The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-09-20
Jury is EanpaneIIed BY II O'Clock
and the Trial is Taken
Up Forthwith.
COURT ROOM IS CROWDED


Alfred TomISins Tells From the Wit
ness stand What He Knows
of the Tragedy.
With the court house packed to
its full capacity Friday morning
Thomas P. Harmon. Of the former
firm of Murray & Harmon. saloonists,
conducting the Windsor saloon in
Glen Elk, was. placed on trial In
circuit court, charged with the muir
der of Mrs. Margaret Pickett, wife
of Fred Pickett, of the Bijou family
theatre on Main street, the afternoon
OF September 3 last.
At $3.50 o'clock the court began TO
empanel the jury in the case, but
quite a number OF the regular and
special venire OF thirty men had ex-
pressed or had an opinion and were
excused on that account. Not until
II O'Clock was jury secured as fol-
lows:
Men To Decide Fate.
L. S. Harbert, Thomas Reager, L.
G.. Hornor, u. G. Way, Ray Renshaw,
Hugh Lyon. A. j. Michael, Samuel
G. Carr, A. B. Talbot, Guy Lawson,
C,yE>.el Morris and Benjamin Nor
While the attorneys We're getting
ready for the Introductory presenta-
tion OF the case, Judge Lynch admon-
ished the jury to have no communi-
cation with the outside world and
not to discuss the case. The wit
nesses on either side were also sworn
and excluded from the court room.
Seventeen responded for the State
and five for the defendant.
Prosecuting Attorney Will f. Nor
ris, who has associated with him in
the case Attorney ]. E. Law, ad-
dressed the jury briefly for the prose
cution, and Attorney NJ. G. Sperry,
associated with him c. B. Sperry and
John Basel, attorneys, presented the
side o. the defense.
Addresses to Jury.
Mr.. Morris recited the incidents Of
the shooting and stated that the
State expected to prove that there
was an ill-feeling on the part OF Han
non toward Mrs. Pickett which led
up to the killing Mr.. Morris also
said that the evidence was expected
TO show that Harmon had threatened
previously to kill Mrs. Pickett and
tSk There had been trouble between
], ~ ltorney Sperry informed the Jury
that the defense recognized and ad-
mitted the fact that Harmon took the
woman's life. but that owing to a
protracted spree OF several weeks
duration as well as the highly nerv-
Gus temperament OF the defendant,
together with the fact that when
sober Harmon bordered on insanity,
he was not responsible for the act
, and.did not realize at the time what
he was doing. And crazed with
drink and frenzied without provoca-
tion as to Mrs. Pickett at the time,
as soon as his eyes fell on her tenn
porary insanity led him to the act
TomIIins First on Scene.
At 11:45 o'clock Alfred Tomkins
took the witness stand as the States
first witness. He told OF knowing
Harmon about six Years, Mrs. Pickett
one year and George a. Murray six
years, and stated that his business
was that of a general contractor. He
also told the jury about his business
connections here. being associated
with Messrs. Murray and Harmon in
two theatres.
The last time he saw Harmon be-
fore the shooting was about 1:45
O'Clock the afternoon OF the shoot
ing. It was at the Windsor saloon,
with Harmon attending bar. Tom
ltins remained until about 2:15
but before leaving he was Joined by
Harmon on the outside OF the bar
and they had drink together. Han
non had taken his apron OF and
Joseph Murray was attending bar
then. The same morning Harmon
and Tomkins came In from Pitts
burg. arriving here about 2 o'clock
and taking drink In the Windsor
saloon. Messrs Murray having join