Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-25
HALE MURDER TRIAL
PRISONER SELECTED His OWN
JURY.


Special Dispatch to The Star
BRISTOL. Tenn, September 25.-The
first witness in the Hale murder trial.
which promises to be the most SEN
sational case of, It's kind in the history
Of this section. was placed on the stand
On behalf of the prosecution when court
convened at Blountville. the county seat
OF Sullivan county. eight miles from Bris-
toll. this morning. The jury was COM
pleted late yesterday afternoon, after
1J2 talesmen had been rejected all of
whom were either opposed to capital
punishment or had formed an opinion as
to Hale's guilt of the charge of having
crinlinally assaulted and murdered Lille
Davis in East Hill cemetery in TINS city.
March -. A strenuous effort was made
by the defense to get a continuance on
account of the absence of witnesses whom
they deemed material
The prisoner selected the jury himself
after having rejected over hundred
talesmen. Hale's contention is that he
loaned the girl his stol and she shot her
self because he told her that he did not
love her.
The state will show that she was to have
been married to J. c. Roberts. prominent
young man of Georgel. Va, on Easter Sun
Gay. three days after her death, and that
she had expressed dislike for Hale.
Backed by wealthy relatives Hale is
making an effort to refute the criminal
assault charge on which he has been in
dicted in addition to that of murder by
showing he had previously sustained i'm
proper relations with the girl
Ihe state has som. of the most reputable
people In this section to testify as to the
girls character as against the statements
or inmates of disreputable houses who
have been summoned by the defense.
The prosecution is being led by Attor-
ney General Dan Harmon assist ID by a
w
monwealth's Attorney J. S. Ashworth OF
virginia is directing the fight for Hala's
life NO material evidence Las far been
adduced at todays session.
Jury Secured Yesterday.
Because Judge Tyler denied the motion
Of counsel for the defense for a continuance
yesterday afternoon. Charles. A. Brown.
counsel for the defense. who had made the
affidavit for a continuance. Indignantly
withdrew from the courtroom. saying he
would not undertake to defend his client
under such circumstances.
Judge Tyler called him back and agreed
to give him more time to bring absent wit
nesses into court. directing the sheriff to
send men to Johnson City, Tenn. in search
of the missing witnesses. With this agree
mcnt the case was taken up. venire of
1,0 men was exhausted by o'clock pm.
and only six jurors were secured. Out of
another venra of twenty-five men the jury
was completed late this afternoon. The
jurors all from the country districts of
Sullivan county, most of them being some
miles distant from the scene of the alleged
crime.
The indictment was read and the jury
sworn last night. Both sides We're then
prepared to go into the trial of the case
today. The lawyers for the prosecution are
confident they will be able to make out
strong case against Hale.
The defense is basing its hope upon the
fact that there was no eyewitness to the
killing and Hale's persistent claim that
Lille Davis. who found dying in East
Hill cemetery here on the night of March
~ last. had committed suicide in his pres
enc. Evidence of criminal assault and
other motives for murder were speedily re-
Vealed.