Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-02-05
more IHAW JURORS
MAY Be DISMISSED
RuMoRED THAT TWO OF PANEL
MAY BE EXCUSED BECAUSE
OF POOR HEALTH.
JEROME TRYING TO
AVOID A MlSTRIAL

AyOIO ~ WHO TtIAI
New Witness for the Prosecution Is
Secured-No Decision Yet Reached
as to Placing Defendant on the
Stand.
New York, Feb. 4.-The twelfth and
last juror to try Harry Kendall Thaw
for the murder of Stanford White on
the night of June %, 1906, has at last
been selected. Reports that some of
the jurors will be excused from duty
when the court resumes it's session in
the case Monday morning were in cir
culation again Saturday. 1t was ru-
mored that the health of one man
chosen is so precarious that District
Attorney Jerome hesitates to proceed
with the case through apprehension
that the close confinement of the jury
will result in his illness and cause a
mistrial.
1t was reported also that the dis
trict attorney is anxious to dispense
reasons only known to himself and
the employees Of his Office.
May Go Deep Into Thaw's Record.
The activity of detectives in the en-
ploy of the defense and prosecution
In seeking witnesses and maintaining
watch upon the movements of the
other side is on par with the care
exercised in the selection of the jury.
This excites belief that both the prose-
cution and the defense are preparing
as well as into the circumstances lead.
Ing up to the shooting of Stanford
White.
The report that Assistant District
Attorney Marshall has induced Miss
Ida Fitch, of Pittsburg, to promise to
come to New York and give evidence
for the prosecution was taken as fur
Their evidence of the extreme thor
oughness with which District Attor-
ney Jerome is preparing his case.
Testimony Expected Monday.
In the event that there is no further
break in the jury panel the taking of
testimony will begin Monday, to which
day the court adjourned after Fridays
session. A request of District Attor-
ney Jerome that the talesmen remain
ing in the last panel be instructed to
be in court Monday added to the ru-
mors of trouble for the jurors.
Later it was thought the request for
the talesmen was simply precaution-
airy movement, as Mr.. Jerome intend
ed to continue his search of the rec
ords of the jurymen during the adj
journment.
Thaw May Be Witness.
Official denial was made Saturday
Of a published report that it has been
definitely decided to have Thaw go
On the stand in his own defense. A.
Russell Peabody of Thaw's counsel
said the report was not borne out by
facts and that no decision on that
point, one way or the other, has yet
been reached. He said there is, OF
Dourse, possibility that the defen.
hapt may become witness, but
whether or not he will do so probably
will depend largely upon the course
taken by the prosecution. Mr.. Pea
body said he could hardly believe that
the prosecutions case will be com.
pleted during the opening session on
Monday, as announced by Mr.. Jerome.
He said, however, that if this is done,
the defense is ready to proceed with
its case at any time. He declined to
make any statement concerning the
plans of the defense.
Mr.. Peabody had a long conference
with Thaw in the Tombs Saturday.
After the conference Mr.. Peabody said
That Thaw and his relatives are de.
lighted with the jury and that his
counsel will oppose any further effort
to make changes in it.
State to Close Case Early.
1t has been believed that the case
Of the state against Thaw would be
quickly presented, but in his state
ment just before adjournment Friday
Mr.. jerome indicated that it would be
even briefer than expected.
Il would like to say" declared Mr..
Jerome, that the case of the people
will be ready on Monday morning, and
that the people will open and close or
Monday morning. say this that the
defense may have its case ready te
follow"
This was taken to indicate that the
district attorney intends to open the
prosecution with the bald establish
ment of the fact that Thaw killed
White and the fixing of the time and
place. It is expected that he will put
on three or four witnesses and that
one or more of them, probably the pc
liceman tp whom Thaw surrendered
and the sergeant of the Tenderloin
station who took Thaw's pedigree, will
testify as to Thaw's apparent sanity.
Defense Has Over Fifty Witnesses.
The heat of battle will be on the re
buttal testimony after the defense has
met the opening testimony presented
by the prosecution. Mr.. Hartridge
has summoned over so witnesses
Many Of these may never be heard O
In the trial. If, as has been suggested
Mr.. Hartridge meets the establish
ment of the prosecutors case will
evidence to show that Thaw was in
sane at the time he killed White tn,
district attorney will have a chance
to call his alienists. who have beer
in constant attendance during the Sc
lection of the jury.