The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-10
Task of Selecting a Jury in
First of the Famous Cases
Is Under Way.
GOOD PROGRESS MADE
IN FIRST DAYS SESSION
Three Talesmen Passed by
Both Sides; Adjournment
Until Monday.

BOISE, Ida, May o.-William D.
Haywood, first of the alleged partici-
pants IN the avengipg conspiracy by
which 1t is averred the assassination of
Frank Steunenberg was plotted and ex-
ecuted, was placed upon trial for his
life today, Counsel for State and pris-
oner entered at once, in business-like
way. upon the examination of prospec-
tive jurors, and kept steadily at the
task for FIVE hours. No juror was final.
ly accepted, but substantial progress
was made, and the indications at the
would be obtained by the end Of next
week
The opening day of the trial went
through TO its conclusion in quiet har-
mony, unmarked by unusual incident.
IT WAS earnest and busiDess-like. Its
striking feature was the entire absence
of crowds or demonstration In any
form. AT no time, morning or after
noon, was the courtroom more than hale
filed, and the streets forming the court
house square contained not single loi-
terer.
lISJ = dHel bAlldusteu
The case was halted shortly before
5 clock by the exhaustion OF the Jury
panel, and an adjournment was taken
until Monday morning. Meantime. the
Sheriff Will summon a special venlre
Of 100 men. The eleven men under
examination, but not yet finally ac-
cepted or rejected, were locked up and
will be closely guarded.
Haywood was brought to the court
! H., Il.
ing. He found his family in line of
chairs to the right of his seat. and III
front were all of his counsel He
devoted moro attention to his young
est daughter than TO any one else, and
throughout the day took practically no
part in the selection of jurors. Many
men in similar jeopardy, as rule, make
close study of their prospective Jurors,
and frequently express their personal
preferences, but Haywood seems con-
tent TO leave the matter entirely In the
hands of his lawyers. Haywood gave
no sign of any feeling or emotion, but
sat quietly throughout the day. Mrs,
Haywood and the older daughter stood
the ordeal of appearance in court very
well, but the younger child cried after
the examination of talesmen began.
Mrs. Haywood and her children did not
attend the afternoon session
.
The questioning of the defense took
a much wider range than that OF the
State, and its most striking feature
dealt with the possible effect upon the
minds and attitudes of jurors of the
letter Of President Roosevelt IN calling
Haywood and his associates ''undeslr-
able citizens" the speeches IN Idaho
of Secretary Taft. the message of Gov,
ernor Gooding 10 the Legislature OF
dol Ia hn S,nnnTh in n senator
Hepburn, and the action of the Idaho
Legislature in passing n resolution and
apDropriating money for the prosecu-
tion of the three prisoners
Mr. Richardson, who conducted the
examination of the talesmen, was also
particular TO ascertain their attitude
toward Socialists and members of la
Dor organizations and whether they
could give them fair trial. He was
also anxious to know if they had any
professional. personal. fTaternal. re.
1igious or political affiliations with any
of the counsel For the State, any con-
nection with detective agencies, any
experience in the pursuit or prosecu-
tion of criminals, or were members OF
the Mine Owners ASSOCIATION. Rlch-
ardson also asked if they had contrib
uted TO any fund for the prosecution OF
the prisoners, If they were members
of the Citizens alliance, if they re-
membcred the old labor troubles in
Idaho. and if they had taken sides IN
the labor troubles at any time. n re-
markable feature of this examination
was that all of the talesmen questioned
bv the defense swore that they had not
been influenced by the letter of Pres
ident Roosevelt or the speeches of 9TH
er officials of the national or State gov
crnments and a majority of them SAID
they were Republicans
Where State Is Concerned,
The chief concern OF the counsel for
the State in the examination OF tales
men, as indicated by their questions,
was their attitude toward circumstau-
tial evidence. the absence of the ac-
cuscd from the State when the CRIME
was committed, the effect of the man
ner in which the prisoner and his COM
panions were brought from Colorado
views of the talesmen as TO the death
penalty for murder In the first degree
and union labor. They also questioned
each talcsman as to his acquaintance
with the murdered governor, with
view to disclosing friendship or en-
mity. Their examination brought out
the fact that certain labor and Social
istic papers are being distributed free
of charge in parts of Ada county.
The custom of the Idaho courts IN Sc
lectipe iurlcs for criminal cases ls tc
call twelve talcsmen to the jury box
and to keep the box full by immediate
~ filing amy vacancies that occur, Tho
State FIRST conducts d complete, eNami-
nation. that continues until twelve men
have been passed, when the body OF
talesmen pass to the defense Tor eA'
animation. The State passed twelvo
men early this afternoon and the gen
craI examination is in The hands of the
defense. OF the eleven men remaining