II the court confined that
right to only one of them. A few minutes
later when a i-wrangle occurred between
the attorneys Judge Sutton admonished
tho jury to pay no attention to "side re-
marks addressed by the attorneys to each
other or to the court. He said these re-
marks were for the attorneys and thu
curt alone and the Jurors should pay nj
attention to them. Mr.. Cornell again OBJ
,ected to the action Of the court and tool
formal exceptions When the examination
I Juror Elsasser was. resumed Judge Sut
ION asked the witness several questions a
o the discussion of the coal trust indict
,nents In the family. Mr. Connell objected
again to the action of the court insisting
he court was helping out the county at
torney. Judge Sutton excused Mr. El
sasser.
When Mr.. Connell began to examine tn
Jurors for the defense he started to rea
some newspaper headlines intimatinl
County Attorney Slabaugh was prose
cutting the coal men for failure t